Maintenance, Repair & Upgrading Books - Page 9

Bigelow's PC Hardware Desk Reference

Stephen J. Bigelow

List Price: $59.99 By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $1.87

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

Just what every tech needs to have on there desk! 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

As a Technical Computer Instructor, I have certain book sitting on my desk all the time, as reference guides. Now that I am teaching several A+ classes I have another book that will be right out in front with others.

Over 14 years in this industry and certain I have found certain names to be trusted with producing high quality material; Stephen Bigelow is one of those names. High work in this text is first rate, and while this book doesn't cover or is written from any specific exam, I can see this book being used for A+ and CST and CNCT exams.

One thing that has always impressed me about Bigelow's work, and this book is no exception, is the vast number, over 1000 diagnostic symptoms to learn from.

There is so much troubleshooting information, not only for Intel, but also AMD and what is truly noteworthy is the fact that the book is so technically up to date with the material is covers.

The cd included has a number of tools and utilities that could be useful. Also there is several appendices, of which is a DLS Technician 4 Exam. While this exam is not an "Industry" recognized exam it is worth the $50.00 to take.

The DLS4 exam is an excellent tool to measure your understanding of the material in the book. Overall a very good book that and has certainly come in handy.

Editorial Review:

Get the answers you need from the source himself! Experienced electronics engineer and PC guru Stephen Bigelow has written a comprehensive guide that gets to the nitty-gritty of inside-the-box technician's issues. So, get briefed and get to work!

Troubleshooting Your PC for Dummies

Dan Gookin

List Price: $24.99 By: For Dummies Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $1.05

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 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 Tuning: How to Improve Your PC'S Performance- The Smart Way (Productivity Series (Grand Rapids, Mich.))

Anreas Voss

List Price: $29.95 By: Abacus Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $0.05

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

The easiest book on computers to understand 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Finally a book that the novice to understand. The author has written this book in layman terms so it is easy to follow.It has a lot of useful information in it's pages,but not so much that you are overwhelmed.As a new comer to PC's I have to say this book is the best I have read yet. I have already spent many hours reading this informative and useful book. I highly recommend it!Also the CD-ROM that comes with this book has some very useful programs.

Great book for every PC user - get more out of your machine! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book offers a huge amount of information and easy to follow advice on how to get the most out of your existing machine and how to build the system of your dreams. The author has written it in a way everyone can understand - it is simply great for everyone, "techies" and the rest of us. This book should be an every PC owner's shelf.

Degunking Windows

Joli Ballew, Jeff Duntemann

Amazon Price: $24.99 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Paraglyph Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $0.48

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Improve The Efficiency And Performance Of Windows XP 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

For most Windows users, let's see if this story is a familiar one.

Get your new PC home, install Windows XP on it, things are great, things are fast, things are super duper. One week goes by, you've now been surfing the net for awhile, installing applications, just doing the normal everyday stuff that you are used to doing. A few weeks go by and now you are really enjoying your new computer. You've learned the ins and outs of Windows XP and you really enjoy the improvements that you have seen, but you notice that it doesn't seem to be as fast as it was the day you took it out of the box. No matter, it's probably due to the fact that you are actually using the machine and you shrug this away as not a big deal.

Months go by and you now really notice that your computer is not as "virgin pure" as it was on day 1. There's no denying that things are not like they used to be but you have learned to live with it, just accepting it as "wear and tear" on your operating system.

If your story is similar to the one I have laid out here, your computer has been "gunked". Anyone that actually uses their Windows XP based computer will at some point experience the story I have outlined here, and the majority of those individuals will just have to live with it until they buy a new computer.

Don't let this happen to you!!

With Joli Ballew and Jeff Duntemann's "Degunking Windows" in hand, you have a great tool to avoid a similar fate as the one I have discussed. The authors of this book in 18+ chapters explain what exactly has caused your computer to lose performance and efficiency, and they discuss a myriad of tips to degunk your system and return things to their former glory.

Major tips and tweaks covered and discussed:

Search and remove duplicate files
Keep your desktop clean and uncluttered
Sort data in a logical manner
Identify temporary files and remove unneeded ones
Remove unnecessary applications and spyware
Store data in logical places instead of just any location
Run Disk Defragmenter early and often
Empty the Recycle Bin often
Use spam filters to clean up e-mail
Upgrade the OS often when new patches are released
Learn to tweak and clean the registry
Install and set up PowerToys
Use Anti-Virus software
Backup, Backup, Backup, Backup, BACKUP!!!

If all else fails...

Reinstall OS

For all Windows XPs newbies, this is a necessary reference to improve your everyday experience and learn that when the going gets slow you don't have to just live with it. For experienced XP users the ROI from this book goes down, but because of the plethora of tips and tricks it's still a great investment. About the only person I wouldn't recommend this book to is a Windows XP guru who probably already knows these recommendations by heart.

All in all, a solid book on how to keep your copy of Windows running smoothly and happy.

**** RECOMMENDED

Editorial Review:

Degunking Windows is a unique guide that will help PC users save hundreds of hours of valuable time - and a great deal of money - by showing them techniques that keep their Windows-based PCs running quickly and efficiently, eliminating the need to upgrade their computers prematurely. The primary focus of the book is Windows XP, although other versions of Windows are covered.

PC Hardware Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Computer Hardware

Stephen Bigelow

Amazon Price: $18.96 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: O'Reilly Media, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $7.72

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Operating a personal computer requires more than just dealing with the PC itself. As anyone with even a modicum of computer experience can attest, there are all types of hardware devices which you must become familiar with disk drives, printers, monitors, and sound cards, just to name a few. And, naturally, each is fraught with its own set of bugs and snares. PC Hardware Annoyances, the latest installment of O'Reilly's highly successful Annoyances series, aims to optimize these peripheral systems by offering easy fixes to their most annoying traits. With over 40 titles to his credit, author Stephen Bigelow identifies all those annoyances that make you cringe in frustration. Then, through the use of snappy, entertaining, and practical solutions, he shows you how to clear each obstacle one step at a time. After that, the rest is up to you. Designed for PC users of all levels, this handy guide doesn't bore you with long dissertations on the workings of the technology at hand. Instead, it offers straightforward, easy-to-understand troubleshooting solutions. For maximum ease of use, PC Hardware Annoyances is broken up into several broad hardware categories. They include desktops, laptops and PDAs, graphics, sound, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, network, and printers and scanners. And while you may not use each of these accessories currently, chances are it's only a matter of time before you'll need their technological services whether it's for work or recreation. What makes PC Hardware Annoyances especially timely is the growing trend among computer owners to simply upgrade their PCs as they age, rather than replacing them altogether. With peripheral devices becoming increasingly affordable, there's no reason not to. But as with any do-it-yourself project, trouble lurks around the corner if you don't have the right guide. Having difficulty setting up your color inkjet printer? Trying to burn a music CD? Is your modem misbehaving? The remedy: PC Hardware Annoyances, of course!

Computer Service and Repair: A Guide to Upgrading, Configuring, Troubleshooting, and Networking Personal Computers

Richard M. Roberts

List Price: $70.00 By: Goodheart-Wilcox Publisher Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $9.37

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

This Book should've came with your computer! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

It has great depth, explaining everything you ever wanted to know about how your computer works, with introduction to a typical PC and its role in our lives plus laboratory activities after each chapter. The book should be used as a reference resource especially for those who enjoy tinkering with PCs.
Also, I feel that this book is very helpful to most individuals, especially those who have moderate familiarity with computer systems, computer terms and electronic parts such as transistors, resistors and capacitors.

Easy to follow 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is a text book, complete with review questions, vocab, and labs. There is also an associated lab workbook which is available from the publisher.
I found reading this book to be extremely easy. It has a lot of diagrams, perhaps a few too many, but they illustrate the principles. Each key term is explained and also has the definition in the margin. There are highlights to know concerning the A+ exam, plus a few sample questions in each chapter.
Each chapter also has a simple "lab" section with some real computer excercise to perform.
My only question is whether this book is enough. I can't say. Likely, no single source is enough, especially without hands on experience.
I also question if it is not time for a new edition given this one was published in June 2004.
Also Roberts textbook on Networking Fundamentals is similar in format and readibility.

PC Chop Shop: Tricked Out Guide to PC Modding

David Groth

Amazon Price: $26.99 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sybex Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $5.97

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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.

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (14th Edition)

Scott Mueller

List Price: $59.99 By: Que Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $0.48

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Outstading!! Down to earth and as comprehensive as possible 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

If your new to computers, then this is the only book to buy! I decided that it would be most beneficail to buld my own system, and since, while using computers i was quite familiar with, i had never built my own system, i decided to pick up this book for a reference handbook. Its amazing! I've learned a substantial amount and feel confident with building my computer having this book on hand. But, since pc's are evolvging at such an alarming pace, i suggest to put down the extra monay and purchase the most current edition, you wont be disapointed!

Editorial Review:

This is the newest comprehensive update to the world's #1 guide to PC repair and maintenance. World-renowned PC hardware expert Scott Mueller has thoroughly updated his legendary Upgrading and Repairing PCs to reflect today's latest PC technologies, and added a new DVD with more than two hours of digital video demonstrating PC maintenance and repair, which can be watched on either their DVD-equipped PCs or any DVD player. Mueller presents updated coverage of every significant PC component: processors, motherboards, memory, the BIOS, IDE and SCSI interfaces, drives, removable and optical storage, video and audio hardware, USB, FireWire, Internet connectivity, LANs, power supplies, even PC cases. This book also contains a detailed troubleshooting index designed to help readers rapidly diagnose more than 250 common PC hardware problems, as well as an extensive vendor contact guide, and a comprehensive PC technical glossary.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Upgrading and Repairing PCs (5th Edition) (Complete Idiot's Guides)

Jennifer Fulton

Amazon Price: $15.56 List Price: $19.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Alpha Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $0.24

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The easiest book I've ever read on computers. 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Ms. Fulton writes a superb book for newbies and techies alike. Newbies will appreciate the easy to understand language; and the techies will appreciate the thoroughness. With a Jan 2000 release date, the technology within is as current as of about late summer 1999. I appreciated that she gave each component it's own chapter. There is an excellent section on home networking as well. The book is mostly on Pentium class computers but she does give an honorable mention to the x86's. Overall, this is the finest computer book I've ever read.. almost riveting! Buy this book!

Impressive grasp of what an average tinkerer needs to know! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

My review relates to the fifth edition of this book.

I am the sort of person who likes to work on old stuff and make it new, or newer, again. In that spirit, I thought that I could gain the knowledge I needed to upgrade my computer by merely visiting a few websites. No need to get a formal education in computers, I thought.

Wow, was I wrong. My old proprietary system turned out to be a real pain to upgrade. Lots of obsure knowledge needed. And very few manufacturers wish for you to know very much about their old stuff, it seems, lest you be content to not buy their new stuff.

I had already begun to buy some used, but newer, stuff for my ancient computer when sheer aggravation caused me to buy some books about the subject. I bought three books covering computers and parts which were current in 2001-2002, since that is when most of my parts were current. One book was too simplistic; covering the sort of thing that you can learn by yourself pretty easily. The next was Scott Mueller's 14th edition, which is an awesome work, but it is written for those who want a career in computers (meaning those who need to know all the dreary details). Then I picked up this book by Jennifer Fulton. Ah, this porridge is just right!

I used this book and my box of parts to build a new (newer) computer devoid of proprietary controls and restrictions. The most important thing I gained is a knowledge of how to control my computing destiny. Being able to fix things that go wrong now? No dollars. Not being intimidated by proprietary warranty violations? No dollars. Not having to deal with product support in order to get my computer running again? (Let me be specific: Not waiting on the phone for an hour just to obtain the right to teach English to a foreign national in order to communicate with product support so I can get my computer running again?) PRICELESS! Believe me, you cannot place a price on that! If that sounds good to you, then this is the book for you.

Editorial Review:

Teachers you how to upgrade your PC peripherals to increase productivity on your PC, without intimidating or offending you. New fifth edition. Softcover.

The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, 15th Edition

Mark Minasi, Sybex

Amazon Price: $32.99 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 10 to 14 days By: Sybex Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $3.07

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

Indexing is weak 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.

I have purchased copies of the book for the past 6 or seven years. Mark Minasi is the computer guru! His capacity to take technical questions of intimidating proportions and reduce them to a level us peons can understand well enough to get the job done. Brilliant people in my life have always had that ability to take an abstract piece of information ( something like the origin of the solar system) an distill it into language the rest of the world can understand. Mark Minasi does this year in and year out with the latest PC's and there components.After reading and listening to him over the years I've come to feel reasonably well versed in upgrading our home computers, here in Dryden New York. No small feat when you consider that I am an art teacher by profession.
However in your latest release of Mark's work I noticed that the indexing is less than half the size of the previous year's version. Sadly it is not nearly as thorough. This may sound like a miner point but for some of us readers it will prove to be a critical one. I past years whenever I had a problem I would run across an unfamiliar term or network protocol, you could look it up in the index and follow the solution to your problem through to completion. As I see it the value of the entire book is to guide you through a problem you've run into on your own, as well as making for fun reading of course. The weak index creats a broud obstruction at the very center of the process of self education which is what Mark has taught flawlessly for years.
While Minasi work still remains flawless, getting to his answeres will be hindered buy a poor indexing job. By way of qualification, perhaps this type of indexing would be fine in other books. We just got spoiled with having the best of everything in past 13 editions. I want to repeat the mark Minasi has lost none of his accuracy or wit. The quality remains. Its just the indexing that limits the overall effectiveness of getting to the write answere when you need it . Fred C Wendell

Editorial Review:

The 15th edition of Mark Minasi's Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide is another milestone in the evolution of a title recognized as the market leader. With over 1.5 million copies of previous editions sold, this masterwork was completely updated to cover new and emerging PC and networking technologies, and reorganized for easier navigation. Written in Mark Minasi's friendly style and based on his world-renowned seminars, it shows you how to get the best performance from your systems through upgrading and how to prevent disasters and fix them when they occur. The companion CD includes instructional video of critical hands-on PC upgrade & maintenance tasks.