Introduction
Part I: Boring, Basic Repairs
Chapter 1: Start Here First!
Determining When to UpgradeDetermining When You Shouldn't Upgrade
Finding Out What Parts Your Computer Has
Locating your version of Windows, CPU, and RAM
Identifying the parts inside your computer
Please! Before You Do Anything Else!
Turning On Windows Update
Making sure System Restore is working
Chapter 2: Keyboards, Mice, and Joysticks
Updating Your KeyboardUnderstanding keyboard buzzwords
Installing a new keyboard
Fixing keyboard problems
Making Way for a New Mouse
Understanding mouse buzzwords
Installing or replacing a USB or PS/2 mouse
Fixing mouse problems
Upgrading Joysticks and Game Controllers
Understanding game controller buzzwords
Installing a game controller
Fixing game controller problems
Chapter 3: Replacing the Monitor, Adding a Second One, or Connecting to a TV
Understanding Monitor BuzzwordsMonitor buzzwords
The plugs and ports
Installing One or Two Monitors to a PC or Laptop
Watching Your PC on a TV
Fixing Your Monitor
Fixing a monitor that doesn't turn on
Checking a monitor that makes weird noises
Chapter 4: Choosing a New Printer
Understanding Printer BuzzwordsCommonly encountered printer breeds
Awkward printer terms
Installing a Printer
Fixing Common Printer Problems
Fixing a printer that doesn't print anything
Playing the replacement ink cartridge guilt game
Installing a new toner or ink cartridge
Fixing printing smears and blotches
Choosing the right paper
Keeping the print from running off the page
Fixing paper jams
Keeping your printer happy
Chapter 5: Moving from the Old PC to the New
Understanding File Transfer BuzzwordsPreparing to Move into Your New PC
Choosing how to transfer your old information
Installing your old PC's programs onto your new PC
Transferring Information between Two PCs with Windows Easy Transfer
Part II: Beefing Up Your PC for Windows Vista, Games, and Video
Chapter 6: Discovering How Well Your PC Will Run Windows Vista
Understanding Vista's Hardware RequirementsRunning Vista's Upgrade Advisor
Understanding Parts That Need Upgrading
TV tuner card/TV output
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
DVD or DVD R/W (Digital Video Disk Read/Write)
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Graphics adapter
Hard drive
Choosing the Right Parts from the Right Place
Choosing the right brand and model
Buying locally versus buying online
Chapter 7: Beefing Up Your PC's Video
Understanding Video BuzzwordsDiscovering What Video Circuitry Is inside Your PC
Onboard video
Video cards
Installing a new video card
Troubleshooting a Card That Doesn't Work
General troubleshooting tips
Dealing with a card that just doesn't seem to fit
Chapter 8: Adding More Memory
Understanding Memory BuzzwordsThe main types of memory
Deciphering memory advertisements and packaging
Deciding What Memory to Buy
Installing memory chips
Dealing with failing memory
Chapter 9: Adding Storage with a Hard Drive
Understanding Hard Drive BuzzwordsVista technologies
Drive types
Speed and space
Hard drive hardware, mechanics, and connections
Knowing Your Hard Drive Upgrade Options
Replacing a Dead Internal Hard Drive
Installing an External Hard Drive
Adding a Second Internal Hard Drive
Adding extra storage to your computer
with a second hard drive
Installing Windows on a new hard drive
Partitioning and Formatting a Drive in Windows
Dealing with a Broken Hard Drive
Windows doesn't recognize my hard drive's full size
Defragmenting the hard drive
Checking for disk errors
Backing Up Your Hard Drive
Chapter 10: Replacing the Power Supply or Laptop Battery
Understanding Power Supply BuzzwordsInstalling a New Power Supply
Replacing Your Laptop's Battery
Quieting Your Power Supply
Whining power supplies: Replace 'em
Diagnosing the source of a whining noise
Part III: Teaching an Old PC New Tricks
Chapter 11: Fine-Tuning Your PC's Sound
Understanding Sound Card BuzzwordsUpgrading Your PC's or Laptop's Sound
Installing a new sound card
Installing a sound box
Connecting Your PC's Sound to a Home Stereo
Healing a Sick Sound Card
Fixing Windows sound settings
Diagnosing and fixing hardware problems
Chapter 12: Turning Your TV into a Home Theater with Vista's Media Center
Identifying the Cables and Connectors on Your TV Tuner and TVInstalling a TV Tuner
Connecting Your TV Signal to Your PC
Connecting Your PC's Video to a TV
Connecting Your PC's Surround Sound to a Multispeaker Home Stereo
Connecting Your PC's Sound to a TV
Chapter 13: Making Movies
Understanding Camcorder BuzzwordsCapturing Sound and Video from Digital Camcorders
Upgrading a PC for Video Editing
A fast computer
Two fast hard drives
Video-editing software
Chapter 14: Adding a Scanner
Understanding Scanner BuzzwordsInstalling a Scanner
Dealing with a Scanner That Doesn't Work
Scanning with Windows' Built-in Software
Choosing the right scanning resolution
Dealing with scans that look awful
Chapter 15: Adding a CD or DVD Drive
Understanding CD and DVD BuzzwordsFlavors of CDs and CD drives
Flavors of DVDs and DVD drives
Buzzwords in advertising
Installing an External CD or DVD Drive
Installing an Internal CD or DVD Drive
Dealing with a CD or DVD Drive That Doesn't Work
Dealing with a burner that doesn't burn discs
Understanding MP3 and DVD decoders (MPEG)
Buying the right blank discs for your CD or DVD drive
Part IV: Communications
Chapter 16: Replacing a Modem
Understanding the Various Types of Internet ServicesDialup or POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)
Cable modems
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Installing or Replacing a Modem
Replacing your internal dialup modem
Installing an external dialup modem
Replacing a cable modem
Troubleshooting Modem Problems
Windows Vista can't find my dialup modem!
Setting up your Internet account with Internet Explorer
Sending and receiving faxes with a modem
Dealing with a modem that inappropriately disconnects
Chapter 17: Linking PCs with a Network
Understanding Network BuzzwordsChoosing Between a Wired or Wireless Network
Understanding wireless (Wi-Fi) home networks
Understanding wired home networks
Creating a Wired and Wireless Computer Network
Buying parts for your network
Installing wired or wireless network adapters
Connecting Wirelessly
Setting up a wireless router
Setting up Windows Vista to connect to a wireless network
Connecting to and Sharing Files with Other PCs on Your Network
Sharing a Printer on the Network
Dealing with a Network That Isn't Networking
Fixing problems with wired networks
Fixing problems with wireless networks
Chapter 18: Filtering Out Evil with Firewalls
Understanding Firewall BuzzwordsTurning On (or Off) Windows Vista's Firewall
Letting a Program Poke through Windows Vista's Firewall
Manually Configuring a Firewall's Ports
Part V: Introducing Parts to Windows
Chapter 19: Hiring the Right Driver for Windows
Understanding Driver BuzzwordsInstalling (or Reinstalling) a Driver
Dealing with a Driver That Won't Drive
Running a part's bundled software
Running the Add Hardware Wizard
Finding a new driver
Using the Device Manager to fix driver problems
Chapter 20: Installing or Upgrading to Windows Vista
Understanding Windows Vista BuzzwordsPreparing to Install Windows Vista
Choosing the right version of Windows Vista
Choosing between a clean install or an upgrade
Installing Windows Vista
Upgrading to Windows Vista
Doing a Clean Install of Windows Vista
Chapter 21: Troubleshooting and Fixing Windows
Handling Windows Vista's IncompatibilitiesUnderstanding incompatibility buzzwords
Finding out what's compatible
Fixing problem programs with Vista's Program
Compatibility Wizard
Stopping Unwanted Programs from Running When Windows Starts
Finding Information about Your PC's Performance with Task Manager
Using System Restore
Using Remote Assistance
Cleaning Out Your Hard Drive with Disk Cleanup
Tidying Up Your Hard Drive with Disk Defragmenter
Viewing Advanced System Information
Avoiding Virus and Worm Attacks
Use Windows Update often
Install and use antivirus software
Never open e-mail with unexpected attachments
Scan downloaded software for viruses before using it
Use a firewall
Don't forward hoaxes
Repairing virus damage
Chapter 22: Finding Help Online
Understanding Internet BuzzwordsFinding Help through Search Engines
Searching Google for specific information
Mastering the art of pinpoint Google searching
Checking the Manufacturer's Support Web Site
Microsoft Knowledge Base
Serial number and service tag Web sites
Manufacturer's Web sites in other countries
Community Support Web Sites
Tom's Hardware Guide
Acronym Finder
Wikipedia
Legacy, relic, and cult Web sites
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 23: Ten Cheap Fixes to Try First
Plug It InTurn Off the Computer, Wait 30 Seconds, and Turn It On
Install a New Driver
Google the Error Message
Find and Remove Spyware
Avoid Viruses by Not Opening Unexpected Attachments
Run System Restore
Check for Overheating
Install a New Power Supply
Run Check Disk
Chapter 24: Ten Handy Upgrade Tools
Using the Manual and Online SourcesThe First Tools to Grab
Turning Household Items into Tools
Magnetized Screwdrivers and Dust Blowers
Your Windows Vista DVD or Windows XP CD
Chapter 25: (Nearly) Ten Upgrade Do's and Donuts
Do Upgrade One Thing at a TimeDo Make a Restore Point before Every Upgrade
Do Watch Out for Static Electricity
Do Hang On to Your Old Boxes, Manuals, Warranties, and Receipts
Don't Force Parts Together
Don't Bend Cards
Don't Rush Yourself
Don't Open Up Monitors or Power Supplies
Appendix: The Rathbone Reference of Fine Ports
USB (Universal Serial Bus)IEEE 1394 (Also Known as FireWire or Sony iLINK)
Standard VGA Video Port
Flat-Panel LCD Video Port (DVI)
Analog Video
Ethernet (RJ-45)
Telephone (RJ-11)
Stereo Sound
Coaxial Cable
RCA (Composite)
S-Video
Optical/Toslink
The Legacy Devices
PS/2 mouse and keyboard
Serial connectors
Parallel (printer) connectors