Do-It-Yourself Upgrading & Fixing Computer for Dummies

ISBN-13: 9780470557433 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 340 str.

Andy Rathbone

Opis

An illustrated, step-by-step guide to repairs and upgrades Whether you want to prepare your computer for Windows 7, avoid investing in a new one, or just "go green," this fully illustrated guide has what you need. You'll learn how to add printers and new keyboards, boost your PC's performance and increase memory, improve power consumption, rev up your multimedia capacity, and much more. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by photos that show you exactly what you should see at every stage.

• Learn to perform basic upgrades and prepare your PC for high-speed Internet connections, network connections, and added security, all with fully illustrated instructions
• Find out how to expand memory, enhance speed, and update your computer's power supply
• Prepare an old computer for Windows 7 and beef up your capacity for multimedia

Upgrading & Fixing Computers Do-It-Yourself For Dummies is a show-and-tell course in making your PC happy, healthy, and green.

Spis treści

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade 7

Chapter 1: Start Here First 9

Chapter 2: Assembling Your Tools 23

Part II: Making Your Computer Work Better 27

Chapter 3: Keyboards, Mice, Game Controllers, and Monitors 29

Chapter 4: Printers and Scanners 51

Chapter 5: Adding More Memory 67

Chapter 6: Adding or Replacing a Hard Drive 73

Chapter 7: Adding a DVD Drive 101

Chapter 8: Fine–Tuning Your Computer s Sound 109

Chapter 9: Beefi ng Up Your Computer s Video Card 119

Chapter 10: Replacing the Power Supply or Laptop Battery 129

Part III: Teaching an Old Computer New Tricks 139

Chapter 11: Creating a Home Theater with Windows 7 s Media Center 141

Chapter 12: Upgrading a Computer for Editing Movies 155

Chapter 13: Repurposing an Old Computer 161

Part IV: Communications 171

Chapter 14: Adding or Replacing a Modem 173

Chapter 15: Linking Computers with a Network 185

Chapter 16: Filtering Out Evil with Firewalls 199

Part V: Introducing Parts to Windows 207

Chapter 17: Hiring the Right Driver for Windows 209

Chapter 18: Installing or Upgrading to Windows 7 227

Chapter 19: Troubleshooting and Fixing Windows 7 247

Chapter 20: Moving from the Old Computer to the New Computer 265

Part VI: The Part of Tens 277

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Find Help Online 279

Chapter 22: Ten Cheap Fixes to Try First 287

Appendix: The Rathbone Reference of Fine Ports 293

Index 303

O autorze

Andy Rathbone is a bestselling author of computer reference books including Windows For Dummies, which has sold millions of copies in its several editions. Andy has also covered consumer technologies such as TiVo and MP3 players.

Blurb

Save money! Go green! Get that old machine ready for Windows 7, and do it yourself!

Be the envy of your friends with these easy–to–follow, step–by–step, illustrated instructions for upgrading any computer. Replace any drive, beef up your video, salvage an old PC′s parts, or upgrade your tiny netbook all by yourself.

Discover how to find the best parts at the best price, avoiding lemons along the way. Locate and install the drivers that make everything work, and troubleshoot problems you encounter. Turn your newly beefed–up PC into a home theater or backup system, or simply make it ready to run Windows 7. This book makes it all easy!

Open the book and find:

• How to locate and choose the right replacement part
• Where to find new drivers and how to install them
• How to get a pokey laptop back up to full speed
• Inexpensive ways to update your old computer and avoid buying a new one
• Which tools you need to make simple repairs

Learn to:

• Upgrade and repair your PC, laptop, or netbook
• Find the right parts at the best price
• Add memory, replace a hard drive, beef up your video, and do it all yourself!