The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, 16e

Clear, Expert Advice for PC Users of Every Stripe

No matter how you use your PC--as a business tool, an entertainment center, or an Internet on-ramp--this latest edition of The Complete PC Upgrade & Maintenance Guide has you covered. Inside, you'll find the clear, expert advice on maintaining, upgrading, and troubleshooting for which this book is famous. It's all updated to cover the latest technologies and guaranteed to help you extend the life and power of your PC. You also get targeted instruction on a wide range of entertainment upgrades--ways to enhance your enjoyment of music, photo, movies, and more. Coverage includes:
* Preventing hardware disasters
* Upgrading memory
* Replacing power supplies
* Partitioning drives using NTFS and FAT32
* Solving data backup challenges
* Protecting your PC from viruses, worms, and spyware
* Adding SCSI cards and drives
* Installing DVDs, CD-ROMs, and EIDE and Serial ATA hard drives
* Troubleshooting printers and scanners
* Installing communications devices
* Resolving mouse and keyboard problems
* Installing video and sound cards
* Tackling networking issues, both wired and wireless
* Troubleshooting Internet connectivity
* Solving laptop problems
* Capturing and editing video
* Managing music and image files
* Watching movies on DVD
* Getting the most out of new storage and networking technologies

 

 

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Quick Guide to Popular Upgrades.

Part 1: Core Components.

Chapter 1: Five Easy Pieces: PC Hardware in a Nutshell.

Chapter 2: Inside the PC: Core Components.

Chapter 3: Taking Apart and Rebuilding the PC.

Chapter 4: Avoiding Service: Preventive Maintenance.

Chapter 5: Installing New Circuit Boards.

Chapter 6: System Memory.

Chapter 7: Power Supplies and Power Protection.

Part 2: Devices.

Chapter 8: Hard Disk Drive Overview and Terminology.

Chapter 9: CD--ROM and DVD Drives.

Chapter 10: Understanding and Installing ATA Drives.

Chapter 11: Understanding and Installing SCSI Drives.

Chapter 12: Partitioning, Formatting, and Managing Drives.

Chapter 13: Protecting and Maintaining Hard Disks and Data.

Chapter 14: Floppy Drives and Their Alternatives.

Part 3: Supporting and Managing Peripherals.

Chapter 15: Printer Types and Interfaces.

Chapter 16: Troubleshooting Inkjet Printers.

Chapter 17: Troubleshooting Laser Printers.

Chapter 18: Understanding and Troubleshooting Scanners.

Chapter 19: Keyboards and Mice.

Part 4: Multimedia.

Chapter 20: Video Adapters and Displays.

Chapter 21: Play It Loud: Sound Cards.

Chapter 22: Flash RAM and Digital Cameras.

Part 5: Hardware Management and Troubleshooting.

Chapter 23: Hardware Management in Windows.

Chapter 24: Using the Internet for Hardware Support.

Chapter 25: Troubleshooting PC Problems.

Part 6: Networking, Mobile Computing, and the Internet.

Chapter 26: Networking Concepts and Hardware.

Chapter 27: Installing and Troubleshooting Networks.

Chapter 28: Modems and Other Internet Connection Devices.

Chapter 29: Viruses and Other Nasty Bugs.

Chapter 30: Notebook/Laptop Computers.

Glossary.

Index