SSDs (Solid State Drive) use NAND flash memory for storage — no moving parts — giving faster boot and random access performance compared to HDDs

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) repairs and restores the Windows image used for system recovery.

Static IPs are manually set and remain constant, often used for servers, printers, and port forwarding where a predictable address is needed. Using static IPs incorrectly (assigning within DHCP pool) can cause address conflicts, so document and plan addressing schemes.

Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) creates, formats, extends, shrinks, and deletes partitions. It can convert disks between MBR and GPT (with caveats) and create volumes. For advanced tasks (command line, scripting, or low-level recovery), use diskpart. Always back up data before partition changes.

ipconfig /flushdns clears the local DNS resolver cache, useful when DNS records have changed or stale entries cause resolution failures. After flushing, test with nslookup to confirm fresh lookups. On client machines, browser caches may also need clearing for web content updates.

In older Windows (7 and earlier), F8 at boot opened Advanced Boot Options including Safe Mode. Modern Windows boots faster and often requires different methods (Shift + Restart or recovery options) to access safe modes. For legacy systems, F8 remains useful if fast boot isn’t enabled.

Keyloggers secretly records keystrokes to steal credentials, PII, or other sensitive data and can be hardware or software based. Detecting them can be challenging; use reputable endpoint protection, monitor for suspicious processes, check startup entries, and employ two-factor authentication to mitigate credential theft.

IT Support (Information Technology) refers to the services provided to help users troubleshoot, maintain, and optimize their computers, networks, and software systems.

WPA2/WPA3 passphrases are limited to 8–63 ASCII characters. Longer, complex passphrases increase resilience against brute force attacks.

Disk Cleanup removes temporary files, system caches, Windows Update residuals, and other unneeded files to free disk space. On newer Windows, Storage Sense automates similar tasks. For deeper cleanup, use third-party tools cautiously and always back up before deleting system files.

Keyboards are input devices (they send data to the computer). Printers, monitors, and speakers are typical output devices that present data (visual or audio).

A VPN encrypts traffic and hides a user’s IP from remote sites (hides user identity online), improving privacy and bypassing some network restrictions.

Formatting erases all contents and creates a file system structure (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT) on a disk. Quick format writes a new file table without wiping all sectors; full format may check and zero sectors. Always back up important data before formatting and choose the filesystem appropriate for the OS and usage.

GUI uses icons, windows, and menus instead of text-only commands.

HTTPS encrypts web traffic using SSL/TLS for security.

A modem modulates and demodulates signals for internet access over phone lines.

Pressing PrtScn captures the full screen to the clipboard.

When the Windows operating system experiences a fatal system fault or crash, the BSOD error screen is shown. Critical software problems, incompatible drivers, or defective hardware are typically the causes. To help in troubleshooting, it displays error codes.

ipconfig is a command-line tool that displays your computer’s network configuration, including its IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. It’s commonly used while troubleshooting network issues.