Troubleshooting, Maintaining & Repairing PCs

Fix all of your PC and peripheral problems before the screen goes black

When it won't just plug-and-play, turn to the hands-on, authoritative information contained in this comprehensive troubleshooting resource. Fully revised and updated, Troubleshooting, Maintaining & Repairing PCs contains all you need to know about administering and the latest Windows, Linux, and OS/2 systems and peripheral devices. This fifth edition provides full coverage of cutting-edge technologies--from DVD drives, cable, and DSL modems to Ultra360 SCSI devices, AGP accelerators, USB, IEEE 1284, and Infrared ports. This essential volume also contains a valuable CD-ROM with over 120 diagnostic and maintenance utilities. PC expert Stephen Bigelow provides real-world examples and condition-specific troubleshooting advice that will have you fixing common and little-known PC problems in no time.

• Identify, de-assemble, and replace each subassembly, expansion board, and connector in the latest Intel-based, AMD, Cyrix, Athlon, Duron, and Via desktops and towers
• Fix hardware conflicts and configuration errors in Windows 3x/95/98/Me/NT/2000, Linux, and OS/2 systems
• Avoid data loss by implementing sound backup and power management strategies
• Correct interface problems in system, expansion, option, and adapter BIOS
• Isolate and repair faults in ISA, PCI, and AGP busses, power supplies, motherboards, and chipsets
• Recover data lost from corrupt files, accidental deletions, and hard drive failures
• Deploy USB, FireWire, Infrared, serial, parallel, and AGP ports
• Get optimal performance from state-of-the-art DSL and cable modems, 3D video accelerators, mice, trackballs, joysticks, network devices, fax, and sound cards

Contents

1. An inside look at desktops and towers

2. An inside look at monitors

3. An inside look operating systems and the boot process

4. Arranging the pre-service checkout

5. Backing guide

6. Batteries

7. BIOS

8. Busses

9. CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW drives

10. Chipsets

11. CMOS

12. Conflict troubleshooting

13. CPU identification and troubleshooting

14. Data recovery techniques

15. Drive adapters and RAID basics

16. DVD drives

17. Enhancing system performance

18. Error codes

19. Fans and cooling devices

20. Floppy and LS-120 drives

21. Hard drives

22. Joysticks and game ports

23. Keyboards

24. Memory troubleshooting

25. Mice and trackballs

26. Modems and fax cards

27. Monitor troubleshooting

28. Motherboard troubleshooting

29. Online troubleshooting

30. Parallel port troubleshooting

31. PC TV/radio cards

32. Plug-and-Play configuration and troubleshooting

33. Power protection

34. Power supplies and power management

35. Removable media drives

36. SCSI systems and troubleshooting

37. Serial and infrared port troubleshooting

38. Sound cards

39. Video adapters and accelerators

40. Video capture cards

41. USB troubleshooting

42. Windows 95/98 issues

A: Using the companion disc

B: PC99 standards for the PC

C: PC standards chart

D: Index of filename extensions

E: ASCII chart

F: Windows 95/98 shortcut keys

G: PC-related FAQs and newsgroups

H: Preparing for A+

I: The DLS Technician's Certificate III exam