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Tables of Contents for Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Introduction
x
How Computers Work
1
64
Hardware
4
20
Hardware Used for Input and Output
5
2
Hardware Inside the Computer Case
7
3
Components Used Primarily for Processing
10
1
Temporary (Primary) Storage Devices
11
1
Permanent (Secondary) Storage Devices
12
3
System Board Components Used for Communication Among Devices
15
3
Interface (Expansion) Cards
18
1
The Electrical System
19
2
Instructions and Data Stored on the System Board
21
3
Software
24
28
Three Types of Software and What They Do
24
3
Operating Systems
27
16
Applications Software
43
9
Chapter Summary
52
2
Key Terms
54
5
Review Questions
59
1
Projects
60
5
How Software and Hardware Work Together
65
48
The Boot, or Startup, Process
66
14
System Resources Defined
66
3
The Boot Process, Step by Step
69
11
How Software Manages Hardware Resources
80
19
The 8-bit and 16-bit ISA Bus
81
2
Interrupt Request Number (IRQ)
83
3
Memory Addresses
86
3
Input/Output Addresses
89
2
Direct Memory Access (DMA) Channels
91
1
Tying It All Together
92
4
Configuration Data and How It Is Stored
96
3
Protecting Data, Software, and Hardware
99
6
Saving and Restoring Setup Information in CMOS
99
4
Keeping OS Rescue Disks
103
1
Backing Up Your Hard Drive
104
1
Documentation
104
1
Damage from Electricity
104
1
Chapter Summary
105
1
Key Terms
106
1
Review Questions
107
2
Projects
109
4
The System Board
113
64
Types of System Boards
114
5
The CPU and the Chip Set
119
16
Relating CPU Attributes to Bus Architecture
121
1
The Earlier Intel CPUs
121
2
The Pentium and Its Competitors
123
10
The Chip Set
133
2
ROM BIOS
135
6
The Total BIOS in Your System
136
1
Plug and Play BIOS
137
1
When BIOS is Incompatible with Hardware of Software
138
1
Flash ROM
139
2
RAM (Random Access Memory)
141
2
Dynamic Memory
141
2
Static Cache Memory
143
1
Wait States
143
1
Buses and Expansion Slots
144
13
Bus Evolution
144
1
Why So Many Buses
145
1
What a Bus Does
146
4
Fire Wire
150
1
Local I/O Buses
150
5
Bus Comparisons and Bus Speeds
155
2
On-Board Ports
157
1
Hardware Configuration
158
2
Setup Stored on a CMOS Chip
159
1
Chapter Summary
160
2
Key Terms
162
3
Review Questions
165
1
Projects
166
11
Understanding and Managing Memory
177
62
Physical Memory
178
10
ROM on the System Board
179
1
RAM on the System Board
180
8
How DOS and Windows 9x View Memory
188
10
Physical Memory and Memory Addresses
190
2
Areas of the Memory Map
192
4
Virtual Memory
196
1
RAM Drives
197
1
Summary of How Memory is Managed
197
1
Managing Memory with DOS or Windows 3.x
198
10
Using HIMEM.SYS
198
2
Using EMM386.EXE
200
8
Managing Memory with Windows 3.x
208
4
Swap Files and Virtual Memory
208
4
Managing Memory with Windows 9x
212
6
Real Mode vs. Virtual Real Mode
215
2
Windows 9x Swap File
217
1
The Ultimate Solution: Windows NT
218
2
Memory Management Troubleshooting Guidelines
220
2
Upgrading Memory
222
7
How Much Memory Can Fit on the System Board?
222
5
Reading Ads About Memory Modules
227
1
Installing Memory
228
1
Chapter Summary
229
2
Key Terms
231
3
Review Questions
234
2
Projects
236
3
Floppy Drives
239
40
Introduction to How Data is Physically Stored on a Disk
240
22
How Data is Physically Stored on a Disk
241
3
How Data is Logically Stored on a Disk
244
2
The Formatting Process
246
5
Using DOS to Manage a Floppy Disk
251
4
Using Windows 3.x to Manage a Floppy Drive
255
3
Using Windows 9x to Manage a Floppy Drive
258
4
Exchanging and Supporting Floppy Drives
262
11
Using Floppy Drive Testing Software
262
1
When a Floppy Disk Drive Doesn't Work
263
4
Replacing a Floppy Drive
267
5
Adding a New Drive
272
1
Chapter Summary
273
1
Key Terms
273
2
Review Questions
275
1
Projects
276
3
Introduction to Hard Drives
279
68
Hard Drive Technology
280
14
IDE Technology
281
4
Enhanced IDE (EIDE) Drives
285
1
SCSI Technology
286
8
How a Hard Drive Is Logically Organized to Hold Data
294
15
Hard Drive Partitions
294
2
Logical Drives
296
5
Communicating with the Hard Drive BIOS
301
8
Operating System Commands to Manage a Hard Drive
309
11
DOS Commands to Manage a Hard Drive
310
5
Using Windows 3.x to Manage a Hard Drive
315
2
Using Windows 9x to Manage a Hard Drive
317
3
Optimizing a Hard Drive
320
12
Fragmentation
320
2
Cross-Linked and Lost Clusters
322
1
Disk Compression
323
6
Disk Caching
329
3
Using DOS under Windows 9x to Manage a Hard Drive
332
1
Removable Drives
332
4
Why Use a Removable Drive?
332
1
Available Products
333
2
Installing a Removable Drive
335
1
Chapter Summary
336
1
Key Terms
337
4
Review Questions
341
1
Projects
342
5
Hard Drive Installation and Support
347
58
Installing a Hard Drive
348
20
Physical Installation of IDE or SCSI Hard Drives
348
1
Installing an IDE Hard Drive
348
6
Informing Setup of the New Hard Drive
354
5
Partitioning the Hard Drive
359
2
OS or High-Level Format
361
1
Installing Software
362
1
When Things Go Wrong
362
3
Installing a SCSI Hard Drive
365
1
Multiple Operating Systems
366
2
Troubleshooting Hard Drives and Data Recovery
368
28
An Ounce of Prevention
368
1
Utility Software
369
12
Problems with Hard Drives
381
7
Damaged FAT or Root Directory
388
2
Corrupted System Files
390
1
Corrupted Sector and Track Markings
391
1
Corrupted Data and Program Files
392
4
Hard Drive Troubleshooting Guidelines
396
2
Hard Drive Does Not Boot
396
1
Drive Retrieves and Saves Data Slowly
397
1
Computer Will Not Recognize a Newly Installed Hard Drive
397
1
Chapter Summary
398
1
Key Terms
399
1
Review Questions
400
1
Projects
401
4
Troubleshooting Fundamentals
405
48
Troubleshooting Perspectives
406
1
Protect Yourself, the Hardware, and the Software
407
2
Troubleshooting Tools
409
7
Bootable Rescue Disk
410
1
Diagnostic Cards and Software
411
2
Utility Software for Updates and Fixes
413
1
General Purpose Utility Software
413
1
Virus Detection Software
414
2
How to Isolate Computer Problems and Devise a Course of Action
416
5
Fundamental Rules
416
2
Devising a Course of Action
418
3
Troubleshooting Guidelines
421
18
Troubleshooting the Power System
422
1
Troubleshooting the System Board
423
2
Troubleshooting the Operating System and Hard Drive
425
1
Problems after the Computer Boots
426
3
Problems with the Keyboard and Monitor
429
5
Troubleshooting Printer Problems
434
5
When a PC Is Your Permanent Responsibility
439
3
Organize the Hard Drive Root Directory
439
1
Create a Boot or Rescue Disk
440
1
Documentation
440
1
Record of Setup Data
440
1
Practical Precautions to Protect Software and Data
441
1
Back Up Original Software
441
1
Back Up Data on the Hard Drive
442
1
Chapter Summary
442
1
Key Terms
443
1
Review Questions
443
2
Projects
445
8
Supporting I/O Devices
453
58
Basic Principles of Peripheral Installations
454
8
A Review of System Resources
454
1
Installation Overview
455
1
Hardware Devices
455
3
Device Drivers
458
3
Applications Software
461
1
Using Ports and Expansion Slots for Add-on Devices
462
19
Using Serial Ports
462
7
Using Parallel Ports
469
2
Examining a General-Purpose I/O Card
471
2
Using USB Ports
473
1
Using PCI Expansion Slots
474
4
Using ISA Expansion Slots
478
1
When Device Installations Create Problems
479
2
SCSI Devices
481
4
Matching the Host Adapter to the SCSI Devices It Supports
481
2
A Sample Host Adapter for a Single Device
483
2
Keyboards
485
4
Keyboard Connectors
487
2
Pointing Devices
489
2
Cleaning the Mouse
491
1
Other Pointing Devices
491
1
Computer Video
491
10
Monitors
491
4
Video Cards
495
3
Video Memory
498
3
Chapter Summary
501
1
Key Terms
502
2
Review Questions
504
1
Projects
505
6
Multimedia Technology
511
44
The Right Tools for the Job
512
2
Bits Are Still Bits
513
1
Multimedia on a PC
514
7
Multimedia Fundamentals
514
4
Multimedia PC Requirments
518
2
What CPU MMX and SSE Technology Does for Multimedia
520
1
Devices Supporting Multimedia
521
26
CD-ROM Drives
521
8
CD-R and CD-RW Drives
529
1
Sound Cards
530
11
Troubleshooting Guidelines
541
2
Digital Cameras
543
2
Video-Capturing Card
545
1
Digital Video Disc (DVD)
545
2
Chapter Summary
547
2
Key Terms
549
2
Review Questions
551
1
Projects
552
3
Electricity and Power Supplies
555
42
Introduction to Basic Electricity Supplies
556
9
Voltage
557
1
Amps
558
1
The Relationship Between Voltage and Current
559
1
Ohms
559
1
Relationships Among Voltage, Current, and Resistance
560
1
Wattage
560
1
AC and DC Current
560
1
Hot, Neutral, and Ground
561
3
Some Common Electronic Components
564
1
ESD and EMI
565
1
Measuring the Voltage of a Power Supply
565
8
Using a Multimeter
566
2
How to Measure the Voltage of a Power Supply
568
5
Problems with the Power Supply
573
3
Power Supplies Can Be Dangerous
573
1
Power Supply Troubleshooting Guidelines
573
2
Upgrading the Power Supply
575
1
Installing a New Power Supply
575
1
Energy Star Computers (the Green Star)
576
4
Energy Star PCs
577
1
Energy Star Monitors
578
2
Surge Protection and Battery Backup
580
7
Surge Suppressors
580
2
Measuring Power Ranges of Devices
582
1
Power Conditioners
582
1
Uninterruptible Power Supply
583
4
Fire Extinguishers
587
1
Chapter Summary
588
1
Key Terms
589
3
Review Questions
592
1
Projects
593
4
Supporting Windows 3.x and Windows 9x
597
80
Supporting Windows 3.x
598
25
Loading and Running Windows 3.x
598
3
Windows 3.x Initialization and Application Information
601
10
Windows 3.x Installations
611
4
Conflicts and Problems with Applications Software in a Windows Environment
615
5
How Windows 3.x Manages Memory
620
3
Optimizing Windows 3.x
623
1
Supporting Windows 9x
623
42
How Windows 9x Differs from Windows 3.x and DOS
624
6
How Windows 98 Differs from Windows 95
630
1
Loading and Running Windows 9x
631
6
Installing and Configuring Windows 9x
637
4
Plug and Play and Hardware Installations
641
8
The Windows 9x Registry
649
9
Supporting Applications Software with Windows 9x
658
2
Monitoring System Performance
660
5
Support from Microsoft
665
1
Chapter Summary
666
2
Key Terms
668
2
Review Questions
670
1
Projects
671
6
Understanding and Supporting Windows NT Workstation
677
Windows NT vs. Windows 9x
678
10
Features of Windows NT
679
3
Choosing Between Windows 9x and Windows NT
682
1
Upgrading from Windows 9x to Windows NT
683
4
The Dual Boot
687
1
The Windows NT Environment and Architecture
688
18
The Goals of Windows NT
688
1
The Modular Concept of Windows NT
689
8
Processes and Threads
697
1
Virtual DOS Machine
698
1
Windows NT Networking
699
7
Installing and Customizing Windows NT
706
7
Preparing for the Installation
706
1
Step-by-Step Installation
707
6
Supporting Windows NT and Applications
713
13
The Windows NT Boot Process
713
9
Managing Legacy Software in the Windows NT Environment
722
4
The Windows NT Registry
726
6
How the Registry is Organized
726
6
Backing Up the Registry
732
1
Installing Software and Hardware
732
2
Windows NT Diagnostic Tools
734
5
The Task Manager
734
3
The Event Viewer
737
1
Windows NT Diagnostic
738
1
Chapter Summary
739
1
Key Terms
740
2
Review Questions
742
2
Projects
744
Appendix A Error Messages and their Meaning
A1
Appendix B Hard Drive Types
B1
Appendix C ASCII Character Set and ANSI.SYS
C1
Appendix D The Hexadecimal Number System and Memory Addressing
D1
Appendix E Troubleshooting Guidelines
E1
Appendix F Behind the Scenes with Debug
F1
Appendix G Interrupt Vectors
G1
Glossary
1
1
Index
1