Fix your own computer—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… ¿ Paul McFedries is a full-time technical writer and passionate computer tinkerer. He has authored more than 80 computer books that have sold more than 4 million copies. His recent titles include My Office 2013 RT, Windows 8 In Depth, Microsoft Windows 7 Unleashed, Microsoft Home Server 2011 Unleashed, and Tweak It and Freak It: A Killer Guide to Making Windows Run Your Way. He is also proprietor of Word Spy (www.wordspy.com), a website that tracks new words and phrases as they enter the English language. ¿

Table of Contents:
Introduction ..........................1   FIY: Fix-It-Yourself ........................ 2 Who Should Read This Book? ......................... 3 Conventions Used in This Book .................... 3   I PC Maintenance   1 Maintaining Your PC .................................5 Cleaning the PC ............................... 6  Dust: Your PC’s Worst Nightmare ...................... 6  Cleaning the Screen, Keyboard, and Mouse ............. 7  Cleaning the Front and Back of the PC ............ 8  Cleaning the Power Supply ..................11  Cleaning the Interior ..............................13 Checking Free Disk Space ...........................16 Dealing with Hard Disk Errors ........................17  Understanding Hard Drive Health States ...................19  Repairing a Drive Manually ........................21   2 Maintaining Windows .........................25 Deleting Unnecessary Files ...................................................26 Defragmenting Your Hard Disk ..............................27 Repairing, Updating, and Uninstalling Programs .......................29  Repairing a Software Installation ............................29  Updating Windows 8 Apps ...................................30  Uninstalling Windows 8 Apps .................................32  Uninstalling Desktop Programs ................................32 Checking for Windows Updates ................................33  Configuring Automatic Updates ..............................33  Checking for and Installing Updates Manually .....................35 Installing a New Device ...........................................36  Installing Plug and Play Devices .............................37  Using Action Center to Complete a Device Install ................38 Uninstalling a Device ...................................39   3 Preparing for Trouble .......................41 Backing Up Your Files ...................................................42  Backing Up File Versions with Windows 8’s File History .......42  Backing Up Files in Windows 7 ...................................44  Backing Up Files in Windows Vista ..........................46  Backing Up Files in Windows XP ..................................48 Setting System Restore Points ........................................51 Creating a Windows 8 Recovery Drive ......................53 Creating a System Image Backup ...............................55 Creating a System Repair Disc ...........................................58   II Troubleshooting and Repair   4 Understanding Basic Troubleshooting .............61 Determining the Source of a Problem .........................62  Did You Get an Error Message? ...............................62  Did You Recently Change Any Windows Settings? ...................62  Did You Recently Change Any Application Settings? ...............63  Did You Recently Install a New Program? ...........................63  Did You Recently Install a New Device or Update a Driver? ............64 General Troubleshooting Tips ........................64 Troubleshooting Startup ............................................64 More Troubleshooting Tools ..........................................65  Running the Windows Troubleshooters ............................66  Running the Memory Diagnostics Tool ............................67  Checking for Solutions to Problems ...............................69   5 Troubleshooting Device Problems ...............71 Troubleshooting with Device Manager ........................72 Troubleshooting Device Driver Problems ...............................74  Basic Device Driver Troubleshooting ............................74  Tips for Downloading Device Drivers ..........................76  Updating a Device Driver .......................................77  Rolling Back a Device Driver ..................77   6 Recovering from Problems ...............81 Restoring Backed-Up Data ....................................82  Restoring a Previous Version of a File in Windows 8 ...........82  Restoring a Backed-Up File in Windows 7 ..............................84  Restoring a Backed-Up File in Windows Vista ..............86  Restoring a Backed-Up File in Windows XP ......................88 Accessing the Windows 8 Recovery Environment ......................89  Accessing the RE via PC Settings ....................................89  Accessing the RE via a Recovery Drive .............................90  Accessing the RE via Windows 8 Install Media ................91  Navigating the Recovery Environment ...........................91 Booting Up in Safe Mode ...........................94 Recovering Using System Restore .............................95 Refreshing Your Windows 8 PC .............................97 Resetting Your Windows 8 PC ................................98 Restoring a Windows 8 System Image .....................99   7 Troubleshooting Your Network ............. 103 Repairing a Network Connection ...................................104 Checking the Connection Status ................................104 Checking Connectivity with the PING Command ............106 General Solutions to Network Problems .......................107  Turning On Network Discovery ................................109  Updating the Router Firmware .......................111 Troubleshooting Cables .............................113 Troubleshooting Wireless Network Problems ............114   III PC Upgrades   8 Basic PC Repair Skills ............ 117 What Tools Do You Need? ............................118 Setting Up Your Work Area ..............................121 Playing It Safe ..................................122  Keeping Yourself Safe ..................................123  Keeping Your Components Safe ..................124 Opening the Computer Case ..........................125 Making Cable Connections ...........................127 Working with Expansion Cards ..............131  Understanding Expansion Slot Types ..............132  Installing an Expansion Card ........................135   9 Buying PC Parts ............... 139 Researching Parts Online .............140  Checking Out Product Reviews ...........140  Performing Price Comparisons ..........................143 Researching Retailers Online.........................145 Buying Parts Online .............................147 Returning Parts Online .................................149 Buying Parts Offline .............................151   10 Replacing the Power Supply ................ 155 Getting to Know the Power Supply ...................156 Buying a Power Supply ......................................158 Removing the Old Power Supply ...................160 Installing a New Power Supply ............................162   11 Upgrading the Hard Drive ............ 167 How a Hard Drive Works .........................168 Understanding Hard Drive Specs ............................169  The Hard Drive Interface and Throughput ....................170  The Hard Drive Form Factor ................................176  The Hard Drive Speed ...............................177 Buying a Hard Drive ..................................177 Removing the Old Hard Drive .........................178 Installing a New Hard Drive ............................181 Finishing Up ................................182   12 Upgrading Your CD or DVD Drive ............ 185 Choosing a CD or DVD Drive ......................186  Understanding Disc Capacities .................................186  Getting to Know Drive Types .................187  Understanding Drive Speeds ............................188 Buying a CD or DVD Drive .............................189 Removing the Existing CD or DVD Drive .......................190 Installing the New CD or DVD Drive ....................193   13 Adding More Memory ........... 195 Understanding Memory Specs ............................196  The Memory Module Standard ........................197  The Memory Type and Speed .......................197  The Memory Module Capacity ..................198 Determining How Much Memory Is Installed ............198 Determining What Type of Memory Is Installed ..........199 Determining How Much Memory You Need ...............202 Buying Memory .........................205 Pulling Out the Old Memory Modules ...............205 Installing the New Memory Modules ...................207   14 Updating the Video Card and Monitor ........ 211 Assessing Your Video Card Needs ......................212 Understanding Video Card Specs ......................215  The GPU Chipset ...........................216  Video Memory ................................217  Video Card Connectors .....................218 Buying a Video Card ........................221 Choosing a Monitor .................................223 Setting Up a Multimonitor System .....................225  Setting Up Multiple Monitors on Windows 8 .................225  Setting Up Multiple Monitors in Windows 7 ...................227  Setting Up Multiple Monitors in Windows Vista or XP ..........228  Moving Up to Three Monitors ..................229   15 Improving the Sound System ............ 233 Understanding Audio .................................234  Analog-to-Digital Sound Conversion ......................234  The Nature of Sound ...................................234  How an Analog Sound Wave Gets Digitized .................235 Understanding Sound Card Specs ......................236  The Sampling Frequency ....................237  The Sample Depth ................................238  The Number of Channels ............................240  Sound Card Connectors .............................241 Buying a Sound Card .......................................242 Connecting Speakers or Headphones ................245   16 Upgrading the CPU .................. 249 Understanding What the CPU Does ................250 Intel or AMD? ......................................250 Understanding CPU Specs ....................................251  The Processor Family ....................................252  The Processor Cores ...................................253  The Processor Name .......................................254  The Processor Clock Speed ...........................255  The Processor Socket ..............................256  The Processor Cache Size ...............................258  The Processor Manufacturing Process .................258  The Processor Core Type ............................259 Keeping It Cool: Fans and Heatsinks ......................259 Buying a CPU ...................................263 Removing the Old CPU ................................265 Installing the New CPU .....................................267  Installing an Intel CPU in a Socket 1155 Board .............268  Installing an AMD CPU in a Socket AM3 Board ..................270  Installing the CPU Cooler ..........................271   17 Changing the Laptop Battery .......... 275 Understanding Laptop Batteries ........................276 Getting More Out of Your Battery ........................276  Extending Your Battery’s Life ................................276  Extending Your Battery’s Charge .......................277 When Should You Replace the Battery? .............279 Buying a Battery .....................................280 Installing the Battery ..........................281   18 Upgrading Your Network ................ 285 Understanding Wireless Networks .............286  802.11b ......................................287  802.11a .....................................287  802.11g ...........................287  802.11n ..................................288  802.11ac ...........................288 Learning About Wireless NICs ................289 Putting It All Together with a Wireless Router ..................291 A Buyer’s Guide to Wireless Networking Hardware .............293  Purchasing a Wireless NIC ............................293  Purchasing a Wireless Router ....................295   Index ...................... 297