Chapter 1. Hardware Basics for the Absolute Beginner

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Get to know your personal computer system

• Inside the system unit

• Microprocessors, computer memory, and hard disks

• Portable storage and CD/DVD drives

• Understand the startup process

Before you pop open your system unit and start plugging and unplugging cables, it might be a good idea to take a quick refresher course in computer basics. We'll start by looking at each of the parts of your computer system, from the system unit (and everything inside) to monitors, speakers, and keyboards. Then we'll examine what exactly happens when you turn on your PC what we call the startup process.

Remember, this chapter is just an overview; we'll go into more detail about upgrading and troubleshooting all these components later in the book. So if you already know all there is to know about the various types of computer hardware in your system, feel free to skip this chapter. But if you're an absolute beginner when it comes to how your computer works, this is the chapter for you!