Complete Idiot's Guide to Upgrading and Repairing PCs

by Fulton, Jennifer

• ISBN13: 9780789716422
• ISBN10: 0789716429
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-06-01
• Publisher: Que Pub

Summary

Readers will learn how to upgrade PC peripherals to increase productivity. A straightforward, conversational tone is used regarding upgrading hardware and software and using PCs more efficiently. Information is given in everyday language without being intimidating or insulting.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Upgrading and Repairing 101	1	(96)
1 Making the Call: When, Why, and If You Should Upgrade Find out when you must upgrade, or when you can get by with a simple repair.	3	(10)
2 What Makes Your Computer Tick, and What It Takes to Upgrade Each Component Get to know your PC, and what upgrades are possible with your particular configuration.	13	(48)
3 Now, Let's Find Out What Kind of Computer You Have Discover what your PC has without tearing it apart.	61	(20)
4 What You Need to Know Before You Open Your PC Protecting yourself from disaster.	81	(16)
Part 2: Upgrading and Repairing Windows	97	(78)
5 Fixing Common PC Problems--Windows Style How to repair common problems with your PC.	99	(10)
6 Repairing Your Operating System Getting the most out of your operating system.	109	(12)
7 Running Low on Memory? Unjam Your RAM Get the most from the memory you have.	121	(6)
8 Fixing Hard Disk Hassles Tuning up your hard disk and repairing simple problems.	127	(18)
9 Replacing Your Operating System When your operating system doesn't make the grade, replace it.	145	(20)
10 Getting on the Information Highway It's about time, isn't it?	165	(10)
Part 3: Easy Upgrades and Repairs	175	(58)
11 Easy Repairs for Peripherals Basic ways to get a funky peripheral up and running again.	177	(30)
12 Repairing a Funky Keyboard Got the upgrade jitters? Try this one first.	207	(8)
13 Replacing a Mangled Mouse You dirty rat!	215	(10)
14 Choosing and Installing a Painless Printer What to do when the printer poops out.	225	(8)
Part 4: Rewing Up Your PC with More Skillful Upgrades	233	(164)
15 Getting Your PC to Go Fast with a New CPU Giving your PC a better brain (CPU).	235	(12)
16 Replacing the Motherboard M is for the many things she gave me	247	(12)
17 Powering Up the Power Supply After you upgrade everything else, you may need to turn up the juice!	259	(8)
18 Hands-On Hard Disk Replacement Adding a new hard disk gives you more room for software.	267	(18)
19 Make Mine More Memory Why increasing RAM helps your programs run better.	285	(14)
20 Taking Advantage of Modern Video Capabilities Learn to upgrade your monitor and video card.	299	(20)
21 Replacing a Floppy Drive What to do when the floppy drive stops floppin'.	319	(12)
22 Adding a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive Wanna play the latest games and your CDs, too?	331	(24)
23 Maxi-Infra-Mega Storage Solutions Go high tech with the latest in high-capacity removable storage.	355	(18)
24 Sensational Stereophonic Sound Jumping into the multimedia arena.	373	(10)
25 Adding a Fax Modem Yes, there's a world outside of your desktop.	383	(14)
Part 5: Getting Your PC to Figure Out What You've Done	397	(30)
26 Getting Windows to Recognize Your New Toy After you add a new component, come here to configure it.	399	(12)
27 Fiddling with Ports, IRQs, Addresses, and Such What to do when your PC's parts start fighting.	411	(16)
Appendix: Quick Fix Guide	427	(6)
Index	433