IT Troubleshooting & IT Technical Support Helpdesk Bootcamp

User Account Control is a Windows security feature that is used to prevent software or users from running applications that could make system wide changes to the computer and potentially cause harm.

The Windows Event Viewer is used to view logs that Windows creates for things such as security events, application failures and overall system occurrences.

You can use the System File Checker tool to scan protected Windows system files, and replace corrupted files that it finds.

You can use the Reliability Monitor go go back in time and view the system's dependability history, including exactly what changed and when, alongside any application or OS crashes

The Tweaking.com Windows Repair app is a free tool you can use to find issues related to malware, users, services, permissions, Windows Updates, file system, apps, printers, firewall, the Windows registry and more.

This is a nice third party (free) app you can use to dig deeper into your Windows Defender Security Logs.

If you are concerned about computer security and want to ensure that your users are not being compromised by malware or other malicious software when logging into their computer, you can easily enable the Ctrl Alt Del login requirements for your Windows computers. This is used to ensure that your users are typing in their password or PIN in the actual Windows login box and not a malicious application.

In Windows 11, the Windows Security app serves as a centralized hub for managing various security features and settings. It provides users with easy access to essential security tools, such as antivirus, firewall, device security, and account protection. From the Windows Security app, users can perform tasks like running virus scans, checking for security updates, managing firewall rules, and reviewing device health and performance. Additionally, Windows 11 introduces several new security enhancements, including improved protection against ransomware and advanced threat detection capabilities.

Windows Security Identifiers (SIDs) are unique alphanumeric strings assigned to every user, group, and computer in a Windows environment to manage access and permissions. SIDs are used internally by the operating system to identify and authenticate entities, ensuring that security settings and access controls are consistently applied. Each SID is unique within a given security context, allowing Windows to accurately distinguish between different users and groups when managing file permissions, group policies, and other security-related functions.

The Windows Local Security Policy Editor is a management tool that allows administrators to configure and enforce security settings on a local computer. Through this editor, users can set policies that govern various security aspects such as user rights assignments, account policies, and audit policies. It provides control over password policies, user permissions, and security options to help maintain system integrity and protect against unauthorized access. The Local Security Policy Editor is essential for managing security on standalone computers or in environments where centralized group policies are not in use.

Before performing a clean Windows installation, properly wiping the target drive is critical, especially when security, data integrity, or malware remediation is a concern. In this video, we take a technical look at the differences between deleting partitions during Windows Setup and using DiskPart to wipe a disk at a lower level. We break down what actually happens to partition tables, file system metadata, and residual data when partitions are removed versus when DiskPart commands like clean and clean all are used. You’ll learn how each method affects data recoverability, why some wipes are fast but superficial, and when a full sector‑level overwrite is justified. This video is aimed at users who want a precise understanding of drive sanitization behavior before reinstalling Windows, whether for system recovery, hardware reuse, or security‑sensitive environments.

Additional Computer Hardware Troubleshooting resources to download for referencing as needed.

The Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool can be used to run a variety of tests on your system's RAM and then report on what it finds.

The Speccy app is a free tool you can use to view details about the hardware in your computer and will even show you what temperature your components are running at.

Since there are many types of hard drives you can have installed in your computer, it would make sense that you would want a way to find out what type of drives you are using without having to take the case off the PC and actually look inside to get your answer.

Here is a free tool you can use as an alternative to the Windows Event Viewer.

Windows System Restore is a built-in tool that allows users to revert their computer system to a previous state, effectively undoing recent changes and mitigating the impact of system errors, software installations, or other issues. System Restore creates restore points at specific intervals or before significant changes, such as software installations or updates. When a user encounters problems, they can use System Restore to roll back the system to a restore point where it was known to be stable. This tool is particularly useful for troubleshooting and recovering from issues without affecting personal files.

Running out of hard drive space is a common problem, even with today's extra large hard drives. Before you go uninstalling software or deleting files you might not want to delete, you should do a check to see which files are taking up the space on your disk.

If you are the type of Windows user who is always accessing the various Windows tools from the settings app, Admin Tools or Control Panel, then you might want to check out a free tool called Win 10 All Settings. This app will work with Windows 10 and Windows 11 and provide quick access to various system tools and settings all from one place (even God Mode). There is nothing to install and once you run the executable, you will find the tool in your system tray for easy access.

If you find yourself often booting into Safe Mode, you may want to try out the BootSafe tool which will let you easily boot into the various Safe Mode configurations on the spot or on your next reboot. It will also allow you to enable the older F8 key functionality where you can press F8 while booting your computer to get to the Safe Mode menu.

If you have a process or application that you need to run using the TrustedInstaller, System or Admin rights, you can easily run that process using the free RunX software. It has a GUI (graphical user interface) version as well as a command line version that you can use for scripting etc. You can also add command line arguments in the GUI. You can also run programs as a standard user (de-elevated) to see how or if they will run without admin rights.

The Microsoft Defender Antivirus Offline Scan feature offers an additional layer of protection by enabling users to scan their Windows devices for malware and other threats even when they're not connected to the internet. This offline scan functionality is particularly useful in situations where malware may be actively interfering with online security measures or when users suspect that their device has been compromised. By booting into a trusted environment and running a comprehensive scan of the system's files and processes, Microsoft Defender Antivirus Offline Scan can detect and remove malicious software, potentially safeguarding sensitive data and restoring the device's security.

The Windows Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is a powerful administrative tool that allows users to configure and manage system settings, user preferences, and security policies on Windows devices. It provides a structured interface to modify group policies at both the computer and user levels. Administrators can use it to enforce security protocols, restrict access to specific features, optimize performance, and customize the user experience. Normally, it is not available in Windows Home editions but can be easily added.

Using CHKDSK (Check Disk) to fix drive errors is a key troubleshooting step in Windows for maintaining storage health and resolving file system issues. CHKDSK scans hard drives or SSDs for problems like bad sectors, corrupted files, or disk structure errors, and can attempt to repair them automatically. It’s especially useful when a drive is behaving erratically, files are missing, or Windows flags disk errors. Running CHKDSK through the Command Prompt provides a powerful, built-in way to diagnose and fix many common storage problems without third-party software.

Identifying the types of devices on your wireless (Wi-Fi) network is important for maintaining security, managing bandwidth, and ensuring optimal performance. Knowing what’s connected can help detect unauthorized access, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and monitor network usage across phones, computers, smart TVs, and IoT devices. It also allows for better control over your network resources and can assist in managing parental controls or prioritizing traffic for specific devices.

Understanding who shut down or restarted a computer, and at what time can be important for several reasons. In shared or organizational environments, unexpected shutdowns can disrupt work, cause data loss, or interrupt critical processes. Tracking these events helps with accountability, ensuring that only authorized users perform system actions. It also aids in troubleshooting, as frequent or unexplained reboots may indicate hardware issues, software conflicts, or even security concerns.

Be sure to check out our IT Fundamentals & Troubleshooting for Computer Technicians course for additional training.

Check out our Easily Master Microsoft Windows 11 course for Windows specific training.

Check out our Microsoft Windows System & User Administration Fundamentals for additional training

If you are in the IT field, it is a good idea to know how to keep your users, computers and networks secure not matter what your position. If you want to improve your security skillset, you should check out our IT Security Fundamentals for Help Desk IT Technical Support course.

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