Week One ● Basic components of computers ● Definitions and explanations of essential terms associated with PCs.

PC: what are they and what do they do? ● A system built up from various components with a processor at the core ● A PC accepts data input, processes the information and produces output - Runs an operating system to interface between the user and the microprocessor - Runs software applications designed for specific work or play activities - Allows for adding and removing hardware or software as needed

Core PC Components and What They Do ● Case ● Motherboard ● Power supply ● Central Processing Unit (CPU) ● Random Access Memory (RAM) ● Drives (CD) ● Cooling devices ● Cables

Ports, Peripherals and Expansion Slots ● Graphics components (video card) ● Ports ( USB, Ethernet, audio, etc) ● Peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc) ● Expansion slots

Powering up a PC, the Boot Process ● Activate the power button ● Power on self test (POST) ● Display of details of the boot process ( BIOS) ● The BIOS attempts to access the first sector of the boot disk ● Load the boot loader ● Loading the operating system ● Turn work load to operating system

PC Operating System (OS) ● Processor management ● Memory management ● Device management ● Storage management ● Application interface

Week Two Periodic maintenance to optimize performance and programs to install to avoid operational sluggishness.

Managing the Anti-virus on your PC ● Install one (and only one) good free Antivirus software: MSE, AVG, Avast ● Enable “automatic update” ● Run manually a full anti-virus scan once a month ( preferably in save mode - F8 at boot up -)

Download/Update/Run a Malware/Spyware Removal Tool ● Install a free anti malware /spyware program such as : “Malwarebyte” or “Spybot Search and Destroy”) ● Manually update the program before running a scan to have the latest virus definition ● Manually run (in safe mode preferably) a full scan once a month ● Delete or quarantine undesirable files

Delete Temporary Files and other Unnecessary Files ● Delete once a month unwanted files using the Windows built up utility “disk clean up” or using Ccleaner (a third party utility) to start “disk clean up” go to: start/computer/right click OS C drive/ properties/general tab/disk clean up

Keeping your Hard Drive Healthy ● Once every three months run Scandisk/Checkdisk/error checking To start the program go to: start/computer/right click OS C drive/ properties/tools/checknow

Keeping Windows up to Date ● Enable automatic update ● Start/control panel/windows update/change settings if needed ( to make sure that automatic update is enabled) ● Run a manual update once a quarter ● Start/ Windows update

Keep the Hard Drive Optimized ● Run the Windows built in disk defragmenter utility or third party such as Smartdefrag 2 or Defragger ● Start/all programs/accessories system tools/diskdefragmenter

Remove/disable Unnecessary Start up Programs ● Uninstall unwanted programs (Bloatware) running in the background using resources and slowing down the computer with a windows utility or a better third party utility like “Revo Uninstaller” Start/control panel/programs and features/click on program/ yes to uninstall ● To disable programs that start automatically follow the path below and uncheck the programs you don't want to run Start/type “msconfig” in the search box/ click on msconfig exe/click on the start up tab/ uncheck programs

Week Three and Four ● Security issues associated with s and browsing the net. ● What to do to avoid malware, identity theft, or being hacked.

Best Practices: What to Do and Why ● The risk associated with Malware (viruses, trojan, rootkit, spyware, etc) Pop up and Spam Identity theft Privacy Phishing

● The best defense against malware is smart online behaviour ● Don't open attachment you don't trust (.EXE files in particular) ● Beware of pop-up warning you of a problem with your PC inviting you to run a scan ● Have the appropriate security settings on your server (spam filter) ● Beware of “reply to all” risks ● Have a strong password and change it often

(continued) ● Avoid public Wi-Fi ● Don't use to communicate confidential information such as social security, bank accounts, etc ● On mail servers log out rather than closing the window ● Never click links in unless you trust the sender. Go to the original website ● The ultimate solution to privacy: encryption

Safe Web Browsing ● Don't rely on your browser to protect you from malicious website ● Install “Web of Trust” as an add-on ( WOT) ● Beware of windows or pages that prompt you to click a link to run a software ● Don't provide personal information to get something free online ● Watch for shortened URLs, and numbers, hyphens or special characters in a URL ● HTTP versus HTTPS

Safe Web Browsing (continued) ● Use “in private browsing” feature ● Use and enable a firewall ● Keep everything updated (antivirus, Windows, all programs such as Adobe reader and others) ● Use strong passwords ( minimum 8 characters, lower and upper case, numbers, symbols) ● Delete your internet temporary files

Week 5 and 6 ● Identifying the root cause of a problem (software versus software) ● Solve simple computer problems

Most Common Computer Problems ● Hardware stability issues ● Sluggishness ● Freeze and/or unwanted shut down ● System overheating ● Application compatibility or application bugs ● Driver issues ● Windows bugs ● Integration problems

Common Computer Problems (continued) ● The computer won't start ● The screen is blank ● Windows won't boot ● Strange noises ● Slow internet ● The blue screen of death ● A pop up will not go away ● Error messages

Hardware versus Software ● First determine if your problem is a hardware or a software issue (difference between the two) ● Typical Hardware-related Symptoms  Machine totally "dead" - no activity (lights, sound, screen information) at power on  Machine has started producing unusual noises  A visibly broken, cracked or loose-fitting part  Problems following liquid being spilled on machine  Machine getting very hot and/or randomly restarting itself

Fixing Hardware ● Depends mostly on the level of expertise of the user ● Easy : HD, memory, video cards, cable ● Harder: power supply, motherboard

Hardware versus Software ● Typical Software-related Symptoms - Machine halts part way through start-up - Programs misbehave or give error messages - Machine runs very slowly

Tools for Fixing Software Problems ● The F1 key ● Clean the HD to delete temporary files (Ccleaner) ● Run anti-virus and malware removal tools ● Use a Registry cleaner ● Uninstall recently installed programs ● Start in save mode (F8) ● Open “Action center” (in Windows 7) ● Do a System restore

Fixing software problems (continued) ● Run the Windows repair disk ● Search the net for solutions (forums, white papers, Microsoft website, etc...) ● Visit the Microsoft “fix it” website ● Do a Clean install (the nuke option)