If you're interested in learning more about your PC and finding out how to fix some of the most common problems with Microsoft Vista related to hardware and software, you're in the right place. This course also addresses a lot of Windows Vista maintenance tasks, discusses how to speed up Vista, examines some cool Vista gadgets, describes what makes the Vista operating system special and different, and digs into Vista tips, tweaks, and tricks.

Although most of this course is specific to Windows Vista software, it sometimes mentions other Windows operating system options that may be helpful in case you have an older version.

How this class works

This course consists of four lessons; each with an assignment and a quiz. Read a lesson, complete its assignment (if you want to -- they aren't graded), and then test your knowledge by taking the quiz.

Here's how the lessons break down:

• Lesson 1: Focuses on user settings, adding and removing software, cleaning up applications that run in the background, and using Task Manager.
• Lesson 2: Shows you how to manage hardware settings and device drivers, update your system with Windows Update, and protect your system with a firewall, antivirus, and antispyware software.
• Lesson 3: Covers application crashes and how to recover from them. You'll also learn how to repair a Windows installation and reinstall as a last resort.
• Lesson 4: Explores how to improve the performance of your PC. You'll learn how to defragment a hard disk, adjust display settings, get rid of unnecessary files and icons, and use a handy all-in-one utility: TweakVI.

Throughout this course, we provide Flash examples. To view these examples, you need the Adobe Flash Player. Keep an eye out for notes with links that say "See how to ____" or something similar. Some of these files are very large (10 MB or so) and may take a while to appear or download if you have a slow connection.

Who should take this class?

This course is for people who already have basic knowledge of computers and Microsoft Windows Vista from a user standpoint but would like to learn more. Perhaps you have a specific problem you're trying to solve with your PC, or perhaps you're just curious. Either way, welcome.

If you're not sure whether you're ready for this course, stick around -- at least for Lesson 1 -- and give it a try. You'll find that there's a wide range of experience levels among your fellow students, ranging from brave beginners to people who fix computers for a living. Be patient and helpful with one another, and don't forget that everyone has something to teach and something to learn.

Let's get started.