Customer Reviews

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (16th Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have purchased three of the last five revisions of this book, and bought the latest as a matter of course when it first became available. It's the first one where I have wished that I had looked at it physically before purchase, because I would have not purchased it had I done so.

For many years, this volume has been an industry standard, on the desktops of tech support personnel, PC purchasing agents, vocational educators, and hobbyists. It has grown like Topsy with each revision, steadily becoming larger and larger as more and more detail regarding newer releases in x86-compatible desktop and mobile CPUs, bus types, form factors, and compatibility issues evolved. However, previous standards are described often in mind-numbing and wordy detail as well. While some editing has taken place, it's not nearly enough.

If you have one of the last two or three editions of this book, don't buy this one. It's just more paper weighing down your already sagging bookshelf. If you are starting from scratch, this may still be a useful book, but be warned: it's a colossal aggregation of data, much of it of historical interest only.

Much of the "legacy" data is of primary interest to embedded systems designers and developers, but Mueller is strictly a desktop person: embedded people will be frustrated with this volume. Also, Mueller is wholly Microsoft-centric, meaning that there is a lot of DOS and NT stuff in here but no Unix, Unix-like (Linux or Free/Open/NetBSD), or embeddable (VxWorks or QNX) information whatsoever. Considering the average Linux user is going to be far more likely to need this type of knowledge than the average Windows user, one gets the idea that Mueller is just not comfortable with or even conversant with other environments than Microsoft and has elected to dodge the issue. Previously there was a "Linux Edition" of the book, where an outside team simply edited out the Microsoft discussion and put in some coverage of Linux video and sound configuration and some generic boilerplate. I find it a little disturbing because one simply can't consider oneself a computing professional in 2004 without a fair level of Unix competency:it just isn't credible.


Although the text is often shovelware, the accompanying DVD is a disappointment as the bundled software for disk testing and partitioning included in previous editions' disks is no longer included. Some previous editions had some very useful stuff including a fully functioning commercial partitioning program.

In my opinion the book should be blue-pencilled down to about 700 pages with much of the remainder put in .pdf format and put on the DVD. Very classy would be providing a DVD and a bootable CD with a live OS enabling network and web access, disk utilities and so forth. We used to highly value the QNX Demo Disk floppies, the images for which are sadly no longer on the excellent QNX website, and perhaps QNX would allow their OS to be used for a flavorful and functional live CD to enable access of the outside world, M$ file systems on hard drives for copying or repair, and formatting and partitioning of hard disks and rewritable media. A DOS-based bootable CD might be less featureful but would at least enable disk repair and file editing and could be made with FreeDOS. Also, given the nature of the work, perhaps printing the book on "Bible paper" with a ruggedized but flexible cover-such as the Machinery's Handbook and other professional reference works-would be a better choice than the current consumer-quality binding used on most Que hardbacks.

There is a good reason why this book is in its 16th edition. Its massive and reliable coverage of what it takes to repair a PC, or upgrade various parts, continues in the tradition of its predecessors. The rate of change in this field is so great that new editions have to be continuously produced.

To be sure, the average PC user does not want or need such a tome. But there is a sizeable minority of hobbyists to whom this book is directed. It was from such people that were the PC's first audience, in the late 70s. The book harks back to the PC's roots.

Some chapters may see greater use than others. Like that on hard disks. Here is where your data lives, or dies! The chapter has a good explanation of the basic principles of disks. Newer parts, like memory sticks, get good coverage too. Also worth noting is that certain crucial external devices, like hubs and switches, are explained. This reflects the reality that these days, an isolated PC has much less utility than one hooked to the Internet.

By comparison, the chapter on floppy disks is looking increasingly anachronistic. Its presence in future editions may be dubious.

(...)
The New Jersey Computer Club (NJCC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about computer systems, software, and their uses; providing community service to charities and educational groups; awarding an annual NJCC Memorial Award; and sharing knowledge and social activities with other computer enthusiasts. A frequent topic of discussion, and a major need of all of our membership, is how to upgrade, troubleshoot, and repair their computer systems. This book is an excellent guide and reference on everything associated with this topic.

Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 16th Edition, authored by well-known Scott Mueller and published by Que Publishing, is an up-to-date comprehensive (1625 page) book that comes with a three hour instructional and reference DVD, including a searchable hard drive database, vendor database, and eight prior editions of Upgrading and Repairing PCs (in PDF format). Detailed technical information is very well presented in an easy to read format with extensive diagrams, figures, and tables that both illustrate concepts and organize historical and statistical data for clarity of understanding and ease of use.

There are two main ways of using this book. First, you can utilize it as a learning tool to gain knowledge about an area of interest, such as a particular component of a computer system. Second, you can utilize it as a technical reference, to find detailed information on a specific computer topic or component. Of major importance is the fact that the text covers not only current data and information, but also historical content on older systems and components that may still be in use.

The chapters on "PC Diagnostics, Testing and Maintenance" and "File Systems and Data Recovery", and the "Troubleshooting Index" (Appendix C) are of special interest, as troubleshooting problem systems is a significant concern for our membership. The chapter on "Building and Upgrading Systems" is also very important for those who need assistance in replacing or adding system components.

The DVD is especially useful with a video presentation by Scott Mueller on Build a PC From Scratch. This video includes segments on Tools To Have On Hand, Chassis Considerations, Processor Installation, Memory Installation, Motherboard Installation, Installing the Drives, Power Supply Connection, Card Installation, Closing the Case, and Power Up the System. These clips will be valuable to both novice and experienced users. (...)

I have personally used prior editions of Upgrading and Repairing PCs for many years, and I have always found the content to be very accurate, informative and useful. I have never read an entire book, but I know what is available in each book and where to find it, and when you need the information it is very satisfying to know that you have it readily accessible.

This book is essential for our User Group personnel who provide technical assistance and support for our membership, and it is very strongly recommended to all our NJCC members as a learning and self help tool for their own benefit.
(...)

Having been suggested to me by a highly respected peer, I was very excited to get this tome (as Mueller refers to it, himself). I haven't finished reading it yet, but the book contains more than enough info on every subject important to building and repairing PCs, unless you wish to become a computer enigneer. If that's the case, I'd recommend this as a good starting point.

Every concievable aspect of PC hardware is covered, from processors, to motherboards, to memory, to storage, to power supplies and cases, keyboards/mice, etc. Everything. It's all explained from the most technical workings of individual aspects of how hardware functions, to how all the various pieces of hardware fit together to form a working system. The level of detail to which Mueller goes is sometimes overwhelming and the organizational method has yet to be fully experienced (both in-chapter and overall), but that's the price you pay when you want to know _everything_ about building and repairing a PC.

Don't buy this book if you're just getting started. It's just too overwhelming. If you're have at least a faint idea of how to build your own computer, then buy it. I can already tell it's indispensible. When you buy it, read it cover to cover twice, and you'll never be in the dark when it comes to PC hardware again.

I'll come back and update my review when I've gotten farther in the book.

Update 10.2.08: Since purchasing this book I've gone on to become the General Manager of a company specializing in break-fix work. I've loaned this book to all of our new hires lacking experience and all of our interns. Each and every one of them was thankful I knew of such an awesome resource. I have not bought the current edition but am considering an upgrade in 2009 or 2010 to reflect the drastic changes that have taken place. If you are about to purchase this book for the first time you obviously want to get the latest edition.

Pretty good book in general. I'm an intermediate computer user and I have to say I didn't learn to terribly much from this very large extensive product. For advanced users I wouldn't recommend it, for beginners looking for info on basic troubleshooting and building of pc's I would recommend it. A large wealth of the history of computers, and other now obsolete information that I'd rather not waste my time or brain capacity with. Also EXTREMELY BIAST on Intel products, basically giving less info on AMD chipsets mobo's and processors, and treating AMD like it's not worth the space in this 1500 page book. Let's face it, if your building your own PC, your probably gonna shoot for an AMD processor, for it's specs and it's value of the buck.

This book has everything in it and more that most people would want to know about PC Hardware. Your one stop reference. I have the 10th, 12th and now 16th edition. Each edition retains the old as well as adds the latest technologies. It's not something you might read cover to cover one evening but it is a handy reference. If you are a PC Technician or want to be get this book.

One of the most respected authorities in the PC industry! I bought the 6th edition of his book back in 1995 at Best Buy and I've been buying updated editions ever since. Scott goes into such amazing detail, but yet he doesn't "talk over your head". The guy is so geeky that he programmed the ROM chips in his car to get better compression! Lots of cool little stories like that are in this book.

My only complaint would be that he puts the PDF of the book one edition behind the current one on the CD. So if you buy the 16th edition you will find the 15th edition in PDF format on the CD. Also, the PDF cannot be copied or printed from because it uses Adobe's copy protection features (enabled by QUE).

I recommend this book to all my students and co-workers.

This is a great book if you are like me and want to know where to find out all that esoteric information about computer junk. What do all those acronyms mean? I was able to go from being scared to open a computer case to building now three different computers. I love that it has all the old information in there. It is sort of a history of computers from the early PCs to today. This book is just now starting to be obsolete. Some of the newer chipsets are not listed, but it is still a great resource.

This book has everything you can imagine, and then everything you can't. It's got what you need and what you don't. The more information the better! Superb reference book and great to learn the details you always heard about but never really understood from either the concept, technical, or logical side. A must have for computer gurus!

The book that my husband and I purchase was really a great surprise the price the book was a stock but we said let's try it anyway.Also we like their policy that protect their customers.

9-3-2011 Sat