Maintenance, Repair & Upgrading Books - Page 5

Mike Meyers' A+ Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs Lab Manual, Second Edition (Mike Meyers a+ Guide)

Michael Meyers

Amazon Price: $35.77 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $19.99

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Editorial Review:

Practice the IT Skills Essential for Your Success

• 60+ lab exercises challenge you to solve problems based on realistic case studies
• Step-by-step scenarios require you to think critically
• Lab analysis tests measure your understanding of lab results
• Key term quizzes help build your vocabulary

In this lab manual, you'll practice:

• Working with CPUs, RAM, and motherboards
• Installing, partitioning, and formatting hard drives
• Working with portable PCs, PDAs, and wireless technologies
• Installing, upgrading, and troubleshooting Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP
• Installing sound and video cards
• Managing printers and connecting to networks
• Implementing security measures
• Preparing for safety and environmental issues
• Establishing good communication skills and adhering to privacy policies

Mike Meyers' A+ Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs

Michael Meyers

Amazon Price: $75.00 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $6.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A #1 effort from the #1 authority on the subject! 5 out of 5 stars.
26 of 29 people found this review helpful.

We all know that Mike Meyers is go to man for A+ and that is All-In-One Guide is a huge success and that a great number of people, including myself, owe him a huge bit of thanks for helping us to pass the exams. Now imagine taking the best parts of his guides and break it down even further and that is exactly what has been done here in this book.

The book is an excellent study tool for passing the A+ exams as both the Core and OS exam are covered in the 950 plus pages. One thing that could be added in future updates is a few more exercises. And once again as with other books from Mike, this one has material I have not seen anywhere else before. I also found that this book is current with the newest exams, which is another plus.

The thing that has always impressed me is the way that Mike Meyers can explain any topic. He is able to convey the concepts and ideas without boring the reader; in fact several students in my current A+ Class have found this manual to clear up some confusion from the study guides we are currently using.

The cd included has several practice exams and some videos you can use as additional study tools. The Learn Key Videos does a hardware check before allowing you to run the video demos, which is a good thing since 1 of my machines was not hardware ready. As with the written material, Mike is even better in the video segments with his use of real life situations and examples.

If you are just getting started and need a first step in the right direction, than let this book be the pace is all begins. Overall just another superb effort from Mike Meyers.

Editorial Review:

Written by Mike Meyers, the #1 name in A+ training, this book teaches you how to be an A+ technician by covering in full detail all the topics found on the A+ certification exam. The CD includes self-assessment testing engine with six practice exams, LearnKey video presentation from Mike Meyers, and Mike's favorite shareware and freeware tools and utilities.

The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, 16th Edition

Mark Minasi, Faithe Wempen, Quentin Docter

Amazon Price: $31.49 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sybex Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $12.92

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Computer Science -> General
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Computer Science -> General AAS
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Games & Strategy Guides -> Strategy Guides -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Clear, Expert Advice for PC Users of Every Stripe

No matter how you use your PC--as a business tool, an entertainment center, or an Internet on-ramp--this latest edition of The Complete PC Upgrade & Maintenance Guide has you covered. Inside, you'll find the clear, expert advice on maintaining, upgrading, and troubleshooting for which this book is famous. It's all updated to cover the latest technologies and guaranteed to help you extend the life and power of your PC. You also get targeted instruction on a wide range of entertainment upgrades--ways to enhance your enjoyment of music, photo, movies, and more. Coverage includes:
* Preventing hardware disasters
* Upgrading memory
* Replacing power supplies
* Partitioning drives using NTFS and FAT32
* Solving data backup challenges
* Protecting your PC from viruses, worms, and spyware
* Adding SCSI cards and drives
* Installing DVDs, CD-ROMs, and EIDE and Serial ATA hard drives
* Troubleshooting printers and scanners
* Installing communications devices
* Resolving mouse and keyboard problems
* Installing video and sound cards
* Tackling networking issues, both wired and wireless
* Troubleshooting Internet connectivity
* Solving laptop problems
* Capturing and editing video
* Managing music and image files
* Watching movies on DVD
* Getting the most out of new storage and networking technologies

PC Chop Shop: Tricked Out Guide to PC Modding

David Groth

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

A great book for the workbench. Photo tutorials are very clear and easy to follow. The Author also restores Classic cars so the chapter on "case painting" is worth the price alone. The book covers all skill levels. Its a great reference guide when you find yourself in garge or workshop w/o internet access.
Modders, buy this book!

Very good, but not fantastic 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

There is a lot of great information in this book. I learned loads in the section of lighting, from how to solder LEDs to installing those cool plasma balls and/or plates. The stealthing section was also cool.

My only gripe is the photos. Most are black and white, and don't always clearly illustrate the point, especially when he is talking about the different colors of wire coming from a PSU. Many photos are on different pages than the text describing them, making one flip a page over to see what the author is talking about, and then flip back and try to find your spot. Minor, but annoying.

Besides the issue over photos, I learned loads, and will definatly apply some of the techniques to the project I bought the book for.

Editorial Review:

Catch on to the latest craze among PC enthusiasts-- "PC modding"--or tricking out, supping up, and customizing the look and performance of your PC. Through step-by-step instruction, best-selling PC author and expert "Modder" David Groth teaches you how to mod. Learn every type of modification, from adding lights, to sound deadening, to custom painting, peripheral and hardware modification. There are no lame projects in this book! A 16-page color insert demonstrates some of the coolest mods out there. David Groth's one-of-a-kind creations have been featured on Tech TV and Gruntville.com.

CNET Do-It-Yourself PC Upgrade Projects (Cnet Do-It-Yourself)

Guy Hart-Davis

Amazon Price: $18.96 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $10.60

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Editorial Review:

Supercharge and customize your PC

Now you can get the most out of your PC with the fun and practical projects packed inside this easy-to-follow guide. Produced in conjunction with CNET.com, the place you go for the latest in tech and consumer electronics, this book shows you how to exploit the media, communications, networking, and security features of your PC. You'll also find out how to add powerful hardware and software, improve performance, and expand your computer's capabilities.

Inside, you'll find 24 self-contained projects, clear step-by-step instructions, a list of tools needed at the beginning of each project, and hundreds of helpful photos and screenshots. With CNET Do-It-Yourself PC Upgrade Projects, you'll be able to take your PC to peak performance--and beyond.

• Transform your PC into a video phone
• Add two or more extra monitors so you can see all your work at once
• Set up your PC as a recording studio
• Create a permanent wireless network or a temporary one
• Back up your data safely--and restore it
• Digitize your paper documents for safekeeping
• Secure your secrets in a virtual locker
• And much more

Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible, Third Edition

Todd Stauffer, Kirk McElhearn

Amazon Price: $26.39 List Price: $39.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $3.53

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Operating Systems -> MacOS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

As David Pogue notes in the foreword to Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible, "The average Windows user must buy a new machine every two years; the average Mac fan keeps a Mac model running for five." One of the reasons that Macs outlive their competitors is their expandability and upgradability. With everything from software tips to detailed explanations of Mac hardware, the Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible will keep your Mac on the cutting edge for years to come (and save you some money in the process). But more importantly, author Todd Stauffer is concerned with personalizing Macs, adding bits of hardware and software that will allow you to record CDs, improve 3-D performance, or add a cable modem. The first two sections of this mammoth book consider the issues involved in making an upgrade decision and then engage the specific needs of a range of upgrades (from scanners to networking tools). The last two sections focus on troubleshooting--avoiding (or recovering from) bombs, freezes, or crashes. Throughout, Stauffer deftly moves from basic explanations to more complex technical matters when he compares, for example, IDE and SCSI hard-drive technology. Black-and-white photos accompanying the text are certain to take the jitters out of under-the-hood work. This is very much a hands-on guide for the serious user. The enclosed CD-ROM includes over 50 freeware, shareware, and demo tools such as Memory Mapper, CacheSaver, TattleTech, and Fonts Manager. --Patrick O'Kelley

Troubleshooting Your PC for Dummies

Dan Gookin

List Price: $24.99 By: For Dummies Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $0.52

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I treasure this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
46 of 46 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book before I experimented with other books of it's kind and I was able to apply what I read within minutes to my broken computer. I have over 15 years experience as an Electronic Technician and 4 years experience as a Design Engineer and I learned something new from each and every page I studied. I was able to "laugh" at my fear of PC repair after reading this book. He covers everything from start-up problems to fixing bugs and everything in between. This book was so easy to read too! It was a welcomed relief from the over-complicated articles that I usually read. Thank you Dan Gookin!

Editorial Review:

* Most troubleshooting books concentrate on upgrading-and usually hardware at that. This book concentrates on solving problems-whether they are software, hardware, or operating system problems. The problems are the ones that Dan Gookin hears most often-the most frequently mentioned problems from his readers.
* Provides the background to understanding the differences between hardware and software errors and learning about the computer's startup sequence to help diagnose and fix common startup problems.
* Fix irritable error messages, slow PCs, internet and email problems, shutdown errors, and other common PC problems.
* Covers not only common disk problems, but also concentrates on using disk tools to improve disk performance, and preventative maintenance techniques.
* Techniques to avoid disaster: system restore, backup, disk cleanup, and virus protection.
* Tools and utilities provided by Windows to help troubleshoot your computer.

PC Technician Black Book: The PC Technician's Secret Weapon

Ron Gilster

List Price: $49.99 By: Coriolis Group Books Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $12.37

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Not worth the money 1 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

The cover says "Ideal for A+ certified technicians," which I am not, but I could imagine they'd be even more frustrated with this book that I am.

I bought this book after acquiring a large collection of older PC parts. I thought it would be handy to have a troubleshooting reference nearby while working with the parts. I've had this book a number of months now, built 2 fully operational computers from scratch, and have not found this book helpful ONCE. I'd recommend saving your money and buying another book or searching Google Groups for your answers.

Just to be fair, there is a lot of interesting information about how certain technologies evolved and is fairly comprehensive. (Such as full page pictures of what midtower cases and toolless screws look like.) But when it comes to troubleshooting issues while working on a computer, it's just about worthless. (Plot spoiler: just about all the "Immediate Solutions" sections tell you to check the cables, or something that obvious.)

I'll admit I'm a software technician by trade and enjoy fiddling with stuff. This book may very well be good for the novice or intermediate user. But if you've built computers before or know your way around troubleshooting an issue, look elsewhere for a hardware reference.

Editorial Review:

This book is a ready reference of troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair processes and procedures for a range of commonly used personal computers and peripheral devices. Written in the popular Black Book format with a hardware focus, this book is a comprehensive problem-solving reference that uses a step-by-step approach and cross-referenced solutions. Unlike other PC troubleshooting books, you don't have to read through pages of text to find a solution. This book cuts out the unnecessary background reference material and filler to bring you clear, concise, and necessary reference information followed by problem solving solutions in an easy-to-use format. Each unit within the book contains: a common customer complaint, symptoms common to the problem, tools needed (hand, hardware, or software), step-by-step processes used to verify the problem, and the step-by-step processes used to correct the problem.

Upgrading and Fixing Macs and iMacs for Dummies

Todd Stauffer

Amazon Price: $24.99 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: For Dummies Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $2.19

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Now that they've been around for a couple of years, older "Renaissance" Macs (meaning iMac and G-series computers) are starting to need upgrades. Upgrading and Fixing Macs and iMacs for Dummies shows how you can extend your Mac's set of capabilities and improve its performance through hardware additions and modifications. Author Todd Stauffer ably explains what you can do, and comments extensively on what's worth doing. He also documents some common failures (such as the "Click of Death" problem that crops up on some Iomega Zip drives) and explains how to deal with them.

Because Apple designed the Macintosh line with easy upgrades (among other things) in mind, the job of this book is mainly to explain what sorts of upgrade products you can buy and how to distinguish among them. In large measure, this is a matter of decoding jargon and explaining at a fairly high level how things work. For example, Stauffer goes into detail on video resolution and why you might want to replace your current monitor and video card with better ones, defining terms and trade names as he goes. He also tells how to perform some upgrades step by step: for instance, how to upgrade a processor chip and configure a Mac for use on an AppleTalk network. --David Wall

Topics covered: Hardware upgrades for iMac and PowerMac G-series computers, and the related software procedures. Input devices (keyboards, scanners, and the like), connectivity units (such as modems), monitors, storage media (including CD recorders, extra hard disks, removable disks, and tape drives), and network hardware.

Fix Your Own PC

Corey Sandler

Amazon Price: $30.39 List Price: $39.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $2.79

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

It worked for me! 4 out of 5 stars.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book as is good as it's title: I did manage to fix my own (Pentium II) PC by reading it! It gave me the knowledge to find the problem (a bad motherboard) and the courage to replace it. Operations that at first glance looked intimidating, were made relatively simple by the book's clear discussions, explanations and photos. It's range covers the inner workings of old PC's up through the Pentium II (as well as a little bit of info on the Pentium III.) Not a perfect book, though: the photo printing could be better; and the section on power supplies isn't complete or accurate, particularly when it comes to ATX-type supplies--oddly, the type found in most Pentium machines, for which the book is otherwise a good repair guide. (The power supply is a vital component in a PC, and is oftentimes the first gizmo to go bad.) I had to go outside the book to find that critical info. But criticism aside, I wouldn't have been able to repair my computer without this book, period, so I would recommend it. Perhaps a newer edition will correct the minor shortcomings.

Editorial Review:

Do you have the urge to take the casing off your Windows-based PC and tinker around, but you're a little intimidated? If so, get this book first. The text is clear and well-indexed, and this book will give you the information, and then, confidence, that you need. (It would also be a great book for anyone who wants to help recycle old computers for schools or non-profits). Two Torx blades up!