From Library Journal
Updated every year, this book immediately distinguishes itself from similar titles with its sheer volume and comprehensive coverage. Minasi, CNN's resident computer expert, covers basic tasks such as disassembling a PC to advanced topics like formatting SCSI devices. This edition includes helpful illustrations of common upgrades a first in the book's 12-year history as well as two CDs (one is an hour-long instructional video, and the other contains more than 25 diagnostic tools). The latter are likely to get lost or stolen, but the book's text still stands strongly on its own. A more affordable but less in-depth guide is Preston Gralla's How To Expand & Upgrade PCs (Computer Media, LJ 6/1/01). Minasi's title is highly recommended. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
This extensively revised and updated 12th edition of the best-selling guide to PC upgrading and maintenance includes updated information on memory, modems, sound boards, disk drives, printing problems, operating system upgrades, video capture, digital audio, networking, combo printers, vendor guides, memory, and more. --Written in a friendly, easy-to-follow style, the book provides essential background and conceptual information that teaches readers how computers work. --Loaded with more than 1,600 pages of hardcore information, this is the one book no professional, student, or serious home user can afford to be without!


From the Back Cover
The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, Twelfth Edition is a problem-solving wonder. In simple, easy-to-follow language, it shows you how to prevent disasters, fix the ones that occur, and maximize your PC's power and longevity. Based on author Mark Minasi's popular $800 seminars, this book is an unbelievable value. For only $59.99, it teaches you everything you need to know to meet your PC challenges. Coverage includes: • Buying or building a new PC * Preventing hardware disasters • Upgrading memory • Replacing power supplies • Installing EIDE hard drives • Adding SCSI ports • Partitioning and formatting EIDE and SCSI drives • Protecting your PC from viruses • Solving data backup challenges • Adding and repairing removable media devices: DVD drivers, CD-ROMs, and others • Troubleshooting printers • Installing communications devices • Upgrading mice and keyboards • Installing video and sound cards • Tackling networking issues • Choosing a new PC or building one • Troubleshooting Internet connectivity • Solving special laptop problems CD DESCRIPTION: On the first CD, you'll find over one hour of instructional video in which PC expert Mark Minasi teaches you his field-proven upgrade and repair techniques. These videos are a great resource and an unbeatable value. On the second CD, you get over 25 system tune-up and diagnostic tools-utilities that help you monitor and fine-tune your PC's performance, restrict access to programs and data, and recover quickly when disaster strikes. Plus there are more than 500 pages of bonus materials including an exclusive chapter on recovering data and fixing hard disks as well as a vendor guide!


About the Author
Mark Minasi is a noted educator and author in the fields of PC computing, data communications, and operating systems. His best-selling books include Mastering Windows 2000 Server, Mastering Windows 2000 Professional, Mastering TCP/IP for NT, The Hard Disk Survival Kit, and Troubleshooting Windows, all from Sybex. Mark also serves as CNN's resident computer expert.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Mark Minasi's legendary guide to PC hardware -- based on his $800 live seminars -- has just been thoroughly updated for the latest gear: USB, DSL, cable modems, video capture hardware, MP3, Athlon processors, and lots more.

Of course, the friendly, expert tone remains. It's obvious from the get-go that Minasi knows his stuff -- and knows how to share it. The book is full of inside tips and anecdotes (How can you make sure it's not a software or virus problem before you crack the hood? Why might a certain brand of printer become less reliable when the seasons change?).

This 1,500-page book now also includes QuickStep sections that walk you through the most widely-performed upgrades at double-speed. Since there's no substitute for seeing it, you also get a CD-ROM with over an hour of digital movies that walk you through upgrading processors, motherboards, power supplies, memory, DVD drives, hard disks, and audio cards. If you have any plans for A+ certification, a second CD-ROM contains nearly 400 practice questions for both the CompTIA's core and Windows/DOS exams.

If we have any gripe, it's that the editors have been a little slow to retire some of the book's older coverage -- but hey, a lot of old PCs are still chugging along, and you just might have one of them. (Bill Camarda)

Bill Camarda is a consultant and writer with nearly 20 years' experience in helping technology companies deploy and market advanced software, computing, and networking products and services. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks For Dummies®, Second Edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide is a problem-solving wonder. In simple, easy-to-follow language, it shows you how to prevent disasters, fix the ones that occur, and maximize your PC's power and longevity. Based on author Mark Minasi's popular seminars, this book is an unbelievable value—for only $59.99 U.S., it teaches you everything you need to know to meet your PC challenges.

Coverage includes: Preventing hardware disasters Installing new components Upgrading memory Replacing power supplies Installing EIDE hard drives Adding SCSI ports and devices Partitioning and formatting EIDE and SCSI drives Protecting your PC from viruses Solving data backup challenges Adding and repairing removable media devices CD-ROMs, floppies, and others Troubleshooting printers Installing communications devices Upgrading mice and keyboards Installing video and sound cards Tackling networking issues Choosing a new PC Troubleshooting Internet connectivity problems Building your own PC Solving special laptop problems Featured on the CDs

On the first CD, you'll find over one hour of instructional video in which PC expert Mark Minasi teaches you his field-proven upgrade and repair techniques. Based on his popular $800 seminars, these videos are a great resource and an unbeatable value. On the second CD, you get over 20 system tune-up and diagnostic tools—utilities that help you monitor and fine-tune your PC's performance, restrict access to important data, and recover quickly when disaster strikes.

SYNOPSIS

The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide is a problem-solving wonder. In simple, easy-to-follow language, it shows you how to prevent disasters, fix the ones that occur, and maximize your PC's power and longevity. Based on author Mark Minasi's popular seminars, it teaches you everything you need to know to meet your PC challenges.

Coverage includes: Preventing hardware disasters Installing new components Upgrading memory Replacing power supplies Installing EIDE hard drives Adding SCSI ports and devices Partitioning and formatting EIDE and SCSI drives Protecting your PC from viruses Solving data backup challenges Adding and repairing removable media devices: CD-ROMs, floppies, and others Troubleshooting printers Installing communications devices Upgrading mice and keyboards Installing video and sound cards Tackling networking issues Choosing a new PC Troubleshooting Internet connectivity problems Building your own PC Solving special laptop problems Featured on the CDs
On the first CD, you'll find over one hour of instructional video in which PC expert Mark Minasi teaches you his field-proven upgrade and repair techniques. Based on his popular $800 seminars, these videos are a great resource and an unbeatable value. On the second CD, you get over 20 system tune-up and diagnostic tools-utilities that help you monitor and fine-tune your PC's performance, restrict access to important data, and recover quickly when disaster strikes.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal