Security & Infrastructure
Computer Maintenance
Diagnose and repair computers, install systems, and keep labs running smoothly.
Prerequisites
No prior experience required — open to beginners.
Certificate
Awarded by Rescue Academy on successful completion of the program's assessments and final project.
Learn Online — Live Classes
Register, receive your schedule, and join live instructor-led Computer Maintenance classes on Zoom. Assignments, instructor feedback, and a certificate on completion.
Learn In Person
Attend Computer Maintenance classes in person in Juba with hands-on labs, instructor mentorship, and a certificate on completion.
What You'll Learn
- Computer hardware, safety and diagnostics
- Windows installation, configuration and software management
- Troubleshooting, repair and upgrades
- Preventive maintenance, power protection and backups
- Malware removal, phones and Linux rescue tools
- Data recovery, secure wiping and e-waste
- Small office IT support and running a support service
Program Objectives
- Maintain and troubleshoot computers safely and methodically
- Install, repair and upgrade hardware and software
- Protect devices and data with backups, security and power protection
- Support small office IT and handle data and e-waste responsibly
- Run a professional IT support service
Who It's For
- Aspiring IT support technicians
- Office staff responsible for their organisation's computers
- Entrepreneurs planning a repair or support business
Where You'll Use It
- Repair shops and IT service businesses
- Schools, clinics and NGOs
- Corporate and government IT support
Curriculum
Instructor-led, practical training. Each level is a block of 4, 8 or 12 weeks; every module ends with a practical activity and an assessment, and every level with a project.
Module 1: Computer Hardware Fundamentals 10 h
Know what is inside a computer, what each part does and how to work on it safely. 3 lessons
Module 2: Operating System and Software Management 11 h
Keep Windows, drivers and applications updated, tidy and well configured. 3 lessons
Module 3: Troubleshooting Common Problems 10 h
Diagnose and fix frequent faults with a simple, logical method. 3 lessons
Module 4: Preventive Maintenance 11 h
Prevent problems with cleaning, power protection, backups and good habits. 3 lessons
Module 5: Peripherals and Connectivity Support 10 h
Set up and fix printers, Wi-Fi connections and other devices users depend on, and complete the level project. 3 lessons
Level project: Computer Health Check Service
Module 1: Disk Management and OS Installation 15 h
Prepare drives and install Windows cleanly and correctly. 3 lessons
Module 2: Hardware Diagnostics and Repair 16 h
Find faulty components and replace them in desktops and laptops. 3 lessons
Module 3: Upgrades and Compatibility 16 h
Upgrade computers with compatible RAM and SSDs and migrate data safely. 3 lessons
Module 4: Malware Removal and Security Hygiene 13 h
Recognise, remove and prevent malware on client computers. 3 lessons
Module 5: Mobile Devices and Other Operating Systems 13 h
Support smartphones and tablets, and use Linux and other systems for diagnosis and rescue. 3 lessons
Module 6: Remote Support and Customer Service 17 h
Support users remotely, communicate professionally and complete the workshop project. 3 lessons
Level project: Workshop Service Job
Module 1: Data Recovery and Secure Disposal 22 h
Recover lost data responsibly, handle failing drives correctly and wipe storage securely. 4 lessons
Module 2: Building and Specifying Computers 22 h
Choose compatible components, build and test computers and specify equipment for organisations. 4 lessons
Module 3: Supporting Small Office IT 22 h
Look after an organisation's computers, shared devices and backups efficiently. 4 lessons
Module 4: Power, Environment and E-Waste 24 h
Keep IT equipment running in difficult conditions and dispose of it responsibly. 4 lessons
Module 5: Running an IT Support Service 20 h
Run a professional, profitable and ethical IT support business or department. 4 lessons
Module 6: Capstone: Organisation Maintenance Service 30 h
Deliver a complete maintenance service for an organisation. 5 lessons
Level project: Organisation IT Maintenance Service
Final practical project
Organisation IT Maintenance Service
An authorised maintenance service for a real organisation: inventory and assessment, maintenance and repairs, backup and power improvements, replacement and e-waste plans, and a costed support proposal.
Deliverables
- Service agreement and asset inventory
- Job records for work carried out
- Backup, power and replacement plan
- Service report, support proposal and presentation
Assessed on
- Work is authorised, safe and protects data
- Repairs are evidence-based and verified
- Plans fit the organisation's budget and conditions
- The proposal is professional and clearly priced
Worked Examples
A selection of the visual, practical examples used in this program's lessons — each teaches a different skill.
- Troubleshooting tree The computer won't start: where to look A path from 'nothing happens' to the most likely cause. Beginner · Module 3 · Lesson 2
- Worked calculation Sizing a UPS for a workstation Adding up the load and estimating how long the battery will last. Beginner · Module 4 · Lesson 2
- Step-by-step A computer health check, step by step The order of work for a routine maintenance visit. Beginner · Module 5 · Lesson 3
- Before and after A slow office laptop before and after an SSD and RAM upgrade The same laptop with a hard drive and 4 GB of RAM, then with an SSD and 8 GB (illustrative measurements). Intermediate · Module 3 · Lesson 2
- Worked calculation Pricing an SSD upgrade job Building a fair price from parts, labour and overheads. Advanced · Module 5 · Lesson 1
- Data and chart What a month of support jobs reveals Sorting 62 jobs by fault type shows where preventive work would save the most time. Advanced · Module 5 · Lesson 3
Free Course: Computer Maintenance Starter
A free, hands-on introduction to looking after computers: hardware basics, managing the operating system and software, troubleshooting common faults and preventive care for local conditions. Free, self-study, about 5 hours — no certificate. The full program above is taught live by an instructor, with practical assignments, assessments and a certificate.
- 1Free lesson 1Computer Hardware Fundamentals
- 2Free lesson 2Operating System & Software Management
- 3Free lesson 3Troubleshooting Common Problems
- 4Free lesson 4Preventive Maintenance for South Sudan's Conditions
- 5Free lesson 5Basic Networking & Peripherals
- Final checkQuick Quiz — Computer Maintenance Basics
Tools & Technologies
Primary Tools
- Windows built-in tools (Task Manager, Device Manager, Disk Management, recovery options) — Diagnosis, configuration and repair Practice: Everyday maintenance and troubleshooting
- Antistatic wrist strap and toolkit — Safe hardware work Practice: Component replacement and upgrades
- Bootable USB drives (Windows installer, Linux live USB) — Installation and data rescue Practice: Reinstalling and recovering systems
Supporting Tools
- Drive health and memory test tools — Hardware diagnosis Practice: Evidence-based fault finding
- Remote assistance tools such as Quick Assist — Supporting users remotely Practice: Secure remote help
Professional / Industry Tools
- Job tracking and asset inventory — Managing service work Practice: Professional service delivery
- UPS and power planning — Protecting equipment Practice: Resilient IT in difficult conditions
Career Opportunities
- IT support technician
- Network or systems administrator
- Cybersecurity analyst at a bank, telecom, or government office
Practical Projects
- Perform a complete troubleshooting and preventive maintenance workflow on a real or practice computer, documented step by step
- Assemble or upgrade a desktop computer from individual components
- Remote-support a classmate through a common computer issue using remote-access software, communicating each diagnostic step clearly without touching their machine directly
Problem-Solving Focus
Problem: A computer in a dusty office or school environment keeps overheating and shutting down unexpectedly
Approach: Open the case safely, clean dust from fans and heatsinks with compressed air, and set a regular cleaning schedule — rather than replacing hardware that was never actually broken.
Problem: A computer won't boot, and it's unclear whether the problem is hardware, the operating system, or a peripheral
Approach: Use a structured diagnostic process — checking power and display first, then isolating hardware by testing components one at a time — instead of randomly replacing parts and hoping.
Problem: A shared lab or office computer has become painfully slow over time, with no error messages
Approach: Check Task Manager for a resource hog, review startup programs, check free disk space, and scan for malware — in that order — before assuming a hardware upgrade is needed.
Problem: Frequent or unstable power is damaging hardware or causing data loss from improper shutdowns
Approach: Use surge protection or a UPS where available, teach proper safe-shutdown habits, and maintain regular backups so a sudden power loss never means losing real work.
Ready to register for Computer Maintenance?
Register — Learn Online Register — Learn In Person WhatsApp: +211926196668 Email: rescueacademy26@gmail.com