Upgrading and Fixing PCs for Dummies, Sixth Edition [Paperback]

Andy Rathbone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0764516655 | ISBN-13: 978-0764516658 | Edition: 6

The average cost of desktop PCs has fallen steadily over the years while power and functionality have increased. Despite lower prices, however, you still may not feel like spending money on a new, faster PC. Instead, you can transform your balky PC into a glitch-free, turbocharged, multimedia machine with minimum cost.

If you want your PC to do more and crash less but don't know where to begin, then Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, 6th Edition, is your answer. Don't let the fear of opening your computer’s case prevent you from do-it-yourself upgrades. Plenty of computer parts stay completely on the outside of the computer! So get ready to discover the ins and outs of today's hardware and software.

This book is for anyone who wants to

• Upgrade an older PC to run Windows XP
• Add a larger hard drive
• Upgrade a video card
• Set up a firewall
• Take advantage of low-priced memory chips from warehouse stores

This easy-to-understand guide shows you how to deal with the most common upgrading and repair problems and explains what to buy, where to plug it in, and how to make sure your computer knows what to do with it. This sixth edition of Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies contains several new chapters and sections:

• A visual appendix that explains how to use all the ports on your computer and install the ones you may be missing
• A network installation guide to help you configure a network with both wired and wireless devices
• The scoop on drivers: When you need them, where to find them, and how to install them successfully
• Detailed coverage on virus attacks – how to avoid them and to repair the damage if one hits your PC
• The facts on DVD burners – their odd format terminology and incompatibilities

Plus, this edition continues to include the information that hundreds of thousands of people have relied on for 10 years: information about upgrading and fixing video cards, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, memory chips, monitors, modems, printers, scanners, hard drives, and other popular computer parts.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Like all Dummies books, Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies, Third Edition, shows you what you absolutely need to know and little more--but in very clear language. Oriented toward casual users who want to solve specific problems, the book pays attention to such troubles as parity error messages and out-of-memory warnings.

Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies promotes the ideas that you shouldn't fix things that aren't broken and that you should apply the simplest possible solutions to the broken things. The guide includes excellent coverage of the hardware-management features in Windows 95.

This book's problem-oriented approach yields sections about common hardware-related problems, such as, "My printer puts out only junk characters!" and "How do I install a new hard drive?" Cartoon-like sequential diagrams outline physical procedures, such as installing and removing SIMMs. Similar drawings help you find key parts of your computer, such as the PCI slots and the video port.

Overall, Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies, Third Edition, does what all the Dummies books do--it clearly explains how to solve certain problems. If your particular troubles happen to fall outside of what's covered here, you'll need to consult a geekier reference book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

They layout is clever...it is useful as a quick reference book. -- Computer Shopper, London, June 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 6 edition (August 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764516655
• ISBN-13: 978-0764516658
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Maintenance, Repair & Upgrading

More About the Author

I've written more than 50 books in the past 20 years, including the "Windows For Dummies" series, "Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies," and "Motorola Xoom For Dummies."

Feel free to visit my Web site at www.andyrathbone.com, where I answer a reader's question each week.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on Fixing PCs, October 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies (Paperback)

I first owned a PC when I was 14 and when my mom bought it for me I didn't know the difference between Windows and DOS and didn't even know what RAM or a CPU was. When I bought this I didn't really have any experience with using a PC, so after learning how to use one for awhile I purchased this book and read it.

This taught me a lot about repairing computers and installing new hardware. Anyone who doesnt have a ton of Knowledge about computers and is just starting out with Computers should check this book out if you want to learn more about them. I know for me it helped out a lot. If you've been a computer user for years and already know how to install a Hard Drive, Motherboard, Video Card and Memory etc, then I would skip this one. It's not very technical at all and is obviously for people that don't know much about computers at all. It's really just a good place to start.

I'm now 21 and have worked as a Computer Technician for about 3 years now. I definitely think that this book helped out a ton, it was definitely a good place to start. I believe there are to many people out there are afraid to upgrade/fix their own PC, maybe they are afraid they'll break it. That's all a part of the learning process and you'll never get anywhere if you don't take a risk and attempt to work on them. Most everything I've learned when it comes to upgrading computers is all Trial and Error. If one thing doesn't work out one way, just try it again some other way.

I also have to mention that any of the For Dummies books are worth checking out. Believe it or not, for learning DOS I read DOS For Dummies. For being a Computer Technician DOS is one of the most useful things I've learned. If you don't know it I don't see how anyone could be a very good Technician.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful introduction- brilliant overview! 6th edition, March 2, 2003

By 

"extreme_dig_cm" (Chicago, Il USA, Amazon.com Fan!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Upgrading and Fixing PCs for Dummies, Sixth Edition (Paperback)

Kind of a combination introduction/overview to the state of PC technology today, with an emphasis on helping readers new to the subject in maximizing any PCs performance. This is an excellent book! Covers all the latest in Windows XP configuration and upkeep, as well as buzzwords like DVD-RW, DVD+RW, CDRW/DVD, 802.11b, 802.11a, wireless access points, fast Ethernet, FireWire, USB 2.0, MP3s, WMAs, LCDs, DVI-I, DV camcorders, digital cameras, scanners, printers, modems, NTFS, ATX, AGP 3.0 8x, DDR SDRAM,... etc. EVERYTHING current to today's PCs is given a brief mention. I especially like the Appendix, "The Rathbone Reference of Fine Ports", which clearly explains the most common of today's PC connections, as well as the ones that are going out of style. Very helpful! This book strikes a great balance between being too simple and being too advanced. It's the perfect companion to the "Windows for Dummies" series, right along with another recent book, "Troubleshooting Your PC for Dummies", by Dan Gookin. Highly recommended!

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learned more from this book than in computer class!, December 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies (Paperback)

I'm a computer support student at a local community college. The textbook we use is HUGE and VERY technical. I bought this "For Dummies" book on a friday afternoon, and learned more from it in just a few hours than I had learned in the first 3 weeks of class!! I could'nt possibly get through my classes without it. It explains things in a way that I can understand.... and it takes a lot of the intimidation out of the process of learning this subject!