Upgrading and Repairing Your PC (Cliffs Notes)

CliffsNotes™ Upgrading and Repairing Your PC......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 5
How to Use This Book......Page 9
Don't Miss Our Web Site......Page 10
Deciding to Upgrade, Repair, or Replace Your PC......Page 11
Figuring Out Your Costs......Page 13
Protecting your computer from power
surges......Page 14
Protecting your computer from heat and
sunlight......Page 15
Defragmenting your hard disk......Page 17
Checking for errors with ScanDisk......Page 19
Scanning for viruses......Page 21
Adding a Mouse, a Trackball, or a Touchpad......Page 23
Upgrading Your Keyboard......Page 27
Before You Begin......Page 30
Playing the safety game......Page 31
Internal and external modems......Page 32
ISDN......Page 34
Cable......Page 35
Satellite......Page 36
Installing a New Modem......Page 37
Understanding the Different Kinds of Adapters......Page 41
Sound adapters......Page 42
Knowing which type of adapter to use......Page 43
Troubleshooting with Your Sound or Video Adapter......Page 44
Installing a New Adapter......Page 45
CHAPTER 5: EXPANDING YOUR COMPUTER'S MEMORY......Page 49
Understanding the Different Types of Computer Memory......Page 50
Knowing How Speed and Size Affect RAM......Page 51
Memory Requirements......Page 53
Installing More Memory......Page 55
Understanding Your Computer's Storage Drives......Page 59
CD-ROM drive......Page 60
DVD-ROM drive......Page 61
Tape backup drive......Page 62
Removing and Replacing Your Hard Drive......Page 63
Installing a CD-ROM Drive......Page 65
Installing a Tape Backup Unit......Page 67
Installing a Zip Drive......Page 68
CHAPTER 7: MODERNIZING YOUR MOTHERBOARD......Page 71
Changing Your Computer's System Settings......Page 72
Replacing a Dead Battery......Page 73
Upgrading the BIOS......Page 75
Upgrading the BIOS the
old-fashioned way......Page 76
Upgrading the CPU......Page 78
Maintaining Your Monitor......Page 81
Adjusting your monitor's display settings......Page 82
Adjusting your monitor's colors......Page 84
Deciding on a new monitor......Page 86
Replacing your monitor with a new one......Page 87
Adding a Digital Scanner......Page 90
Knowing when to upgrade any type of
software......Page 93
Installing application software......Page 95
Removing (uninstalling) application
software......Page 98
Upgrading to Windows 95 and 98......Page 100
Upgrading to Windows 2000 Professional......Page 103
Selecting a New Printer......Page 104
Laser printers......Page 105
Which type of printer should you choose?......Page 106
Connecting a Printer to Your Computer......Page 107
Adding and Removing a Printer Driver......Page 109
If your printer won't print......Page 112
If your printer won't stop printing......Page 113
CLIFFSNOTES REVIEW......Page 116
Books......Page 121
Magazines & Other Media......Page 123
Send Us Your Favorite Tips......Page 124
Index......Page 125