Have you ever wondered what made your computer tick? How about what are all the different components on a motherboard? Well, Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PC's 19th Edition is your answer. Just the fact that the book is in its 19th edition says a lot. This book is your ultimate computer hardware bible. At over 1,100+ pages long, this book is packed with almost everything you need to know about computer hardware in general. Make no mistake about it folks. This is the ultimate computer hardware resource guide and its not for the weak of heart!
Getting to know what makes a PC work as a whole is very important, especially if you are in the computer technician/repair field. Heck even if your job doesn't require you to know the in's and out's of computer hardware, it is most likely that your employers or customers will assume you do. It is widely known that all electronics will at one point or another stop working. It is not a matter of if, but when. Obviously some people are more lucky than others when purchasing equipment but in the end, all things must come to an end. Being able to repair and diagnose your computer is a very valuable skill to have. By reading Upgrading and Repairing PC's, you'll get a first hand look at just exactly how to do that. You'll be introduced to basically every part of the computer and how they all function together to help you get your work done.
This book is humongous. Normally, I read books from front to end even when they are really long but I just couldn't do it with this one and I believe neither will most of you. This is due mainly to how the author goes about explaining the many different types of hardware in the computer. Of course, this is a good thing in general but when he starts talking about the very first processor in the computer age, it starts to get a little boring. For example, in this day and age of computing, do you really need to know the CPU multiplier for a Pentium II processor? However, this is what makes the book such a great reference guide. I can easily find what I want to read about and instantly get the information. For example, if I need to learn how to troubleshoot audio problems, I can jump directly to the Audio Hardware section and find the information. The amount of detail the author puts into every hardware aspect is scary. And I mean it! That is why this book is not for the faint of heart. There are hundreds of other books out there talking about computer hardware and whatnot but Upgrading and Repairing PC's takes it to a whole other level. As the name suggests, the book will teach you how to actually upgrade and build your very own computer as well.
The book covers basically just about anything you can imagine when it comes to the inside of your PC. Hard disk storage, processors, motherboards, SCSI interfaces, input devices, the BIOS, memory, Internet and local networking, video hardware, audio, power supply, file system and data recovery to PC diagnostics and maintenance, it's all in here. The book also comes with a DVD that contains all kinds of useful videos showing you the computer hardware the book talks about along with how-to tutorials. If you want to stand out from the rest of your computer geek friends (along with other so called 'professional computer technicians') than do yourself a favor and pick up this book. For the price of $31, it is a steal considering all of the information you are getting!
Purchase here:
Upgrading and Repairing PCs (19th Edition)
