PC Hardware Annoyances:
How to Fix the Most Annoying Things
About Your Computer Hardware
Book Review
PC Hardware Annoyances:
How to Fix the Most Annoying Things
About Your Computer Hardware
Book Review
 By
Dale Farris, Vice PresidentGolden Triangle PC Club December 2004 Operating a personal computer requires more than just dealing with the PC itself. As anyone with even a modicum of computer experience can attest, there are all types of hardware devices which you must become familiar with disk drives, printers, monitors, and sound cards, just to name a few. And, naturally, each is fraught with its own set of bugs and snares. PC Hardware Annoyances, the latest installment of O'Reilly's highly successful Annoyances series, aims to optimize these peripheral systems by offering easy fixes to their most annoying traits. With over 40 titles to his credit, author Stephen Bigelow identifies all those annoyances that make you cringe in frustration. Then, through the use of snappy, entertaining, and practical solutions, he shows you how to clear each obstacle one step at a time. After that, the rest is up to you. Designed for PC users of all levels, this handy guide doesn't bore you with long dissertations on the workings of the technology at hand. Instead, it offers straightforward, easy-to-understand troubleshooting solutions. For maximum ease of use, PC Hardware Annoyances is broken up into several broad hardware categories. They include desktops, laptops and PDAs, graphics, sound, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, network, and printers and scanners. And while you may not use each of these accessories currently, chances are it's only a matter of time before you'll need their technological services whether it's for work or recreation. What makes PC Hardware Annoyances especially timely is the growing trend among computer owners to simply upgrade their PCs as they age, rather than replacing them altogether. With peripheral devices becoming increasingly affordable, there's no reason not to. But as with any do-it-yourself project, trouble lurks around the corner if you don't have the right guide. Having difficulty setting up your color inkjet printer? Trying to burn a music CD? Is your modem misbehaving? The remedy: PC Hardware Annoyances, of course! If you are ready to toss your printer on the sidewalk, use your hard drive as a doorstop, and turn your CDs into air hockey pucks, then this book is for you. Before you junk your computer peripherals, help in the form of this important book is in your hands. This easy-to-read book covers a broad range of installation, setup, configuration, and maintenance issues on just about everything inside or attached to a PC. These timesaving tips and quick fixes will help cure your hardware headaches. Topics Covered The author explores tons of annoying PC hardware problems that most readers will identify and understand. These include, among others: Startup, keyboard, and mouse annoyances BIOS/CMOS, RAM, CPU, expansion cards, and ports Get more battery life in mobile PCs Synchronize files, connect wirelessly, and brighten the mobile display Eliminate system hang-ups, monitor flicker, dropped frames, speaker hum Learn how to add or replace a CD, DVD, or hard drive - worry free Clear printer paper jams, conserve ink, print double-sided pages Summary of Table of Contents The book is organized into various categories with numerous chapters, including the following: Desktop Annoyances Setup Annoyances Keyboard Annoyances Mouse Annoyances Startup Annoyances BIOS/CMOS Annoyances Memory Annoyances Processor Annoyances Card and Port Annoyances Maintenance Annoyances Laptop and PDA Annoyances Setup/Startup Annoyances Battery Annoyances LCD Annoyances PC Card Annoyances PDA Annoyances Maintenance Annoyances Graphics Annoyances Configuration Annoyances Driver Annoyances Upgrade Annoyances Desktop Annoyances Monitor Annoyances 3D Annoyances Video Capture/Playback Annoyances Player Software Annoyances Sound Annoyances Setup Annoyances Speaker Annoyances CD Audio Annoyances Music Player Annoyances Hard Drive Annoyances Configuration Annoyances Performance Annoyances Maintenance Annoyances Backup and Restore Annoyances CD/DVD Drive Annoyances Configuration Annoyances Performance Annoyances Playback Annoyances Recording Annoyances Rewriting Annoyances Burning Software Annoyances DVD Player Annoyances Network Annoyances Configuration Annoyances Modem Annoyances Cable Annoyances DSL Annoyances Wireless Networking Annoyances General Networking Annoyances Printer and File Sharing Annoyances Firewall Annoyances Printer and Scanner Annoyances Setup Annoyances Performance Annoyances Maintenance Annoyances Color Printer Annoyances Paper Annoyances Scanner Annoyances Book Contents 266 pages; oversize paperbound; introduction; acknowledgments; screen shots; figures; tips; index Target Readers Anyone with a PC will find answers to their PC hardware dilemmas in this handy book that is remarkable in its efficient design. The author's expertise in working on PCs is evident throughout this vital book that deserves a place in the home of all PC owners. All PC technicians will find the book contains tips and techniques that they have likely never before considered, as well as suggestions I am sure many have already realized. The author solves the most common annoyingly frustrating quirks and problems that can arise when running a PC. Author Bigelow's title is an important contribution to those wanting help with solving their PC hardware problems. Author Stephen J. Bigelow About the Author Stephen J. Bigelow has written for Computer Currents, CNET, and other periodicals, and is the author of many hardware books for Osborne/McGraw and others, such as Troubleshooting, Maintaining & Repairing PCs, Bigelow's PC Hardware Desk Reference, Troubleshooting and Repairing Computer Printers, and 40 other titles. He is also known for his long-running PC Toolbox newsletter. Stephen started out in 1987 with a BSEE and took a manufacturing engineering job where he worked extensively with computer technologies, programming, and interfacing. ISBN November 2004: First Edition 0-596-00715-9 List Price $24.95 $36.95 CAN About O'Reilly Media O'Reilly Media is the premier information source for leading-edge computer technologies. The company's books, conferences, and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. O'Reilly books, known for the animals on their covers, occupy a treasured place on the shelves of the developers building the next generation of software. O'Reilly conferences and summits bring alpha geeks and forward-thinking business leaders together to shape the revolutionary ideas that spark new industries. From the Internet to XML, open source, .NET, Java, and web services, O'Reilly puts technologies on the map. O'Reilly Media creates products that they
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