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Computer Hardware and Operating System Basics
A free computer hardware course for beginners: what is inside a computer, how to read specifications, what an operating system does, and how to troubleshoot. Five short lessons and a quiz, with a certificate of completion.
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The short version
Free, no payment details
Sign up with your name and e-mail and confirm it with a 6-digit code. There is nothing to buy.
About 60 minutes
5 short lessons and one final quiz. Your progress is saved, so you can stop and come back on any device.
Certificate of completion
Finish every lesson and score 70% or more on the final quiz. Retakes are unlimited.
Not a program
This free short course is not part of a Ucademy diploma or certificate program and gives no program credit.
What you will learn
- Name the main parts of a computer and explain what each one does
- Tell RAM from storage and an SSD from an HDD, and say why it matters for speed
- Read a specification sheet and compare a computer with published minimum requirements
- Describe the boot process and use it to work out where a start-up fault happened
- Manage user accounts, updates, free space and backups with a simple routine
- Follow a seven-step troubleshooting method and write a clear support note
Who it is for
Beginners, career changers and anyone in Alberta who wants to understand computers better or is curious about IT support work. No technical background is needed.
What you need
- A computer or tablet with an internet connection
- About 60 minutes in total, which you can split across several days
- Optional: a Windows or Mac computer to look at its own specifications
Lessons
- 1Inside a computer: the main components12 min
- 2Reading specifications and minimum requirements12 min
- 3What an operating system does12 min
- 4Everyday maintenance: accounts, updates, storage and backups12 min
- 5A troubleshooting method for beginners12 min
- ✓Computer Hardware and Operating System Basics: final quizfinal quiz
Where this course can lead
IT Professional Certificate
This course is a short, practical introduction. The full program goes much further: 420 hours online: IT support, hardware, operating systems, networking and desktop administration.
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See the course →Frequently asked questions
Yes. You create a free account, take the five lessons and the quiz, and pay nothing.
Yes. When you finish the lessons and pass the quiz you receive a Ucademy certificate of completion. The course is not part of a diploma or certificate program.
About 60 minutes in total across five lessons of roughly 12 minutes each. It is online and self-paced, so you can stop and continue later.
No. Every term is explained from the start. If you can use a computer for email and web browsing, you can follow the lessons.
RAM holds what the computer is using right now and loses its contents when power is off. Storage, such as an SSD or hard drive, keeps files and programs when the power is off. Lesson 1 explains how they work together.
No. It is a free short course, not part of a Ucademy diploma or certificate program, and it does not give program credit.
Start Computer Hardware and Operating System Basics today
Free, online and at your own pace, with a certificate of completion.