Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer: Revised And Updated Edition [Paperback]

Mike Harris (Author), Tony Harris (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581603568 | ISBN-13: 978-1581603569 | Publication Date: September 2002 | Edition: Rev Upd

If you can operate a screwdriver and follow instructions, you can build the most complicated PC! This simple assertion by Mike and Tony Harris could revolutionize the way people look at computers. Building instead of buying will save you hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars and will enable you to repair your PC and successfully upgrade it to keep it current, saving you even more money. This book uses photos and easy-to-understand instructions to demonstrate that regardless of which processor or system speed you choose, the actual assembly is exactly the same. The Harris' guide you through the process of determining what kind of computer you need, purchasing and successfully assembling the hardware and installing the software. You'll end up with a better and cheaper system than you could have bought pre-assembled.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Harris is a director of business development for an optical networking corporation. A San Diego State University graduate with 30 years of sophisticated electronics experience, he has been teaching classes on computer software and technology since the 1980s, and has written both a hacker's manual and a home user's manual on computer building, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Tony Harris is a senior systems administrator for a telecommunications company and working on a bachelor's degree in computer science at SDSU and has been involved with computers since he was 8. He is an expert on most computer software and has been building his own computers for more than a decade. .

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Sycamore Island Books; Rev Upd edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581603568
• ISBN-13: 978-1581603569
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,216,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Experience Necessary...LOTS, March 25, 2004

By 

kkrome25 "kkrome25" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer: Revised And Updated Edition (Paperback)

The problem with very knowledgeable authors is that they fail to see things from a broader perspective, and they have no idea that what they know is quite a lot. This is a very inadequate book for the new PC builder. The illustrations are no better than zerox handouts. The first chapter titled "Computer Talk" explains terms to people who already know a good deal of it, and it just explains the slang terms or buzz words. One should already know DOS, for example. The book WILL get you to put a PC together, BUT will leave you fending for yourself, when for example you have a dead or defective component somewhere. What will you do when you have to flash your BIOS? What's that? It does not tell you half of what to do when you have a problem after turning it on! Who do you call for tech support? After paying for tech support, you will have easily spent more than the price of a prebuilt PC. Experience is necessary before opening this book. It is a prerequisite. Maybe I'll write a book for the regular person if and when I REALLY learn how to build & upgrade my PC. But it won't be from this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for someone new to building, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer (Paperback)

Although a revised edition would be a big help, this book walks you through many of the upgrades a home user could accomplish by themselves. I built my first home PC (an AMD K6-II 350 system) with the use of this book and found it to be exteremly helpful. Up and running with a license to learn. I've gone on to building several more for family and friends and all are still running well. A good all around reference.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now in a newly revised and fully updated edition, December 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer: Revised And Updated Edition (Paperback)

Now in a newly revised and fully updated edition, Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer by do-it-yourself computer hardware experts Mike and Tony Harris is a useful and "user friendly" instructional guide to purchasing and assembling the hardware necessary to personally building a computer tailored to suit particular and individual needs. Individual chapters articulately address learning the basics of computer jargon, choosing the best software and hardware, precise and specific manipulations with screwdrivers, troubleshooting, and a great deal more. Build, Upgrade, And Repair Your Computer is very highly recommended, especially for the upbeat, take-control, self-reliant, computer enthusiast.