Upgrade Your Own PC

Explains the principles of diagnosing PC problems with specific examples that encompass hardware and software basics, preventative maintenance, installing input devices, increasing memory, adding a hard drive, and more. Original. (All Users).

Upgrade Your Own PC helps people who want to accomplish specific upgrade tasks, such as replacing a hard drive or upgrading a processor. Enhanced by troubleshooting procedures and valuable tips, this book will help hardware novices get many jobs done and teach them something in the process.

Rohrbough does much handholding, devoting an entire chapter to the importance of using a grounding strap to prevent static damage to components. Quickly, though, she shifts to specific procedures and details what you must do in order to improve your computer in various ways. All the cost-effective upgrades--including RAM installation, the addition of a hard drive, video card replacement, and processor swapping--receive plenty of attention. The author even goes into detail on replacing motherboards. Her procedures are detailed and, provided you don't run into any really strange problems, will help you get the job done. Unfortunately, many of the photographs that illustrate this book are too dark and poorly cropped.

Exotic problems and unusual upgrades are beyond the scope of Upgrade Your Own PC. For those situations, you'll want a large, data-heavy hardware book that provides more reference material. --David Wall