Troubleshooting, Maintaining and Repairing PCs

Learn to:

• Troubleshoot hard drives and memory systems
  
• Identify and replace damaged and faulty components
  
• Decide when it's cheaper to replace than repair
  
• Understand operating systems and the boot process
  
• Know what's wrong immediately with more than 2000 "Symptoms-at-a-Glance"
  
• Enhance system performance
  
• Interpret beep codes and other error messages
  
• Install upgrades and new peripherals

Contents

1: An Inside Look at Desktops and Towers ..... 1

2: An Inside Look at Monitors ..... 29

3: An Inside Look at Operating Systems and the Boot Process ..... 42

4: Arranging the Preservice Checkout ..... 69

5: Backup Guide ..... 95

6: Batteries ..... 117

7: BIOS ..... 136

8: Busses ..... 199

9: CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW Drives ..... 232

10: Chipsets ..... 301
11 CMOS ..... 333

12: Conflict Troubleshooting ..... 376

13: CPU Identification and Troubleshooting 409

14: Data Recovery Techniques 469

15: Disk Compression Troubleshooting ..... 486

16: Drive Adapters and RAID Basics ..... 544

17: DVD Drives ..... 567

18: Enhancing System Performance ..... 599

19: Error Codes ..... 625

20: Fans and Cooling Devices ..... 763

21: Floppy and LS-120 Drives ..... 774

22: Floppy Drive Testing and Alignment ..... 813

23: Hard Drives ..... 824

24: Joysticks and Game Ports ..... 897

25: Keyboards ..... 921

26: Memory Troubleshooting ..... 939

27: Memory Managers ..... 1007

28: Mice and Trackballs ..... 1065

29: Modems and Fax Cards ..... 1088

30: Monitor Troubleshooting ..... 1167

31: Monitor Testing and Alignment ..... 1196

32: Motherboard Troubleshooting ..... 1211

33: Overlay Software Troubleshooting ..... 1252

34: Parallel Port Troubleshooting ..... 1276

35: Plug-and-Play Configuration and Troubleshooting ..... 1290

36: Power protection ..... 1325