Table of content

•	Table of Contents
•	Index

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC
By Michael Miller
Publisher	: Que
Pub Date	: September 03, 2003
ISBN	: 0-7897-3045-6
Pages	: 416

		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