Help Yourself: Tech Tips Weekly

9h 28mBeginner2021-07-14

Authors

Dan Gookin

Creator, Teacher, and Technology Writer with 20+ years of experience

Course details

For basic IT issues, most users prefer to help themselves. If you are interested in troubleshooting your own computer issues, this series is the answer. The tips are equally useful to end users, small businesses that perform their own IT, and enterprise IT help desks that want to reduce Level 1 service tickets. Instructor Dan Gookin focuses on the Windows PC, covering topics related to hardware, networking, security, and the operating system itself. No preexisting knowledge is required.

Skills covered

Help Desk SkillsSerial (Weekly)IT Help Desk

Concepts

1. Operating System

01 - Dealing with a bad sign-in
02 - Doing a Windows checkup
03 - Recovering a deleted file
04 - Locating a lost file
05 - Rolling back an update
06 - Fixing a full hard drive
07 - Controlling the taskbar
08 - Speeding up a slow computer
09 - Uninstalling software
10 - Mapping a network drive
11 - Managing desktop icons
12 - Configuring system updates
13 - Formatting media
14 - Setting laptop power options
15 - Setting desktop power options
16 - Dealing with an unknown file type
17 - Restarting the operating system
18 - Renaming a group of files
19 - Opening an unknown file attachment
20 - Knowing when to call for help

2. Networking

21 - Finding the PC's IP address
22 - Understanding networking terms
23 - Reviewing network layout
24 - Troubleshooting the network connection
25 - Managing Wi-Fi networks
26 - Restarting the network
27 - Checking network privacy
28 - Accessing a shared folder
29 - Sharing a folder
30 - Updating the Wi-Fi password
31 - Checking your internet speed
32 - Mapping a network drive
33 - Working with a flakey Wi-Fi connection

3. Security

34 - Being password smart
35 - Updating your password
36 - Spotting a secure website
37 - Recognizing a phishing attack email
38 - Clearing the browser history
39 - Reviewing Wi-Fi security options
40 - Managing online passwords
41 - Disabling Windows remote desktop access
42 - Running Windows Defender
43 - Understanding website certificates

4. Hardware

44 - Checking a bad keyboard or mouse
45 - Understanding PC sound connections
46 - Turning off a stubborn computer
47 - Identifying odd computer noises

5. Microsoft Office

48 - Disabling the backstage
49 - Showing (and hiding) the ribbon
50 - Selecting another printer
51 - Repairing an Office installation
52 - Updating the Quick Access Toolbar
53 - Excel - Freezing rows or columns
54 - Excel - Understanding hash errors
55 - Excel - Using the single quote
56 - PowerPoint - Starting a presentation
57 - PowerPoint - Move around a presentation
58 - PowerPoint - Create a slideshow video
59 - PowerPoint - Slideshow tips
60 - Word - Centering a page
61 - Word - Adding a page border
62 - Word - Changing the default font
63 - Word - Removing the last blank page
64 - Word - Rotating a single page
65 - Word - Restoring the Save All command
66 - Word - Setting tab stops

6. Windows 10

67 - Creating a new task view
68 - Changing AutoPlay behavior
69 - Pruning recent file lists
70 - Reviewing keyboard shortcuts
71 - Configuring Windows 10 sync
72 - Arranging windows
73 - Saving your eyes with dark mode
74 - Using night light
75 - Ratcheting up privacy protection
76 - Understanding Quick Access

7. Troubleshooting

77 - Accepting why things go wrong
78 - Checking the hardware
79 - Locating troubleshooting tools
80 - Using the Task Manager
81 - Activating File History
82 - Reviewing events
83 - Recovering an earlier version of a file
84 - Restoring files from a backup
85 - Setting a restore point
86 - Using system restore

8. Laptop Assistance

87 - Preparing for a road trip
88 - Going on the road
89 - Configuring the power buttons
90 - Adding a full-size monitor and keyboard
91 - Entering tablet mode
92 - Connecting to a projector
93 - Exploring keyboard secrets
94 - Working with the touch keyboard
95 - Protecting your laptop
96 - Connecting to a VPN

9. Shortcuts and Time-Savers

97 - Pinning items to the taskbar
98 - Adding the address bar
99 - Sending favorites to the desktop
100 - Changing file association
101 - Safely removing external storag
102 - Recognizing USB colors
103 - Launching a program at startup
104 - Using pins for popular files
105 - Useful keyboard and mouse shortcuts
106 - Panic-driven keyboard shortcuts

10. Images and Graphics

107 - Fixing a photo
108 - Changing image file formats

11. PC Performance

109 - Monitoring performance
110 - Disabling Windows background services
111 - Understanding memory leaks
112 - Stopping a stuck program
113 - Using file and drive compression
114 - Adding a second hard drive
115 - Adding more memory
116 - Disabling startup programs
117 - Improving hard drive performance
118 - Reviewing system performance

12. Storage Management

119 - Looking at storage
120 - Visiting the Disk Management console
121 - Preparing a new drive
122 - Partitioning a new drive
123 - Repartitioning a drive
124 - Extending and shrinking partitions
125 - Creating a mirrored volume
126 - Formatting and reformatting media
127 - Reassigning drive letters
128 - Mounting an external drive

13. File Management

129 - Creating files, rules, and limitations
130 - Organizing files in folders
131 - Moving and duplicating files
132 - Working with removable storage
133 - Archiving files and folders
134 - Deleting and recovering files
135 - Creating a shortcut
136 - Starting a new item
137 - Opening a file with a specific program
138 - Marking files as read-only or hidden

14. General Computer

139 - Locking the PC
140 - Stopping a print job
141 - Adding more USB devices
142 - Buying a new PC or laptop
143 - Using a UPS
144 - Updating the graphics driver
145 - Starting the Windows recovery environment
146 - Entering safe mode
147 - Using a foreign-language keyboard
148 - Applying BitLocker protection

15. Acrobat and PDF Tips

149 - PDF tips and tricks
150 - Filling in and signing a PDF form
151 - Working with PDF files on the web
152 - Creating a PDF
153 - Creating a PDF form
154 - Exporting a PDF to Microsoft Office
155 - Securing a PDF
156 - PDF troubleshooting

16. Excel Help

157 - Handy Excel keyboard shortcuts
158 - Creating an instant table in Excel
159 - Dealing with cell references in Excel
160 - Sizing rows and columns in a worksheet
161 - Naming cells
162 - Creating a drop-down list
163 - Working with text
164 - Using the LOOKUP formulas
165 - Modifying a chart
166 - Merging Excel and Word

17. Web Browser Tips

167 - Selecting the perfect browser
168 - Choosing a search engine
169 - Setting site permissions
170 - Opening a group of bookmarks
171 - Managing Chrome extensions
172 - Customizing the browser
173 - Changing the web page view
174 - Configuring multiple browser accounts
175 - Dealing with cookies
176 - Browsing privately

18. Windows 11 Upgrade

177 - Qualifying for the Windows 11 upgrade
178 - Checking for Windows 11 updates
179 - Clearing a stuck Windows update
180 - Reviewing Windows 11 changes
181 - Checking out the widgets
182 - Exploring files in Windows 11
183 - Accessing the Windows 11 shortcut menu
184 - Reviewing the Windows 11 taskbar corner
185 - Setting display options in Windows 11
186 - Using Linux in Windows 11
187 - Discovering Windows 11 backup options

19. Workplace IT Help Desk

188 - Using the office printer
189 - Creating an Outlook contact group
190 - Creating a shared calendar in Outlook
191 - Sharing a calendar event in Outlook
192 - Archiving email in Outlook
193 - Dealing with suspect email in Outlook
194 - Creating a junk email rule in Outlook
195 - Keeping your account secure
196 - Maximizing an online meeting

20. Microsoft Online

197 - Installing and using OneDrive
198 - Exploring OneDrive files online
199 - Sharing a OneDrive file or folder
200 - Confirming the file is saved to the cloud
201 - Accessing Microsoft 365
202 - Using Microsoft Word online
203 - Working in Excel Online
204 - Using Microsoft PowerPoint Online
205 - Exploring the online version of Outlook
206 - Getting feedback in Office
207 - Tracking changes in Word
208 - Comparing document versions
209 - Reviewing document history in OneDrive

21. Simple Hardware Upgrades

210 - Replacing a keyboard or mouse
211 - Adding a second monitor
212 - Going wireless
213 - Adding a Wi-Fi adapter
214 - Connecting and using a webcam

22. Computer Help and Support

215 - Signing into Windows
216 - Repairing Windows
217 - Controlling the taskbar
218 - Speeding up a slow computer
219 - Uninstalling software