The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide

by Kingsley-Hughes, Adrian

• ISBN13: 9780072255539
• ISBN10: 0072255536
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-18
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

Get advice and solutions for solving myriad of your PC problems, including expert tips on researching solutions on your own. Learn how to maintain your computer, keeping it in good working condition, plus how to upgrade and install new software safely. Troubleshoot Linux, Windows, and personal devices, use the internet effectively as a problem-solving tool, get up to speed on computer security, and set up small home and wireless networks. The companion Web site provides additional support.

Author Biography

Adrian W. Kingsley-Hughes is a technical director and consultant for a UK computer company specializing in the integration of IT and Internet technologies into current work practices.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xii
Introduction	xiii
PART I Overview
What's What---the Anatomy of a PC	3	(26)
ID the Parts	4	(22)
Outside the Box	5	(8)
Inside the Box	13	(13)
Doctor's Notes	26	(1)
PC Anatomy Checklist	27	(2)
Files and Folders	29	(26)
Files	30	(15)
Filenames	33	(1)
The File Extension	33	(2)
Renaming Files	35	(1)
Files, Files, and More Files	36	(9)
Folders/Directories	45	(7)
The Right Term	45	(1)
What Is a Folder?	46	(1)
Navigating Folders	47	(3)
Creating/Deleting Folders	50	(2)
Where Stuff Is Saved	52	(1)
Doctor's Notes	53	(1)
Files and Folders Checklist	53	(2)
Improving on Perfection	55	(18)
Why Upgrade?	56	(3)
Reasons for Upgrading	56	(2)
Reasons for Replacing	58	(1)
Upgrading	59	(8)
Not All Systems Are Upgradable	60	(1)
Decide on the Right Upgrade for You	61	(2)
Check the Specifications	63	(2)
Check that You Can Physically Do the Upgrade	65	(1)
Trouble-Free Upgrades	66	(1)
Finding Parts for Older Systems	67	(2)
Upgrading Drivers	69	(2)
Benefits of Upgrading Drivers	69	(2)
Doctor's Notes	71	(1)
Upgrade Checklist	71	(2)
Safe Computing	73	(24)
The Threats Exist	74	(1)
Viruses	75	(6)
Types of Threat	75	(3)
What Malicious Code Is Capable Of	78	(2)
Virus Myths	80	(1)
Hackers	81	(3)
How Hackers Operate	82	(1)
Hacker Myths	83	(1)
Your Defense Against the Marauders at the Gate	84	(4)
Common Sense	84	(1)
Firewalls	85	(2)
Antivirus Software	87	(1)
Safe vs. Unsafe Files	88	(1)
If the Worst Does Happen	89	(1)
Passwords	90	(4)
Good Passwords and Bad Passwords	91	(1)
Rules for Creating Good Passwords	91	(2)
Sensible Password Use	93	(1)
Securely Deleting Files	94	(2)
The Anatomy of Data	95	(1)
Doctor's Notes	96	(1)
Safe Computing Checklist	96	(1)
Helping Yourself	97	(18)
If You Have a Problem, Chances Are, Someone Else Has Had It Too	98	(1)
Helping Yourself on the Internet	99	(6)
Support Websites	99	(2)
Search Engines	101	(2)
Internet Forums	103	(1)
Newsgroups	104	(1)
When to Call in the Pros	105	(6)
Online Tech Support	106	(1)
Telephone Support	106	(1)
On-Site Warranty	106	(1)
Return to Base	107	(1)
Tech Support Tips	108	(1)
If You Have to Pay for Tech Support	109	(1)
Hidden Costs of Replacements	110	(1)
Subscription Services	111	(1)
Are Subscription Services Worth the Cost?	112	(1)
Giving Something Back	112	(1)
Doctor's Notes	113	(1)
Help Yourself Checklist	113	(2)
What You Need to Fix-It-Yourself---and Stay Safe	115	(20)
Staying Safe Checklist	116	(3)
Leave the Monitors to Experts	117	(2)
Handling Devices Safely	119	(9)
What Is Static Electricity?	120	(1)
ESD (Electro-Static Discharge)	120	(8)
Tools of the Trade	128	(2)
Workshop Safety	130	(1)
Doctor's Notes	131	(1)
Stay Safe Checklist	131	(4)
PART II The Details: Hardware
The PC Case and the Power Supply	135	(24)
Function of a PC Case	136	(1)
Case Types	136	(3)
Removing the Case	139	(3)
Spring Cleaning the Inside of the Case	142	(4)
Cleaning the System	143	(3)
The PC Cooling System	146	(4)
Giving the Cooling System the Once-Over	146	(1)
Signs of Trouble with the Cooling System	147	(2)
Improving the Cooling System	149	(1)
Power Supply Unit (PSU)	150	(7)
PSU Outputs	151	(1)
Power Supply Connectors	152	(1)
Advanced Power Management (APM) and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)	153	(1)
A Question of Power	154	(1)
Troubleshooting PSUs	155	(2)
Doctor's Notes	157	(1)
PC Case and PSU Checklist	157	(2)
Motherboard, RAM, CPU, and BIOS	159	(36)
The Motherboard	160	(11)
Layout, or Form Factor	161	(1)
Motherboard Connections	162	(5)
Backup Battery	167	(1)
Common Motherboard Problems	168	(2)
Keep the Inside of the Case Tidy	170	(1)
RAM	171	(2)
Troubleshooting RAM Errors	172	(1)
Testing RAM	172	(1)
CPU	173	(7)
CPU Speed	174	(1)
CPU and Socket/Slot Types	174	(1)
Upgrading a CPU	175	(3)
Overclocking	178	(2)
Signs of Trouble with the CPU	180	(1)
BIOS	180	(13)
The BIOS and the EEPROM	181	(1)
What Does the BIOS Do?	182	(1)
Not All BIOSs Are the Same	182	(2)
BIOS and POST Codes	184	(5)
Accessing the BIOS	189	(1)
Navigating the BIOS	190	(2)
Upgrading the BIOS	192	(1)
Doctor's Notes	193	(1)
General Checklist	194	(1)
Hard Drives and Floppy Drives	195	(18)
The Hard Drive	196	(8)
Hard Drive Upgrades	196	(3)
Hard Drive Problems---and Solutions	199	(5)
Master/Slave Layout of Drives	204	(1)
Floppy Drives	204	(5)
Floppy Drive Problems	205	(3)
Replacing a Floppy Drive	208	(1)
Floppy Disk Care	209	(1)
Doctor's Notes	209	(1)
Hard Drive/Floppy Drive---Troubleshooting Checklist	210	(3)
Other Data Storage Devices	213	(20)
CD/DVD/CD-R/CD-RW	214	(16)
The Discs	215	(1)
Common Optical Drive Issues	216	(8)
Upgrading CD/DVD Drives	224	(3)
External Storage	227	(1)
Transfer Speed	228	(1)
Physical Space	228	(1)
It's Not All About the Hardware	229	(1)
Is It External Storage That You Actually Need?	230	(1)
Troubleshooting External Storage	230	(1)
Doctor's Notes	231	(1)
Other Storage---Troubleshooting Checklist	231	(2)
Monitors and Graphics Adapters	233	(16)
The Monitor	234	(5)
Monitor Dangers	234	(2)
Monitor Care	236	(3)
Graphics Adapters	239	(8)
Onboard Graphics Adapters	240	(1)
Problems with Graphics Adapters	241	(6)
Doctor's Notes	247	(1)
Monitors and Graphics Adapters---Troubleshooting Checklist	247	(2)
Expansion Cards	249	(14)
Expansion Slots	250	(3)
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)	250	(1)
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)	251	(1)
ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)	252	(1)
Card Removal and Refitting	253	(5)
Card Removal	253	(3)
Replacing an Expansion Card	256	(2)
Special Considerations for Other Cards	258	(2)
Graphics Cards	258	(1)
TV Cards	258	(1)
Modems	259	(1)
Sound Cards	259	(1)
Doctor's Notes	260	(1)
Expansion Cards---Fitting/Removal Checklist	261	(2)
Networking	263	(20)
What Is a Network?	264	(1)
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions	265	(1)
Network Hardware	266	(10)
The Network Interface Card	266	(2)
Network Cable	268	(3)
Network Hub	271	(3)
Troubleshooting Network Hardware	274	(2)
Wireless Network Solutions	276	(5)
Wireless Hub/Router	276	(2)
Wireless Network Interface Cards	278	(2)
Wireless Security	280	(1)
Doctor's Notes	281	(1)
Networking Checklist	282	(1)
Connections	283	(14)
The Serial Port	285	(4)
Signs of Trouble with Serial Ports	286	(3)
Repairing Serial Ports	289	(1)
Adding Serial Ports	289	(1)
The Parallel Port	289	(2)
Signs of Trouble with Parallel Ports	290	(1)
The USB Port	291	(2)
Signs of Trouble with USB Ports	292	(1)
The FireWire/IEEE1394 Port	293	(1)
Signs of Trouble with FireWire Ports	294	(1)
Doctor's Notes	294	(1)
Ports---Troubleshooting Checklist	295	(2)
Input Devices	297	(22)
The Keyboard	298	(4)
Hooking Up a Keyboard	299	(1)
Keyboard Maintenance	299	(2)
Signs of Keyboard Trouble	301	(1)
The Mouse	302	(3)
Hooking Up a Mouse	303	(1)
Mechanical Mouse	303	(1)
Optical Ball Mouse	304	(1)
Optical No-Ball Mouse	305	(1)
Signs of Mouse Trouble	305	(1)
Graphics Tablets	305	(1)
Hooking Up a Graphics Tablet	305	(1)
Maintenance of Graphics Tablets	306	(1)
Web Cams	306	(1)
Hooking Up a Web Cam	306	(1)
Maintenance of Web Cams	306	(1)
Digital Video (DV)	307	(1)
Hooking Up DV	307	(1)
Troubleshooting DVs	307	(1)
Digital Cameras	308	(3)
Hooking Up a Digital Camera	308	(1)
Troubleshooting Digital Cameras	309	(2)
Joysticks	311	(2)
Hooking Up a Joystick	312	(1)
Maintenance of Joysticks	312	(1)
Other Input Devices	313	(1)
Doctor's Notes	314	(1)
Input Devices---Troubleshooting Checklist	315	(4)
PART III The Details: Software and Data
File System Care	319	(30)
Taking Care of the File System	320	(3)
Hard Errors and Soft Errors	320	(1)
Types of File Systems	321	(2)
Checking the Drive for Errors	323	(11)
Free Tools	324	(8)
Not So Free Tools	332	(2)
Safe Install of Software	334	(4)
The Groundwork	334	(1)
The Install	335	(1)
Safe Uninstall	335	(3)
The Operating System	338	(9)
Repair of the Operating System	338	(1)
Update of the Operating System	339	(1)
Upgrade of the Operating System	340	(2)
Taking Care of the Operating System	342	(2)
Lost Files	344	(3)
Doctor's Notes	347	(1)
File System Care Checklist	347	(2)
Backup	349	(18)
What Is a Backup?	350	(5)
Types of Backups	352	(3)
What to Back Up	355	(2)
How to Do a Backup	357	(6)
The Manual Method	357	(1)
The Utility Method	357	(2)
Disk Cloning	359	(2)
How Often to Back Up	361	(1)
How Long to Keep the Backup	362	(1)
Protecting Backups	363	(1)
Keeping Backups Off-Site	364	(1)
Backup Media Pros and Cons	364	(1)
Disaster Recovery	365	(1)
Doctor's Notes	366	(1)
Backup Checklist	366	(1)
Improving Performance and Stability	367	(22)
Getting the Best Out of Games	368	(4)
Signs of Problems with Games	369	(2)
Tips for Better Gaming	371	(1)
Improving Your Online Experience	372	(2)
Tips for Optimum Online Performance	373	(1)
Hardware Drivers	374	(3)
When It's Time to Get a New Driver	376	(1)
Windows XP---Signed Drivers vs. Unsigned Drivers	377	(6)
Driver Rollback	379	(1)
Windows XP System Restore	380	(3)
Windows Update Issues	383	(3)
Installing Windows Update Controls	383	(1)
Troubleshooting Windows Update	384	(2)
Doctor's Notes	386	(1)
Improving Performance Checklist	387	(2)
Making More of the Internet	389	(48)
Connectivity---Modem Dial-Up	390	(7)
Phone Line Quality	390	(2)
The Modem Cable	392	(1)
The Modem	393	(4)
Connectivity---DSL/ADSL/Cable	397	(2)
Problems with DSL/ADSL/Cable	397	(2)
Email	399	(2)
Decide on Who You Actually Are!	399	(1)
Install Antivirus Software	400	(1)
Email on Web Pages	400	(1)
Web Browsers	401	(3)
Cookies	402	(1)
Proxy Servers	403	(1)
Internet Time Sync	404	(1)
Doctor's Notes	404	(1)
Modem Checklist	405	(4)
PART IV Appendixes
Appendix A Glossary of Common PC Terms and Abbreviations	409	(10)
Appendix B Websites	419	(8)
Appendix C Tools	427	(4)
Appendix D Common File Extensions	431	(6)
Index	437