The Complete Idiot's Guide to Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Fourth Edition, teaches you how to upgrade your PC peripherals to increase productivity on your PC, without intimidating or offending you. A straight-forward, conversational tone provides basic information in purchasing and installing the newest technology for multimedia and more. You will learn how various software applications and operating systems upgrades can help you use or not use your PC more efficiently. This book gives you the foundation on what a PC is and how to upgrade it in everyday language.

Provides information on upgrading computer memory, increasing speed, adding multimedia equipment, and fixing common problems.

When you first get a PC, you want to do something with it. You didn't buy it to learn about it any more than you buy a car to learn about its engine. You want to write a letter, send an email message, check out some Web sites, make a greeting card, or personalize the Windows desktop. Whatever it is you want to do, you don't want to have to read a book describing what a Pentium processor is or how your AGP adapter produces the pretty image on the screen. You want something more tangible; you want to do something practical. The only trouble is that the darn computer won't cooperate. It's just not as easy as it looks. That's the purpose of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Computer Basics. This book identifies the 20-30 tasks that you as a PC novice want to perform and then it draws a map showing you how to achieve your goal. You'll follow simple steps to print a greeting card, reconcile a checkbook balance, decorate the Windows desktop, make the PC run faster, and more.

Upgrading and Repairing PCs: Field Guide is a portable, "essentials" version of Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 13th Edition - the bestselling PC hardware book of all-time. Weighing less than half a pound, this tiny book packs a hefty punch - containing the essential information you need to upgrade and repair PCs, whether you're a hardcore pro or a weekend warrior. All of this information fits nicely in your toolkit, briefcase or backpack and be there to rescue you when you're out of your office and away from your trusty copy of Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Use the connector quick reference section to identify most any connector or port you run across while servicing PCs out in the wild! Who says detailed coverage must come in a big package? This diminutive book makes up for its tiny size by providing you with a level of detail that exceeds that found in some bigger (in size and name) competitor books. Hundreds of detailed tables boil down complicated settings, standards and specifications into an easy to read - and easy to find - format. All of this detailed information easily fits in your toolkit, briefcase or book bag-right where you need it!

Time for an upgrade! The fifth edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Computer Basics places the reader in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and places the focus on software troubleshooting rather than hardware techno-babble. The reader wants to do something practical with his or her computer—this book shows them how. • Covers basic office programs and how to manage photo, video, and music files • Advice on safe web-surfing, including coverage of newsgroups, message boards, and mailing lists • New green computing initiatives that help protect the environment • Maintenance and upgrading information

This is the newest comprehensive update to the world's #1 guide to PC repair and maintenance. World-renowned PC hardware expert Scott Mueller has thoroughly updated his legendary "Upgrading and Repairing PCs to reflect today's latest PC technologies, and added a new DVD with more than two hours of digital video demonstrating PC maintenance and repair, which can be watched on either their DVD-equipped PCs or any DVD player. Mueller presents updated coverage of every significant PC component: processors, motherboards, memory, the BIOS, IDE and SCSI interfaces, drives, removable and optical storage, video and audio hardware, USB, FireWire, Internet connectivity, LANs, power supplies, even PC cases. This book also contains a detailed troubleshooting index designed to help readers rapidly diagnose more than 250 common PC hardware problems, as well as an extensive vendor contact guide, and a comprehensive PC technical glossary.