Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User (Coursera)

Offered by Google,
Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User (Coursera)

In this course, you’ll learn how to use the major operating systems, Windows and Linux, which are a core component of IT. Through a combination of video lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice, you’ll learn about the main components of an operating system and how to perform critical tasks like managing software and users, and configuring hardware.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

By the end of this course you’ll be able to:

  • navigate the Windows and Linux filesystems using a graphical user interface and command-line interpreter.
  • set up users, groups, and permissions for account access.
  • install, configure, and remove software on the Windows and Linux operating systems.
  • configure disk partitions and filesystems.
  • understand how system processes work and how to manage them.
  • work with system logs and remote connection tools.
  • utilize operating system knowledge to troubleshoot common issues in an IT Support Specialist role.

Course 3 of 5 in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Navigating the System
Welcome to the Operating Systems course of the IT Support Professional Certificate! In the first week of this course, we will cover the basics of Windows and Linux operating systems (OS). We will learn about how directories and files work in Windows and Linux OS. You will also learn practical ways to manipulate files and directories in the Windows graphical user interface (GUI), Windows command line interface (CLI), and Linux shell. By the end of this module, you will interact with files and directories and perform basic text manipulation in Windows and Linux OS.

WEEK 2
Users and Permissions
In the second week of this course, we'll learn about configuring users and permissions in Windows and Linux OS. As an IT Support Specialist, it's important to know how to grant the appropriate permissions to users and groups for both Windows and Linux OS. By the end of this module, you will know how to add, modify, and remove users for a computer and for specific files and folders by using the Windows GUI, Windows CLI, and Linux shell.

WEEK 3
Package and Software Management
In the third week of this course, we'll learn about package and software management in Windows and Linux OS. It's important to know how package installs work and how devices and drivers are managed within these operating systems. We will also learn about different packaging and file compression methods. By the end of this module, you will know how to create, update, and remove software by using the Windows GUI, Windows CLI and Linux shell.

WEEK 4
Filesystems
In the fourth week of this course, we'll learn about how filesystems work for Windows and Linux OS. We'll learn about filesystem types and why they're different for certain OS. We'll learn about disk partitioning and virtual memory and why these are so important for an IT Support Specialist's role. We'll also cover ways mount and unmount filesystems, read disk usage, and repair filesystems. By the end of this module, you will partition and format a disk drive yourself in both Windows and Linux.

WEEK 5
Process Management
In the fifth week of this course, we'll explore process management. As an IT Support Specialist, it is important to use system tools to read and understand process statuses of machines. We will cover ways to start and terminate a process in Windows and Linux. We will also apply troubleshooting tools to solve problems with processes and resources. By the end of this module, you will use Windows and Linux commands to do practical process maintenance.

WEEK 6
Operating Systems in Practice
Congratulations, you've made it to the final week in the course! In the last week of this course, we will cover some of the practical aspects of operating systems that you'll use all the time in IT Support. We will cover remote access and how to troubleshoot a computer from afar. We'll explore virtualization tools to manage and remove virtual instances, use logs for system monitoring, and show you a few different techniques for OS deployment. By the end of this module, you will apply all the skills from this course to debug some issues within Windows and Linux OS. Good luck!

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Securing Linux Systems (Coursera) Coursera
LearnQuest

Securing Linux Systems (Coursera)

In this course, we look at security and the Linux operating system. The course material is a good for anyone preparing for the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA) exam or just interested in learning more about Linux. This course is the third course in a series that aims to prepare you for working as an information technology professional. In this course, you will be introduced to ownership, authentication, and authorization. We will drill into creating security through backups and redundancy. We concluded by looking at how to secure the perimeter of our network and systems.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Fundamentals of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (Coursera) Coursera
Red Hat

Fundamentals of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (Coursera)

This course will provide you with a basic introduction to Linux® skills using Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 8. It will show you how a Linux system is organized, and will demonstrate introductory system administration tasks, which you will be able to practice on your own. You will be introduced to reasons why Linux and the open source development model are so important in today's computing environment. Linux systems are used everywhere—the internet, point-of-sale systems, and the world's stock markets. You’ll find Linux running smart TVs, in-flight entertainment systems, and most of the top supercomputers in the world.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Unix System Basics (Coursera) Coursera
Codio

Unix System Basics (Coursera)

Explore Unix system basics without installing anything! This course is designed for learners with no technical experience, providing a solid foundation of Unix basics. Learners will gain hands-on practice on an Ubuntu system that can be easily transferred to other Unix-based operating systems. The modules in this course cover what characterizes Unix-based operating systems, navigating, searching, and editing files and directories using the command line.

Sep 21st 2026
3 Weeks
操作系统原理 (Operating Systems) (Coursera) Coursera
Peking University

操作系统原理 (Operating Systems) (Coursera)

操作系统原理》是针对计算机科学技术专业三年级本科生开设的一门专业基础课程。本课程着重学生系统观的培养,通过重点讲述操作系统的内部结构、工作原理及典型技术的实现,使学生建立起对操作系统的整体及各个功能模块的认识,从而系统掌握计算机的专业知识,进一步提升学生的软件开发能力乃至系统软件开发能力。

Sep 28th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Windows OS Forensics (Coursera) Coursera
Infosec

Windows OS Forensics (Coursera)

The Windows OS Forensics course covers windows file systems, Fat32, ExFat, and NTFS. You will learn how these systems store data, what happens when a file gets written to disc, what happens when a file gets deleted from disc, and how to recover deleted files. You will also learn how to correctly interpret the information in the file system data structures, giving the student a better understanding of how these file systems work. This knowledge will enable you to validate the information from multiple forensic tools properly.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments (Coursera)

Welcome to the Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments. This course is focused on giving you real world coding experience and hands on project work with ARM based Microcontrollers. You will learn how to implement software configuration management and develop embedded software applications. Course assignments include creating a build system using the GNU Toolchain GCC, using Git version control, and developing software in Linux on a Virtual Machine.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Dasar-Dasar Dukungan Teknis (Coursera) Coursera
Google

Dasar-Dasar Dukungan Teknis (Coursera)

Materi ini adalah rangkaian pertama dari keseluruhan program pelatihan yang akan membantu Anda untuk berperan sebagai Spesialis Teknisi IT tingkat pemula. Dalam kursus ini, Anda akan diperkenalkan ke dunia Teknologi Informasi, atau IT. Anda akan mempelajari berbagai aspek Teknologi Informasi, seperti perangkat keras komputer, Internet, perangkat lunak komputer, pemecahan masalah, dan layanan pelanggan. Pelatihan ini mencakup berbagai topik dalam dunia IT yang dirancang untuk memberi Anda gambaran tentang pelajaran apa yang akan diperoleh melalui program sertifikasi ini.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Operating Systems Fundamentals (Coursera) Coursera
Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Operating Systems Fundamentals (Coursera)

Covers all basic functions in Linux. Students first learn about Linux distributions and Copyleft. Then they learn to use shell commands to query the system for basic information and to get help from the operating system. The course covers Linux file systems, including managing disks and directories, working with absolute and relative paths, and how to organize, backup and restore files.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Protecting Cloud Architecture with Alibaba Cloud (Coursera) Coursera
Alibaba Cloud Academy

Protecting Cloud Architecture with Alibaba Cloud (Coursera)

The Security Exam Preparation Course is a series of online courses covering topics including Linux and Windows OS basics and operations, network fundamentals, host security, application security, network security, and data security. It is designed to help you understand how these products work, how they should be used, and help you gain the required knowledge to prepare for the ACA/ACP level cloud security specialist.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks