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Absolute Beginner's Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC

Absolute Beginner

Michael Miller, Que

ISBN:0789730456, Edition: , 2003-09-08

Price: $18.95

  • Main Page
  • Table of content
  • Copyright
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Tell Us What You Think!
  • Introduction
    • How This Book Is Organized
    • Conventions Used in This Book
    • Let Me Know What You Think
  • Part I: Before You Upgrade
    • Chapter 1. Hardware Basics for the Absolute Beginner
      • Getting to Know Your Personal Computer System
      • Your PC's System Unit-The Mother Ship
      • Inside the Case
      • Microprocessors: The Main Engine
      • Computer Memory: Temporary Storage
      • Hard Disk Drives: Long-Term Storage
      • Diskette Drives: Portable Storage
      • CD Drives: Storage on a Disc
      • DVD Drives: Even More Storage on a Disc
      • Keyboards: Fingertip Input
      • Mice: Point-and-Click Input Devices
      • Video Cards and Monitors: Getting the Picture
      • Sound Cards and Speakers: Making Noise
      • Modems: Getting Connected
      • Network Devices: Sharing Files and Peripherals
      • Printers: Making Hard Copies
      • The Operating System: Windows to the World of Computing
      • Understanding the Startup Process
    • Chapter 2. Preparing Your System for an Upgrade
      • To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade-That Is the Question
      • What to Upgrade
      • Before You Upgrade
      • An Upgrade Roadmap
      • What to Do if the Upgrade Goes Wrong
  • Part II: Essential Hardware Upgrades
    • Chapter 3. Ports Ahoy: Upgrading System Inputs
      • What Ports Can You Add?
      • Buying a Port Expansion Card
      • Upgrade #1: Adding a New Port Card
      • Upgrade #2: Adding an External USB Hub
      • Upgrade #3: Adding Ports to a Portable PC
    • Chapter 4. Bigger Is Better: Upgrading System Storage
      • Understanding Hard Disk Drives
      • Upgrade #1: Adding an External Hard Drive
      • Upgrade #2: Adding a Second Internal Hard Drive
      • Upgrade #3: Replacing Your Existing Hard Drive
      • Upgrade #4: Adding an Internal Floppy or Zip Drive
      • Upgrade #5: Adding a Memory Card Reader
    • Chapter 5. Optical Tricks: Upgrading CD and DVD Drives
      • Understanding Optical Storage
      • Upgrade #1: Adding an External CD or DVD Drive
      • Upgrade #2: Adding an Internal CD or DVD Drive
    • Chapter 6. You Must Remember This: Upgrading System Memory
      • Understanding Computer Memory
      • Upgrade #1: Adding RAM to a Desktop PC
      • Upgrade #2: Adding RAM to a Portable PC
    • Chapter 7. Point and Click: Upgrading Mice and Keyboards
      • Upgrade #1: Installing a New Mouse
      • Upgrade #2: Installing a New Keyboard
      • Upgrade #3: Installing a Wireless Mouse or Keyboard
      • Upgrade #4: Installing a New Joystick or Game Controller
    • Chapter 8. The Paper Chase: Upgrading Printers and Scanners
      • Understanding Printers
      • Upgrade #1: Installing a Printer
      • Upgrade #2: Installing a Scanner
    • Chapter 9. The Big Picture: Upgrading Video Cards and Monitors
      • Understanding PC Video
      • Upgrade #1: Replacing Your Monitor
      • Upgrade #2: Replacing Your Video Card
      • Upgrade #3: Adding a Second Video Card and Monitor
      • Upgrade #4: Adding a TV Tuner Card
      • Upgrade #5: Adding a Video Capture Card or Device
    • Chapter 10. Pet Sounds: Upgrading Sound Cards and Speakers
      • Understanding PC Audio
      • Upgrade #1: Connecting New Speakers
      • Upgrade #2: Replacing Your Sound Card
      • Upgrade #3: Upgrading to a New External Sound Box
      • Upgrade #4: Adding an Audio Interface Box
  • Part III: Upgrading For Specific Applications
    • Chapter 11. Play It Loud: Upgrading for Digital Music Playback and Recording
      • Understanding Digital Audio
      • Application #1: Listening to CDs and Digital Music Files
      • Application #2: Downloading Music from the Internet
      • Application #3: Ripping Music from a CD
      • Application #4: Burning Your Own Music CDs
      • Application #5: Transferring Digital Music to a Portable Audio Player
      • Application #6: Listening to Internet Radio
      • Application #7: Playing a Digital Piano or Synthesizer
      • Application #8: Setting Up Your Own Home Recording Studio
    • Chapter 12. Slides and Prints: Upgrading for Digital Photography and Picture Editing
      • Application #1: Downloading Photographs from a Digital Camera
      • Application #2: Scanning Photo Prints
      • Application #3: Editing Digital Photographs
      • Application #4: Printing Digital Photographs
      • Application #5: Sharing Digital Photos Over the Internet
    • Chapter 13. Everyone's Gone to the Movies: Upgrading for TV Viewing and Digital Video Editing
      • Application #1: Viewing Television Programs
      • Application #2: Viewing DVD Movies
      • Application #3: Editing Movies from a Digital Camcorder
      • Application #4: Editing Movies from an Analog Camcorder
      • Application #5: Creating Your Own DVD Movies
    • Chapter 14. Fun Is Good: Upgrading for Enhanced Game Play
      • Application #1: PC Gaming
      • Application #2: Network Gaming
      • Application #3: Online Gaming
  • Part IV: Upgrading Your Entire System
    • Chapter 15. Connect the Dots: Upgrading to a Wired or Wireless Network
      • Understanding Networks
      • Upgrade #1: Creating a Wired Network
      • Upgrade #2: Creating a Wireless Network
    • Chapter 16. The Faster the Better: Upgrading Your Internet Connection
      • Understanding Broadband Internet
      • Upgrade #1: Connecting to DSL Internet
      • Upgrade #2: Connecting to Digital Cable Internet
      • Upgrade #3: Connecting to Digital Satellite Internet
      • Upgrade #4: Sharing a Broadband Connection
    • Chapter 17. Opening New Windows: Upgrading to Windows XP
      • Why Windows XP?
      • Which Version for You?
      • Can You Make the Upgrade?
      • Upgrade #1: Windows XP Typical Upgrade Installation
      • Upgrade #2: Windows XP 'Clean' Installation
      • Upgrade #3: Updating Your Copy of Windows XP
    • Chapter 18. The Big Switch: Upgrading to a New Computer
      • Choosing the Right PC for Your Needs
      • Where to Buy
      • Migrating Your Old Files and Settings to Your New PC
      • Getting Rid of Your Old PC
  • Part V: Preventing PC Problems
    • Chapter 19. Simple Steps to Keep Your System in Tip-Top Shape
      • Basic Hardware Maintenance
      • Let Windows Tune Up Your System
      • Using Third-Party Utilities
      • Preparing a PC Survival Kit
    • Chapter 20. Protecting Your Computer from Viruses and Internet Attacks
      • Dealing with Computer Viruses
      • Dealing with Internet Attacks
  • Part VI: Troubleshooting Common Problems
    • Chapter 21. How to Deal with a Finicky PC
      • Common Causes for Common Problems
      • Dealing with Upgrade Problems
      • Basic Troubleshooting Tips
      • Using Windows Troubleshooting Utilities
      • Turning Back Time with System Restore
      • Managing the Windows Registry
      • Upgrading for Bug Fixes
      • Resorting to Repair
    • Chapter 22. What to Do When Your Computer Doesn't Start or Freezes Up
      • Dealing with System Startup Problems
      • Troubleshooting Windows Startup Problems
      • Dealing with Windows-Related Startup Problems
      • Dealing with System Freezes
    • Chapter 23. What to Do When You Can't Access Your Disks
      • Dealing with Hard Drive Problems
      • Dealing with CD-ROM or DVD Problems
    • Chapter 24. What to Do When Your Mouse or Keyboard Won't Work
      • Dealing with Mouse Problems
      • Dealing with Keyboard Problems
    • Chapter 25. What to Do When Your Printer Won't Print
      • Understanding Potential Problems
      • Dealing with Printer Problems
    • Chapter 26. What to Do When Your Display Looks Funny
      • What Can Give You Bad Video
      • Dealing with Video Problems
    • Chapter 27. What to Do When Your Sound System Doesn't Sound Right
      • What Can Cause Bad Sound
      • Dealing with Audio Problems
    • Chapter 28. What to Do When Your Files Are Lost or Corrupted
      • Why Files Go Bad
      • Dealing with File Problems
    • Chapter 29. What to Do When Your Network or Internet Connection Starts Acting Up
      • Dealing with Network Problems
      • Dealing with Internet-Related Problems
    • Chapter 30. What to Do When You Receive a Windows Error Message
      • Understanding Common Error Messages
  • Index
    • Index SYMBOL
    • Index A
    • Index B
    • Index C
    • Index D
    • Index E
    • Index F
    • Index G
    • Index H
    • Index I
    • Index J
    • Index K
    • Index L
    • Index M
    • Index N
    • Index O
    • Index P
    • Index Q
    • Index R
    • Index S
    • Index T
    • Index U
    • Index V
    • Index W
    • Index X
    • Index Y
    • Index Z