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Question

What is the best site for beginner IT tutorials?

Feb 20, 2015 8:52PM PST

Hi there,

I am trying to find a website that provides computer tutorials for absolute beginners.

In particular, I want to learn about networks.

However, I also want to ensure I have a good general understanding of computers.

If you do not know of any good sites suitable for beginners, can you provide me with some suggestions on important things I should look up?

I would like to self educate myself to a point where I would have enough knowledge to work in a low level IT job. I don't actually intend to work in IT, I just want to reach that level of understanding for my own personal needs.

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Two really.
Feb 20, 2015 11:01PM PST

Google and Youtube.

There are now many fine tutorials and books for both to catch up on the basics.
Bob

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What are the "basics"?
Feb 20, 2015 11:22PM PST

Thanks, but a large part of my problem is knowing what the "basics" are. What am I suppose to google?

At the moment I have googled and found tutorials to for Visual Basic.net, C++, Microsoft Office, etc etc.

However this does not help me for two reasons:

Do IT professionals need to learn Visual Basic.net or C++?
The tutorials that I have found may not be useful for my purposes.

I want to have enough knowledge of computing to be able to repair my own computer if I have any problems, do routine maintenance, and ensure my files are secure.

I want to learn about Network administration to help ensure certain individuals that I know have not set up a network so that they can get into my computer.

I think the key thing for me to know is: what do I need to google to learn the basics of IT?

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Basics are what you don't know.
Feb 20, 2015 11:26PM PST

You may want to start with Computer 101 videos, then as you learn the lingo you look for more.
Bob

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About What IT professionals learn.
Feb 20, 2015 11:30PM PST

Maybe you start with asking that question on google. Try "What does an IT professional do?"

Remember there are not that many reasons for low level IT staff today. And what you learn on the web may be full of holes without any degree so there's that.

-> Part of a good IT staff is self starting and finding information on their own. Asking where the information is, is not a good sign (after all, we expect them to know Google, and call the makers when needed.)
Bob

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I don't want to be an IT professional
Feb 21, 2015 9:34AM PST

To be clear, I do not want to work in the IT field. My main goal is to be in a position to fix my own computer problems as they arise. Secondly, I want to be familiar with all the different ways that another person might be able to access my computer. This is why I thought learning network administration would be important (I want to ensure my computer is not on a network - there is no reason for my computer to be on a network).

In the past I have asked people with an IT background to assist me. However, I have found that while fixing my computer they go into various settings and change them. Allowing them to monitor what I am doing. Once I saw someone I know clicking "show all passwords" in their flatmates internet browser - I do not ask this person for help any more.

I want to have the knowledge of a low level IT professional because frankly, I don't trust the people I know that have helped fix my computer in the past.

I am not trying to get a job in IT. It is about self-protection and self-relience. So no qualification is needed.

I have used google before posting the original message, and did find some websites with tutorials. What I was hoping for is some further direction in using google to find more information.

I am looking for the websites that I have overlooked. For example, the website "home and learn" is pretty good in my opinion, but I can't see how an IT professional would use programming languages and visual basic for the kind of jobs that they do (the jobs that I am aware of).

My experience of IT professionals is that they fix the servers when they are down (up until recently I didn't know what that meant), control access to files/webpages and fix other general problems.

I knew one of the IT help desk workers at my university, and he had no background in IT when he started the job, he was considered "low level". However, he was able to fix general computer problems.

I want to emphasis, that I have used google before coming here, and I have found some websites (very good websites in fact). This is how I came across this website in fact. I have also asked people I know for recommendations.

The websites I have found do have good tutorials, but they often have only one brief course in IT specifically. Many of them offer courses on programming.

I was really hoping that someone would point me in the direction of a website that had hundreds of tutorials that follow a progression from beginner to expert - specifically focusing on general IT. So I could do two tutorials a day (starting from beginner).

This whole search has started off an interest in programming, and I am going through the tutorials for Java and Visual Basic.net - which I find fascinating. However, this does not solve my original problem: becoming self-reliant and protecting myself when it comes to computers.

I want to check my computer for intrusions from people who have an IT background, so for example, yesterday I discovered that someone I know had "Synced" my computer with his email address. I promptly unsynced it. However, this person is an IT professional with a job as a network administrator, so I also want to ensure that he has not found other ways to access my computer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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check out linux distros
Feb 21, 2015 9:51AM PST

distrowatch.com

although more are learning the system, the vast majority are barely even aware of it. Youtube has a lot of videos on the major distributions you can spend time enjoying.

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Re: computing
Feb 20, 2015 11:34PM PST

IT professionals that program in VB.net or C++ (or Java, or C#, or COBOL or whatever language) need to learn about that language. You probably don't.

How to repair a computer if it has problems, depends on the problem. Replacing a mouse is much easier than replacing a motherboard, and replacing a video card is somewhere in between. Restoring a working image of your PC is much easier than finding out what setting is corrupted and makes you can't logon anymore.

Routine maintenance also is different for hardware (wipe the screen of the monitor) then for software (do the required updates) or removing temp files with the Disk Cleanup wizard or Ccleaner.

Files are never secure. That's why you must backup to 2 different media.

Knowledge of network administration is only needed for network administrators. You aren't on.

If you any specific questions, why not ask those?

Kees

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Thanks
Feb 21, 2015 10:01AM PST

Thank you for your response, I probably don't need VB.net or programming languages. However, this recent interest in IT has caused me to stumble upon them and I think they really cool - especially VB.net. So I am going learn them anyway.

As far as I can tell, network administration is exactly what I need to know about. Network administrator would be experts at setting up a network. I am trying to ensure my computer has not been placed on a network by an IT expert that recently used my computer. I discovered that my computer had been synced to his email address and also saw him putting information into the "run" window. It looked like an IP address and I was wondering if he has connected my computer to his via some sort of network.

This is the whole reason that I have become interested in IT. I wanted to check my computer to ensure that an IT expert (not just a computer savvy individual) has not somehow found a way to connect to my computer from a far without my permission.

The second point is that I wanted to become self-reliant when it comes to computing so I will not need to ask people (that I now no longer trust) for help with my computer. If I don't need to give people access to my computer, they wont be able to go into the settings and change things when I am not looking.

It is not about getting a job in IT.

Since looking into IT, I have found that there are things that I find really interesting about it (VB.net especially), and intend to continue my learning in this area.

A specific question can be found here: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6122_102-636773/does-someone-else-have-access-to-my-computer/?tag=contentBody;threadListing

Thanks for your help. Even this forum discussion is help me to narrow down exactly what I am trying to achieve (by explaining it to others). It has helped provide me with a bit of clarity.

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Answer
learn the hardware first
Feb 21, 2015 3:03AM PST
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Answer
We you can get on Nook
Feb 23, 2015 3:27AM PST

or Barnes and Noble and they will let you sample before you purchase. You can signup online and purchase them from multiple devices.

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Answer
Alternsatively...
Mar 6, 2015 7:56PM PST

...unless you live in a really remote location, your local library is your friend. Most run free tutorial sessions for absolute beginners through general abilities. That (probably) won't take you to the level you want but it will teach you enough of the basics to build on.

Then you might try the "for Dummies" books. despite the title, they are anything else but! Again, cost from your library - nil. Then you can progress to the "heavy" books on networking - again, my local library has several that go very deep into the subject.

Incidentally, you can find electronic copies of some Dummies books for reading online - as Bob said Google!

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Answer
I would look at Barnes and Noble.
Mar 18, 2015 11:28PM PDT

You can setup and account and download books electronically or you can go to their stores.

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Answer
I work in IT for a dompnay with 4000 employees.
Mar 25, 2015 9:59PM PDT

We have a help desk they answer calls from and are the first contact when users have problem they are considered non-professional employees by my organization and the first line in problem solving. They can remote to users computers and fix some issues

CSSA (desktop) - second line for fixing problems. They work on single pc's support. They have administrative rights to all computers and can do what are call fat client installs of software. Fat Client meas the problem is installed on a local machine and run locally. A thin client is where an application is installed on the server but runs on the desktop. They also setup new computers. We are moving from XP to Windows 7 now and they are heavily involved.

The highest CSSA is in a position called an Computer Engineer. The engineer is in charge of making images which are Windows copies with our basic applications. These images are of our current supported OS and installed on every new PC we get. Some areas need specific Software for their job and the CSSA will install that. The engineer also test new software for incompatibilities with our system and will approve that software for purchase or deny it. They also do SMS remote installs wyhen software is needed on high numbers of pc.

Support Services

My area does application support for 3rd party Software. I do installs for Multiuser Software Systems mainly systems with application servers and backend SQL database servers. I do upgrades and diagnose problems and fix or work with a vendor to fix. I require admin rights to the server and database admin accounts. I also write software specs for interfaces between systems like SQL databases to AS/400 databases. Sometimes I develop MS SQL queries for the developers and the used my queries inside their .Net apps (either VB or VC). I assign security to users especially applications that are financial.

Application developers

They write the code now since we aren't doing a lot of development in house and are using 3rd party software package they most do interfaces or integration's between systems. I started in this area and I mostly used MS Visual Foxpro.

Business Analysts

They are the go between with the functional area like (finance, accounting, HR ETC.) and IT. They interact with clients on how to solve functional issue using technology. They also do project management.

Security
This is the area that's grown the most. 10 years ago we had 1 security officer and today we have 5. They work on stopping my organization from getting hacked. They set password criteria and other stuff like that.

Networking

The setup up our network and troubleshoot connection problems We are a multi-site organization and some sites require 3rd parties like Bright House Networks to set up DSL or other technologies to connect with out networks and give wireless. The set up switches and routers and work with 3rd companies with things like fiber connections.

Telecomm

We upgraded a few years back to VOIP voice over IP technology for our phone system. They manage and toruble shoot problems.

WIndows group.

This group build servers and installs OS and setup the OS with things like IIS is its a web server. I work with them directly when upgrading 3rd party software giving the them the server specs to run an application. They are also the group that applies monthly Microsoft security updates. They also work with virtual servers. 5 years ago we were probable around 10% virtual servers to now around 95%. We use VMware abd they are the administrators.

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Answer
Tuts
Oct 12, 2015 2:20AM PDT