Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference [Paperback]

Stephen J. Bigelow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2000 | Series: Hardware

This work is a step-by-step quick reference for building your own PC. From power supply to peripherals, it teaches the reader how to choose components, assemble them in an efficient order, test the system and troubleshoot with confidence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Ultimate Quick Reference for Building Your Dream PC.

Learn to build a complete, economical IBM-compatible PC from the ground up. Building your own PC is the best way to get exactly the system you want, save money - and enjoy yourself in the process. Stephen Bigelow has taught thousands of online students - including rank beginners - to construct the customized PC of their dreams. All his expert tips, tricks, and techniques are right here in this handy, step-by-step guide. You'll learn to choose your components, assemble them quickly and efficiently, test the system, troubleshoot, take advantage of upgrades, and install your operating system.

Learn to:

• Choose the right parts for your dream machine
• Assemble components quickly and efficiently
• Install the motherboard, key components, and peripherals
• Recognize troublesome components during assembly
• Examine and troubleshoot CMOS at setup
• Install and optimize your operating system

About the Author

Stephen J. Bigelow (Jefferson, MA) is a recognized and trusted figure in the crowded field on computer guidance. Online and in print, this expert author has earned a reputation for straightforward, reliable advice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill; 2 Sub edition (September 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072129441
• ISBN-13: 978-0072129441
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,393,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great on the basics, but somewhat out-dated., January 19, 1999

By 

Fred Richard ([e-mail]) (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference (Paperback)

I'm building my first computer and had already made some hardware choices based on internet reviews and tutorials. This book gives a very comprehensive, though somewhat dated, step by step procedure for building a PC, that starts with the selection of all the components. Very helpful to beginners. Although the book covers all the basics, be prepared to do some serious research on the net to supplement the data found in the book and needed in the areas of current hard drives and there setup, with particular regard to size vs cluster allocations. The book is not really good in addressing the new Fat 32 partitioning formats, or in dealing with Windows 98 issues in general. If your going to build a system with a moderate size hard drive, and install Windows 95 as your OS, this book will get you there in great shape. At the end of each construction segment you test your system and if it doesn't respond properly, the book is very good about outlining possible causes and cures. This feature saved me on a couple of occasions. I would like to see the author put out a supplement based on current hardware, setup(Fat32)and OS software now available. I'd buy it in flash!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference book for building your first PC, December 30, 2001

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference (Paperback)

When I built my own PC back in the summer of 1999, I relied upon this book as my primary resource. Certainly, it is somewhat out-of-date now (but what computer book isn't by the time it reaches the shelves), but the fact remains that the primary steps and considerations in building a computer are basically unchanged. You have to choose a CPU, a hard drive, a case, a floppy drive, a CD/DVD drive, a modem, a video card, a sound card, speakers, and a mouse. Bigelow walks you through the process of making these individual decisions within the context of your primary objective. He then walks you through assembling the parts into your very own new computer. In terms of covering the basics, I would still rank this book among the best, especially for non-technical readers. Certainly, the information on installing an operating system deals mainly with Windows 95 but I had no trouble installing Windows 98. Anyone installing Windows NT/2000/XP will need to refer to other reference material, but this book strikes me as being intended mainly for home users looking to build or update a system of their own--even now, most such users will be looking at installing 98 or ME. Also, I would consider the installation of an OS as somewhat separate from actually building a system, and it is the latter pursuit toward which this book is geared.

I believe that anyone, including those with little or no computer experience, can build a computer with the help of this book. Furthermore, one can learn what to look for in deciding between different hardware options in terms of a PC's basic components. I would not depend solely on this book for my reference material, but anyone wishing to build a PC or to decide whether or not they want to attempt such a rewarding endeavor would benefit from the guidance Mr. Bigelow provides here. I am writing this review and submitting it on a computer I built myself, with a lot of help and guidance from this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book to learn how to build a computer!, August 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference (Paperback)

Book is updated for Pentium II computers which makes it perfect for any builder. This book not only teaches you how to build a computer step-by-step, but it also teaches you how to choose parts. It explains what each part of the computer is and what it is used for. The best part about this book is that Bigelow explains what to do in case of errors. There aren't many illustrations but the few that the book has are very helpful.