Oshkosh Public Library

Fixing your computer, absolute beginner's guide, Paul McFedries

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Fixing your computer

827695010

Paul McFedries

Absolute beginner's guide

absolute beginner's guide

Overview: Fix your own compute-without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to save money on computer repairs, avoid unnecessary frustration, and keep using perfectly good equipment instead of throwing it away! Even if you're completely non-technical, you'll learn how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Computer repair and maintenance has never, ever been this simple! Who knew how simple fixing your computer could be?. This is the easiest, most practical beginner's guide to fixing your own computer simple, reliable instructions and crystal-clear pictures that show you exactly how to do it yourself! Here's a small sample of what you'll learn: Maintain your computer so it's less likely to break in the first place; Perform simple "ounce of prevention" tasks now, so it's easier to fix problems later; Learn simple troubleshooting techniques for figuring out what's wrong; Find the right tools (you might already have them!); Buy the right parts without spending more than you have to; Fix aggravating Windows startup problems; Smoothly recover from PC crashes; Perform basic hardware repairs or upgrades at home, often in minutes; Install a new hard disk, CD/DVD drive, or Blu-ray drive; Speed up your computer by adding memory or upgrading its processor; Troubleshoot and fix network and Internet connection problems; And much more

Introduction: -- FIY: Fix-It-Yourself -- Who should read this book? -- Conventions used in this book -- PC Maintenance: -- Maintaining your PC -- Cleaning the PC: -- Dust: your PC's worst nightmare -- Cleaning the screen, keyboard, and mouse -- Cleaning the front and back of the PC -- Cleaning the power supply -- Cleaning the interior -- Checking free disk space -- Dealing with hard disk errors: -- Understanding hard drive health states -- Repairing a drive manually -- Maintaining Windows: -- Deleting unnecessary files -- Defragmenting your hard disk -- Repairing, updating, and uninstalling programs: -- Repairing a software installation -- Updating Windows 8 Apps -- Uninstalling Windows 8 Apps -- Uninstalling desktop programs -- Checking for Windows updates: -- Configuring automatic updates -- Checking for and installing updates manually -- Installing a new device: -- Installing plug and play devices -- Using action center to complete a device install -- Uninstalling a device: -- Preparing for trouble: -- Backing up your files: -- Backing up file versions with Windows 8's file history -- Backing up files in Windows 7 -- Backing up files in Windows Vista -- Backing up files in Windows XP -- Setting system restore points -- Creating a Windows 8 recovery drive -- Creating a system image backup -- Creating a system repair disc -- Troubleshooting And Repair: -- Understanding basic troubleshooting: -- Determining the source of a problem: -- Did you get an error message? -- Did you recently change any windows settings? -- Did you recently change any application settings? -- Did you recently install a new program? -- Did you recently install a new device or update a driver? -- General troubleshooting tips -- Troubleshooting startup -- More troubleshooting tools: -- Running the Windows troubleshooters -- Running the memory diagnostics tool -- Checking for solutions to problems -- Troubleshooting device problems: -- Troubleshooting with device manager -- Troubleshooting device driver problems: -- Basic device driver troubleshooting -- Tips for downloading device drivers -- Updating a device driver -- Rolling back a device driver -- Recovering from problems: -- Restoring backed-up data: -- Restoring a previous version of a file in Windows 8 -- Restoring a backed-up file in Windows 7 -- Restoring a backed-up file in windows vista -- Restoring a backed-up file in Windows XP -- Accessing the Windows 8 recovery environment: -- Accessing the RE via PC settings -- Accessing the RE via a recovery drive -- Accessing the RE via Windows 8 install media -- Navigating the recovery environment -- Booting up in safe mode -- Recovering using system restore -- Refreshing your Windows 8 PC -- Resetting your Windows 8 PC -- Restoring a Windows 8 system image -- Troubleshooting your network: -- Repairing a network connection -- Checking the connection status -- Checking connectivity with the PING command -- General solutions to network problems: -- Turning on Network Discovery -- Updating the router firmware -- Troubleshooting cables -- Troubleshooting wireless network problems -- PC Upgrades: -- Basic PC repair skills: -- What tools do you need? -- Setting up your work area -- Playing it safe: -- Keeping yourself safe -- Keeping your components safe -- Opening the computer case: -- Making cable connections -- Working with expansion cards: -- Understanding expansion slot types -- Installing an expansion card -- Buying PC parts: -- Researching parts online: -- Checking out product reviews -- Performing price comparisons -- Researching retailers online -- Buying parts online -- Returning parts online -- Buying parts offline -- Replacing the power supply: -- Getting to know the power supply -- Buying a power supply -- Removing the old power supply -- Installing a new power supply -- Upgrading the hard drive: -- How a hard drive works -- Understanding hard drive specs: -- Hard drive interface and throughput -- Hard drive form factor -- Hard drive speed -- Buying a hard drive -- Removing the old hard drive -- Installing a new hard drive -- Finishing up -- Upgrading your CD or DVD drive: -- Choosing a CD or DVD drive: -- Understanding disc capacities -- Getting to know drive types -- Understanding drive speeds -- Buying a CD or DVD drive -- Removing the existing CD or DVD drive -- Installing the new CD or DVD drive -- Adding more memory: -- Understanding memory specs -- Memory module standard -- Memory type and speed -- Memory module capacity -- Determining how much memory is installed -- Determining what type of memory is installed -- Determining How Much Memory You Need -- Buying memory -- Pulling out the old memory modules -- Installing the new memory modules -- Updating the Video Card and Monitor: -- Assessing your video card needs -- Understanding video card specs: -- GPU chipset -- Video memory -- Video card connectors -- Buying a video card -- Choosing a monitor -- Setting Up a multimonitor system: -- Setting up multiple monitors on Windows 8 -- Setting up multiple monitors in Windows 7 -- Setting up multiple monitors in Windows Vista or XP -- Moving up to three monitors -- Improving the sound system: -- Understanding audio -- Analog-to-digital sound conversion -- Nature of sound -- How an analog sound wave gets digitized -- Understanding sound card specs: -- Sampling frequency -- Sample depth -- Number of channels -- Sound card connectors -- Buying a sound card -- Connecting speakers or headphones -- Upgrading the CPU: -- Understanding what the CPU does -- Intel or AMD? -- Understanding CPU specs: -- Processor family -- Processor cores -- Processor name -- Processor clock speed -- Processor socket -- Processor cache size -- Processor manufacturing process -- Processor core type -- Keeping it cool: fans and heatsinks -- Buying a CPU -- Removing the old CPU -- Installing the new CPU: -- Installing an Intel CPU in a Socket 1155 Board -- Installing an AMD CPU in a Socket AM3 Board -- Installing the CPU cooler -- Changing the laptop battery: -- Understanding laptop batteries -- Getting more out of your battery: -- Extending your battery's life -- Extending your battery's charge -- When should you replace the battery? -- Buying a battery -- Installing the battery -- Upgrading your network: -- Understanding wireless networks -- 802-11b -- 802-11a -- 802-11g -- 802-11n -- 802-11ac -- Learning about wireless NICs -- Putting it all together with a wireless router -- Buyer's guide to wireless networking hardware: -- Purchasing a Wireless NIC -- Purchasing a wireless router -- Index