Computer Maintenance Course

Lesson 1 • Diagnostic and Measurement Tools

Covers multimeters, POST cards, and cable testers used to diagnose hardware faults. Students interpret readings to confirm or rule out component failure.

Lesson 2 • Electrostatic Discharge Prevention

Explains how ESD damages components and how to prevent it. Students apply grounding techniques consistently before handling any sensitive hardware.

Lesson 3 • Essential Hand Tools

Introduces screwdrivers, spudgers, pliers, and other hand tools used in PC repair. Students select the correct tool for each fastener type and component.

Lesson 4 • Electrical and Physical Safety

Addresses shock hazards, heavy-component handling, and chemical safety in a repair environment. Students follow safety protocols that protect both themselves and the equipment.

Lesson 1 • Storage Devices and Interfaces

Examines HDDs, SSDs, and optical drives along with their connection interfaces. Students distinguish storage technologies by speed, capacity, and use case.

Lesson 2 • Display and Input Peripherals

Surveys monitors, keyboards, mice, and other input devices and their connection standards. Connects peripheral selection to user productivity and ergonomics.

Lesson 3 • Inside the Desktop PC

Introduces the physical layout of a desktop computer and its internal components. Establishes the spatial and functional vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Laptop Hardware Differences

Highlights how laptop components differ from desktop equivalents in size, power, and repairability. Prepares students for the unique challenges of portable system maintenance.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Disassembly Planning

Covers documentation, backup verification, and part identification before opening any system. Proper planning prevents data loss and component mix-ups during repair.

Lesson 2 • Desktop Disassembly Sequence

Walks through the step-by-step removal of desktop components in the correct order. Students practice safe cable disconnection and component extraction techniques.

Lesson 3 • Component Handling During Service

Teaches correct handling of motherboards, CPUs, and RAM during the repair process. Students avoid bent pins, cracked solder joints, and contamination of sensitive surfaces.

Lesson 4 • Laptop Disassembly Sequence

Guides students through laptop-specific disassembly, including hidden screws and fragile ribbon cables. Emphasizes patience and precision to avoid cracking plastic housings.

Lesson 1 • Power Supply Replacement

Teaches PSU wattage calculation, connector identification, and safe swap procedures. Students replace a PSU and verify all rails deliver correct voltages.

Lesson 2 • CPU and Cooler Replacement

Addresses CPU compatibility, socket installation, and thermal compound application. Students replace a CPU and cooler and confirm stable temperatures under load.

Lesson 3 • RAM Upgrade Procedures

Covers compatibility research, physical installation, and BIOS verification of new RAM modules. Students upgrade RAM in both desktops and laptops and confirm correct detection.

Lesson 4 • GPU and Expansion Card Upgrades

Covers GPU selection, driver preparation, and PCIe slot installation. Students install a graphics card and resolve common driver and power connector issues.

Lesson 1 • BIOS and UEFI Fundamentals

Explains the role of BIOS and UEFI in the boot process and hardware initialization. Students distinguish legacy BIOS from UEFI and identify key firmware settings.

Lesson 2 • Firmware Update Procedures

Teaches how to safely download, verify, and flash firmware updates. Students follow manufacturer procedures to minimize the risk of a failed flash.

Lesson 3 • Essential BIOS Settings

Covers date/time, boot order, hardware enable/disable, and security settings in firmware. Students configure a system for optimal boot behavior and hardware compatibility.

Lesson 4 • Diagnosing Boot Failures

Addresses no-POST, missing OS, and bootloader errors using firmware and external tools. Students isolate the failure layer and apply the correct fix for each scenario.

Lesson 1 • Dual-Boot and Multi-OS Setups

Explains how to install multiple operating systems on one machine without conflicts. Students configure a bootloader to present OS choices at startup.

Lesson 2 • Preparing Installation Media

Covers downloading OS images, verifying checksums, and writing bootable USB drives. Students create reliable installation media before beginning any OS deployment.

Lesson 3 • Post-Install System Configuration

Covers power plans, update settings, user accounts, and security baselines after installation. Students apply a consistent configuration checklist to every newly installed system.

Lesson 4 • Driver Installation and Management

Teaches the correct order for installing chipset, GPU, audio, and network drivers. Students use device manager to confirm all hardware is recognized and functioning.

Lesson 1 • Display and GPU Troubleshooting

Addresses no-display, artifacting, and driver crash scenarios for both integrated and discrete graphics. Students isolate GPU faults from display cable and monitor faults.

Lesson 2 • Overheating and Thermal Failures

Covers temperature monitoring, thermal throttling detection, and cooler maintenance procedures. Students restore normal operating temperatures through cleaning and re-pasting.

Lesson 3 • Memory and Storage Fault Diagnosis

Teaches RAM testing with diagnostic utilities and drive health assessment with SMART data. Students distinguish memory errors from storage errors based on symptom patterns.

Lesson 4 • Power and Startup Failures

Covers dead systems, random shutdowns, and power-related instability using a component-isolation approach. Students trace power faults from the outlet to individual components.

Lesson 1 • Scheduled Cleaning Procedures

Details interior and exterior cleaning tasks and their recommended intervals. Regular cleaning prevents thermal buildup and contact corrosion that cause premature failures.

Lesson 2 • Maintenance Scheduling and Contracts

Covers how to design recurring maintenance plans for individual clients and business fleets. Students draft a maintenance agreement that defines scope, intervals, and deliverables.

Lesson 3 • Service Record Documentation

Introduces standardized formats for recording repairs, parts used, and test results. Accurate records support warranty claims, repeat-visit efficiency, and quality assurance.

Lesson 4 • Backup and Recovery Planning

Teaches the 3-2-1 backup strategy and how to verify backup integrity before a failure occurs. Students configure automated backups and practice a full restore procedure.