A solid conceptual and practical knowledge of Windows 2000 or XP and preferably some experience with Windows 98 or ME; Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).
It''s also recommended that you have a PC that you can take apart and put back together again. This can be anything from an ancient Intel 286 to a newer 486 or beyond. Because of the dangers of electro-static discharge (to the machine, not the student), we do not require you to tear apart your own primary computer. This is, however, a class that trains you to be a hardware technician - having a machine to play with greatly helps your learning.
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A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.
Lesson 1
The Path of the Tech
Lesson 2
The Visible PC
Lesson 3
Introduction to CPUs
Lesson 4
Modern CPUs
Lesson 5
RAM Fundamentals
Lesson 6
RAM Today
Lesson 7
BIOS/CMOS
Lesson 8
Expansion Bus Fundamentals
Lesson 9
Modern Expansion Bus Types
Lesson 10
Motherboards and Cases
Lesson 11
Power Supplies and Electricity
Lesson 12
Input/Output Devices
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