PC Maintenance and Formatting Course

Lesson 1 • Storage Devices and Interfaces

Covers HDD, SSD, and optical drives along with their connection interfaces. Students distinguish storage types by speed, capacity, and use case.

Lesson 2 • Inside the Desktop PC

Introduces the physical layout of a desktop PC and the function of each major part. Establishes the component vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Reading Hardware Specifications

Teaches students to interpret datasheets, spec sheets, and product listings accurately. This skill supports informed purchasing and compatibility decisions.

Lesson 4 • Power and Cooling Systems

Explains how power is distributed and heat is managed inside a PC. Students assess PSU wattage needs and evaluate cooling solutions.

Lesson 1 • Physical Safety in the Work Area

Addresses sharp edges, heavy components, and electrical hazards inside a PC case. Students set up a safe, organized workspace before opening any system.

Lesson 2 • ESD Prevention Tools and Techniques

Covers antistatic wrist straps, mats, bags, and grounding methods. Students select and use the correct tool for each handling scenario.

Lesson 3 • Electrostatic Discharge Risks

Explains how ESD damages components invisibly and permanently. Students recognize high-risk conditions and understand why prevention is non-negotiable.

Lesson 1 • Systematic Disassembly Procedures

Teaches a step-by-step teardown sequence that prevents damage and preserves component order. Students document each step to support accurate reassembly.

Lesson 2 • Essential Tools for PC Work

Identifies the hand tools, diagnostic instruments, and organizational aids needed for PC maintenance. Students assemble a professional toolkit before starting any teardown.

Lesson 3 • Visual and Physical Inspection

Trains students to identify physical damage, contamination, and wear on all components. Findings from inspection directly inform cleaning and repair decisions.

Lesson 4 • Reassembly and Post-Build Checks

Guides students through reinstalling components in the correct sequence and verifying all connections. A post-build checklist confirms readiness before power-on.

Lesson 1 • Hardware Settings and Overclocking Basics

Teaches CPU, RAM, and voltage settings available in firmware. Students adjust XMP/EXPO profiles and understand the risks of manual overclocking.

Lesson 2 • Boot Order and Secure Boot

Covers boot device priority settings and the Secure Boot feature that blocks unauthorized code. Students configure boot order for installation and recovery tasks.

Lesson 3 • Firmware Updates and Recovery

Explains when and how to update firmware safely and how to recover from a failed flash. Students perform a firmware update using manufacturer-approved methods.

Lesson 1 • Disk Cloning and Imaging

Teaches sector-by-sector cloning and image-based backup for system migration. Students clone a drive and restore from an image without data loss.

Lesson 2 • Formatting Drives and Volumes

Explains quick format vs. full format and when each is appropriate. Students format drives with the correct file system for the intended use case.

Lesson 3 • Data Backup Strategies

Covers full, incremental, and differential backup types and their trade-offs. Students design a backup schedule that balances storage cost and recovery speed.

Lesson 4 • Disk Management Tools

Introduces built-in and third-party tools for viewing and modifying disk volumes. Students navigate these tools to inspect disk health and partition status.

Lesson 1 • Post-Installation System Configuration

Covers user account creation, network setup, and privacy settings after the OS installs. Students deliver a configured, ready-to-use system to an end user.

Lesson 2 • Driver Installation and Verification

Teaches the correct order for installing chipset, GPU, audio, and network drivers. Students verify driver integrity and resolve conflicts using device management tools.

Lesson 3 • Running the OS Installation Wizard

Walks through each screen of a standard OS installer, explaining every option. Students complete an installation without errors and understand each choice made.

Lesson 4 • Disk Partitioning and File Systems

Explains partition tables, partition types, and file system formats relevant to OS installation. Students design a partition layout that meets system and user requirements.

Lesson 1 • Common Boot and POST Failures

Addresses no-power, no-POST, and no-boot scenarios with systematic isolation steps. Students resolve the most frequent startup failures encountered in the field.

Lesson 2 • Hardware Diagnostic Tools and Tests

Covers POST codes, RAM testers, drive health tools, and stress-test utilities. Students run diagnostics and interpret results to confirm or rule out hardware faults.

Lesson 3 • Structured Troubleshooting Methodology

Introduces a repeatable six-step troubleshooting process used by IT professionals. Students apply this framework to every fault scenario throughout the chapter.

Lesson 4 • Performance Degradation Analysis

Identifies causes of slowdowns including thermal throttling, resource contention, and malware. Students use monitoring tools to pinpoint bottlenecks and apply targeted fixes.

Lesson 1 • Warranty, Compliance, and Disposal

Covers hardware warranty terms, responsible e-waste disposal, and data destruction standards. Students handle end-of-life equipment in compliance with applicable regulations.

Lesson 2 • Preventive Maintenance Schedules

Defines daily, monthly, and annual maintenance tasks for PC hardware and software. Students build a maintenance calendar tailored to a specific operating environment.

Lesson 3 • Hardware Maintenance Procedures

Details cleaning fans, replacing thermal paste, and inspecting connectors on a schedule. Students perform each procedure safely and record findings in a service log.

Lesson 4 • Software Maintenance Tasks

Covers OS updates, driver refreshes, disk optimization, and temporary file removal. Students automate recurring software tasks to reduce manual intervention.