Design the complete IT-Support-Troubleshooting repository structure in github

 

 

For IT Support Technical Engineer role and your target System Engineer role, I would make this repository a serious IT Support / Desktop Support / L1-L2 Troubleshooting Knowledge Base, not just a collection of random notes.

Repository name:

IT-Support-Troubleshooting

The goal is that a recruiter can open it and immediately see:

Incident → Symptoms → Diagnosis → Commands → Root Cause → Resolution → Verification

 

1. Complete repository structure 

 

IT-Support-Troubleshooting/
│
├── README.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
├── LICENSE
│
├── 01-Hardware/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── laptop-not-powering-on.md
│   ├── desktop-not-powering-on.md
│   └── no-display.md
│
├── 02-Windows-OS/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── windows-slow-performance.md
│   ├── windows-not-booting.md
│   └── windows-freezing.md
│
├── 03-Networking/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── no-network-connectivity.md
│   └── test-netconnection.md
│
├── 04-Active-Directory/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── domain-login-failure.md
│   ├── account-lockout.md
│   ├── password-expired.md
│   └── password-reset.md
│
├── 05-Microsoft-365/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── outlook-not-opening.md
│   ├── outlook-not-syncing.md
│
├── 06-Outlook/
│   ├── README.md
│
├── 07-Remote-Access/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── rdp-not-working.md
│   ├── rdp-authentication-failure.md
│   └── remote-access-dns-issue.md
│
├── 08-Printers/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── printer-offline.md
│   ├── printer-not-detected.md
│   └── slow-printing.md
│
├── 09-File-Share-Permissions/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── network-share-not-accessible.md
│   └── file-server-connectivity.md
│
├── 10-Applications/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── application-not-opening.md
│   ├── missing-dll-error.md
│   ├── application-permission-issue.md
│   └── compatibility-issues.md
│
├── 11-User-Account/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── password-reset.md
│   ├── account-lockout.md
│   ├── account-disabled.md
│   ├── account-expired.md
│   ├── profile-issue.md
│   ├── permission-request.md
│   ├── access-request.md
│   └── new-user-setup.md
│
├── 12-Security/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── malware-suspected.md
│   └── security-incident-escalation.md
│
├── 13-Software-Installation/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── software-installation-failure.md
│   └── software-license-issue.md
│
├── 14-Performance/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── high-cpu.md
│   ├── disk-space-low.md
│   └── system-resource-analysis.md
│
├── 15-Services/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── windows-service-stopped.md
│   ├── service-not-starting.md
│   └── service-account-permission.md
│
├── 16-PowerShell/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── basic-system-check.md
│   └── remote-computer-check.md
│
├── 17-Command-Line/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── ipconfig.md
│   ├── dism.md
│   └── gpupdate.md
│
├── 18-ITSM/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── incident-management.md
│   ├── service-request.md
│   └── knowledge-base.md
│
├── 19-Troubleshooting-Methodology/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── troubleshooting-framework.md
│   ├── l1-troubleshooting.md
│   └── escalation-guidelines.md
│
└── 20-Interview-Scenarios/
    ├── README.md
    ├── windows-scenarios.md
    └── system-engineer-scenarios.md

 

That's a large structure, but you should not create every file immediately. Create folders progressively as you learn and document them.

2. The most important part — your README

Your root README.md should act as the homepage.

I would structure it like this: 

 

# IT Support Troubleshooting

A practical IT Support and System Administration troubleshooting knowledge base
covering Windows, networking, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, PowerShell,
remote access, hardware, applications, security, and ITSM.

## 🎯 Purpose

This repository documents practical troubleshooting procedures, diagnostic
commands, root-cause analysis, and resolutions commonly encountered in
IT Support and System Administration environments.

## 🧑‍💻 Career Focus

- IT Support Technical Engineer
- Desktop Support Engineer
- System Engineer
- Windows Administrator
- Infrastructure Support Engineer

## 📚 Categories

| Category | Topics |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Laptop, desktop, storage, peripherals |
| Windows | OS, boot, updates, BSOD, performance |
| Networking | TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, connectivity |
| Active Directory | Users, groups, GPO, domain issues |
| Microsoft 365 | Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, licensing |
| Remote Access | RDP, VPN |
| Printers | Local and network printers |
| File Shares | SMB, NTFS, permissions |
| Applications | Installation, crashes, compatibility |
| Security | Malware, phishing, endpoint issues |
| PowerShell | Administration and diagnostics |
| ITSM | Incidents, requests, escalation, SLA |

## 🔧 Troubleshooting Approach

My standard troubleshooting workflow:

1. Understand the problem
2. Identify symptoms
3. Gather information
4. Check basic connectivity
5. Reproduce the issue
6. Form possible causes
7. Perform diagnostics
8. Identify root cause
9. Apply resolution
10. Verify the fix
11. Document the incident
12. Identify preventive actions

## 🖥️ Environment

Examples and labs are performed using:

- Windows 10/11
- Windows Server
- Active Directory
- Microsoft 365
- Cisco Packet Tracer
- PowerShell
- VMware
- Linux
- Docker

## ⚠️ Disclaimer

All examples are based on lab environments or generic scenarios.

No confidential employer information, credentials, internal hostnames,
IP addresses, tickets, or proprietary data are included.

## 🚀 Future Learning

- Azure
- Linux Administration
- Docker
- Automation
- Security
- SecDevOps

 

One change I'd make to your original idea

Don't call the repository simply a "Troubleshooting Notes" repository.

Call it:

IT Support Troubleshooting Knowledge Base

And make the content demonstrate:

diagnosis + commands + reasoning + root cause + resolution + verification.

That distinction matters.

A recruiter seeing 100 copied troubleshooting articles isn't particularly impressive.


A recruiter seeing:

"Here is the problem, here is how I isolated the fault, here are the commands I used, here is the root cause, here is how I verified the resolution."

is much more valuable.

Our first milestone

I'd target:
 

IT-Support-Troubleshooting
│
├── 30 documented troubleshooting scenarios
├── 20+ PowerShell/CLI commands
├── 10 interview scenarios
├── 5 troubleshooting workflows
├── 5 lab-based scenarios
└── 1 professional README

 

For now, we will create only the folder/file structure — no troubleshooting content.

Since you are on Windows, I recommend creating the repository on GitHub first, then using Git + PowerShell to generate the complete structure in one shot. This is much faster and cleaner than manually creating 150+ files in the GitHub website.

Step 1 — Create the GitHub repository

Go to your GitHub profile:

GitHub

Click:

Repositories → New

Use: 

 

 

Why no README/license right now?

Because we're going to create them locally along with the entire structure.

Click:

Create repository

Your repository will be:

https://github.com/whoiskumaratul/IT-Support-Troubleshooting

 

Step 2 — Clone it to your computer

Open PowerShell.

First check Git:

git --version

If you get something like:

git version 2.x.x

you're ready.


Go somewhere you keep your projects, for example:

cd C:\Users\$env:kumaratuljaiswal\Documents


Then clone:

git clone https://github.com/whoiskumaratul/IT-Support-Troubleshooting.git

Enter the repository:

cd IT-Support-Troubleshooting


Check:

dir (dir or windows and pwd for linux)


You should now be inside:

...\Documents\IT-Support-Troubleshooting 

 

Step 3 — Create the root files

Run:

• New-Item README.md -ItemType File
• New-Item CONTRIBUTING.md -ItemType File
• New-Item LICENSE -ItemType File

Don't put content in them yet.

Your repository now looks like:

 

IT-Support-Troubleshooting/
│
├── README.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
└── LICENSE 

 

 

 

 In windows powershell, the  - a- - - string represents file attribute, where each position corresponds to a specific flag, and the a specifcially stands for the archive attribute.

 When a letter is visible that attributes is turned on. When there is a dash ( - ) that specific attribute is turned off.

 
Here is what each of the five slots represents from left to right:

 

a (Archive): The file is marked for backup. Windows automatically checks this box whenever a file is created or modified, signaling to backup programs that this file has changed and needs to be saved.

r (Read-only): The file is locked against changes (currently off).

h (Hidden): The file is hidden from normal view (currently off).

s (System): The file is a critical operating system file (currently off).

l (Reparse point/ Link): The file is a symbolic link or shortcut to another location (currently off).


Because your files show - a---, it simply means they are standard, non- hidden files that are ready to be backed up by the operating system. 

Full tutorial of Git and Github 

 

 

Click Here 

 

 

Step 4 — Create all the folders

You can create the 20 main categories with one PowerShell command:

 

$folders = @(
    "01-Hardware",
    "02-Windows-OS",
    "03-Networking",
    "04-Active-Directory",
    "05-Microsoft-365",
    "06-Outlook",
    "07-Remote-Access",
    "08-Printers",
    "09-File-Share-Permissions",
    "10-Applications",
    "11-User-Account",
    "12-Security",
    "13-Software-Installation",
    "14-Performance",
    "15-Services",
    "16-PowerShell",
    "17-Command-Line",
    "18-ITSM",
    "19-Troubleshooting-Methodology",
    "20-Interview-Scenarios"
)

foreach ($folder in $folders) {
    New-Item $folder -ItemType Directory -Force
}

 

 

Directly run this command into powershell 

 Now:

  

IT-Support-Troubleshooting/
│
├── README.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
├── LICENSE
│
├── 01-Hardware/
├── 02-Windows-OS/
├── 03-Networking/
├── 04-Active-Directory/
├── 05-Microsoft-365/
├── 06-Outlook/
├── 07-Remote-Access/
├── 08-Printers/
├── 09-File-Share-Permissions/
├── 10-Applications/
├── 11-User-Account/
├── 12-Security/
├── 13-Software-Installation/
├── 14-Performance/
├── 15-Services/
├── 16-PowerShell/
├── 17-Command-Line/
├── 18-ITSM/
├── 19-Troubleshooting-Methodology/
└── 20-Interview-Scenarios/

 

 

 

 

d - directory  

 

Step 5 — Create README inside every category

Run:

Get-ChildItem -Directory | ForEach-Object {
    New-Item "$($_.FullName)\README.md" -ItemType File -Force
}

Now every category has:

  01-Hardware/
└── README.md

02-Windows-OS/
└── README.md

03-Networking/
└── README.md
....
  

Again, these files are intentionally empty for now.  

 

Step 6 — Create the troubleshooting files

Now we can create all the empty .md files.

Hardware

  

$files = @{
    "01-Hardware" = @(
        "laptop-not-powering-on.md"
        "desktop-not-powering-on.md"
        "docking-station-issues.md"
    )

    "02-Windows-OS" = @(
        "windows-slow-performance.md"
        "windows-not-booting.md"
        "environment-variables.md"
    )

    "03-Networking" = @(
        "no-network-connectivity.md"

        "test-netconnection.md"
    )

    "04-Active-Directory" = @(
        "domain-login-failure.md"
        "account-lockout.md"
        "active-directory-replication-basics.md"
    )

    "05-Microsoft-365" = @(
        "outlook-not-opening.md"
        "outlook-not-syncing.md"
        "m365-service-health-check.md"
    )

    "06-Outlook" = @(
        "profile-creation.md"
        "profile-corruption.md"
        "ost-file-issues.md"
        "outlook-connectivity.md"
    )

    "07-Remote-Access" = @(
        "rdp-not-working.md"
        "rdp-authentication-failure.md"
        "remote-access-dns-issue.md"
    )

    "08-Printers" = @(
        "printer-offline.md"
        "printer-not-detected.md"
        "slow-printing.md"
    )

    "09-File-Share-Permissions" = @(
        "network-share-not-accessible.md"
        "access-denied.md"
        "file-server-connectivity.md"
    )

    "10-Applications" = @(
        "application-not-opening.md"
        "application-crashing.md"
        "application-freezing.md"
        "compatibility-issues.md"
    )

    "11-User-Account" = @(
        "password-reset.md"
        "new-user-setup.md"
    )

    "12-Security" = @(
        "malware-suspected.md"
        "phishing-email.md"
        "security-incident-escalation.md"
    )

    "13-Software-Installation" = @(
        "software-installation-failure.md"
        "software-uninstallation.md"
        "software-license-issue.md"
    )

    "14-Performance" = @(
        "high-cpu.md"
        "high-memory.md"
        "system-resource-analysis.md"
    )

    "15-Services" = @(
        "windows-service-stopped.md"
        "service-not-starting.md"
        "service-startup-type.md"
        "service-dependency.md"
        "service-account-permission.md"
    )

    "16-PowerShell" = @(
        "basic-system-check.md"
        "service-check.md"
        "remote-computer-check.md"
    )

    "17-Command-Line" = @(
        "ipconfig.md"
        "ping.md"
        "gpupdate.md"
    )

    "18-ITSM" = @(
        "incident-management.md"
        "service-request.md"
        "knowledge-base.md"
    )

    "19-Troubleshooting-Methodology" = @(
        "troubleshooting-framework.md"
        "escalation-guidelines.md"
    )

    "20-Interview-Scenarios" = @(
        "windows-scenarios.md"
        "networking-scenarios.md"
        "system-engineer-scenarios.md"
    )
}

foreach ($folder in $files.Keys) {
    foreach ($file in $files[$folder]) {
        New-Item "$folder\$file" -ItemType File -Force | Out-Null
    }
}

 

 

Important: this only creates the files. It does not put troubleshooting content inside them.

Step 7 — Verify the structure

Run:

tree /F 

 

IT-Support-Troubleshooting
│   CONTRIBUTING.md
│   LICENSE
│   README.md
│
├───01-Hardware
│       README.md
│       blue-screen-bsod.md
│       desktop-not-powering-on.md
│       ...
│
├───02-Windows-OS
│       README.md
│       windows-not-booting.md
│       ...
│
├───03-Networking
│       README.md
│       dns-resolution-failure.md
│       ...
│
├───04-Active-Directory
│       README.md
│       account-lockout.md
│       ...
│
...
└───20-Interview-Scenarios
        README.md
        windows-scenarios.md
        ...

 

 

Step 8 — Check Git status

Run:

git status

You should see many new files.

Then:

git add .

Check:

git status

You'll see the files staged for commit.

 

 

 

Step 9 — Make your first commit

Use a meaningful commit:

git commit -m "chore: create IT support troubleshooting knowledge base structure"

Then push:

git push origin main

If Git asks you to authenticate, complete the GitHub authentication process.

Step 10 — Check GitHub 

Open:

Your IT-Support-Troubleshooting repository

You should now see:

📁 01-Hardware
📁 02-Windows-OS
📁 03-Networking
📁 04-Active-Directory
📁 05-Microsoft-365
📁 06-Outlook
📁 07-Remote-Access
📁 08-Printers
📁 09-File-Share-Permissions
📁 10-Applications
📁 11-User-Account
📁 12-Security
📁 13-Software-Installation
📁 14-Performance
📁 15-Services
📁 16-PowerShell
📁 17-Command-Line
📁 18-ITSM
📁 19-Troubleshooting-Methodology
📁 20-Interview-Scenarios

📄 README.md
📄 CONTRIBUTING.md
📄 LICENSE

One important GitHub detail

Git itself doesn't track empty directories. That's why we're creating README.md inside every category. Without a file, an empty folder won't appear in GitHub.

So this:

01-Hardware/

would disappear if completely empty.

But this:

01-Hardware/
└── README.md

will be tracked.

NOTE - .md (Markdown) files are very widely supported, and for your GitHub repository, .md is actually the correct choice.