Printers

Inkjet vs. Laser vs. Other Options

Print Resolution

Print Quality

Print Speed

Cost Per Page

Inkjet Cartridges

Specialty Papers

Paper Size

Printer Language and OS Support

Color Printing

Color Management

Halftones

Specialty Printers

Multi-Function Devices

Photo Printers

Label Printers

Printer Connections

Parallel Ports

Switch Boxes

USB

Infrared Wireless (IrDA)

Digital Camera Connections

Recommendations

Scanners

Resolution: Optical vs. Interpolated

Color Depth

Interface Type

Size and Speed

Specialty Scanners

Bundled Software

Recommendations

Digital Cameras

Resolution

Compression

Storage

Camera Issues

Other Digital Imaging Devices

Frame Grabbers

Video Cameras

Recommendations

Input Devices

Keyboards

Notebook Keyboards

Ergonomic Keyboards

Mice

Mice Features

Trackballs and Built-In Pointing Devices

Graphics Tablets

Game Controllers

Joysticks and Game Pads

Other Gaming Accessories

Recommendations

Power

Power Supplies

Power Management

Surge Protectors

Line Conditioners

UPSes

Recommendations

Part 2: Enhancing Your PC

Chapter 8: How Your Computer Works

The Basics

Hardware and Software

Input and Output

General Operation

How the Hardware Works

Structure

Buses

Bus Speeds and Bandwidth

Processor and Memory

Peripheral Buses

Video: PCI to AGP

Drive Interfaces

I/O Buses

ISA Bus and X Bus

Pulling it All Together

Resources

IRQs and DMA Channels

I/O Addresses and Memory Ranges

Resource Conflicts

Plug and Play

How the Software Works

Basic Connections

Software Layers

Inside Windows

Services

Registry

Core OS

Drivers

In Action

Booting

BIOS Setup

Master Boot Record

Startup Files

Windows Startup

Running an Application

Printing

Chapter 10: Adding and Removing Hardware

Connectors and Resources

Resources

What Uses Resources?

Adding External Hardware

Getting Ready

Special Considerations

Parallel Ports

SCSI

USB

Device Bay

Adding Internal Hardware

General Precautions

Making the Connection

Notebook PC Cards

Installing Drivers

Upgrading Drivers

Removing Drivers

Removing Hardware

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade, That is the Question

Adding Memory

Opening the Case

Installing

Reconfiguring

Testing the Memory

Adding a New Hard Drive

Configuring Drive Settings

Connecting the Cables

BIOS Settings

Testing the Connection

Partitioning, Formatting and Copying Software

Large Drive Problems

Adding or Upgrading your CD or DVD-ROM Drive

IDE Interfaces

SCSI Interfaces

DVD-ROM

Installing Drivers

Upgrading Your BIOS

Other Hardware Upgrades

Firmware Updates

Printer Memory

Upgrading your Processor

Determining Processor Types

Installing the Processor

Replacing Your Computer’s Motherboard

Getting Organized

Removing the Old Motherboard

Installing the New Motherboard

Part 3: Connecting Your PC

Chapter 12: Setting Up a Small Business or Home Network

Basic Networking Concepts

Network Data

Network Structures

Network Architectures

Network Protocols

Network Types

Network Operating System

The OSI Network Model

Putting Together a Simple Network

The Pieces

Direct Cable Connection

Installing the Network Software

Protocols

Bindings

Network Names

Other Network Considerations

Setting Up a TCP/IP Network

Adding a Macintosh to Your Network

Expanding Your Network

Creating a Home Network

Phone Lines

Power Lines

Wireless

Taking Advantage of Your Network

Sharing Files

Sharing Drives

Mapping Drives

Sharing Printers

Sharing Scanners

Sharing an Internet Connection

Playing Games

Building an Intranet

Remote Access

Other Network Applications

Network Messaging

Network Monitoring

Chapter 13: Connecting to and Using the Internet

How the Internet Works

Connecting with a Web Site

IP Addresses and DNS

Your Internet Connection

Setting Up Your Connection

Dial-Up Networking

Direct Network Connection

Customizing Your Web Browsing Experience

Plug-Ins

Bookmarks and Favorites

Using Applications on the Web

Java, JavaScript and ActiveX

Cookies

Optimizing Your Web Connection

Cache Utilities

Connection Utilities

Finding Information on the Web

Setting Up an E-Mail Account

Editing an Existing E-mail Account

Making the Most of E-Mail

Finding E-mail Addresses

Types of Messages

Signing Your Messages

Sending and Receiving Attachments

E-mail Security

Other Ways to Communicate via the Internet

Newsgroups

Live Chat

Internet Phone Calls

Videoconferencing and Application Sharing

Building Your Own Web Site

Site Strategy and Structure

Creating Web Pages

Graphic Design

HTML Basics

Adding Other Elements

Site Navigation

Testing Your Pages

Obtaining a Web Address

Posting Your Pages

Transferring Files

Web Server Issues

Updating Your Site

Publicizing Your Site

Part 4: Using Your PC

Chapter 14: Working with Documents and Files

Applications and Documents

File Extensions

Editing File Types

Creating New Files

Opening Existing Documents

Opening With Other Applications

Using Send To

Converting Documents

Sharing Your Documents

Specialty Printing

Electronic Documents

Managing Your Files

Backing Up

Freeing Up Disk Space

Moving Files

Compression Utilities

Taking Care of your Disks

ScanDisk

Disk Defragmenting

Chapter 15: Working with Pictures and Video

Digital Pictures

File Formats

Digital Picture Sources

Scanning Your Own Images

The Details on Resolution

Scanner Resolution vs. Printer Resolution

Screen Resolution vs. Print Resolution

Scanning Tips

Cropping and Resizing

Editing Images

Sharpening the Image

Getting the Red Out

Photo Collages

Special Effects

Printing Tips

Using the Pictures in Other Programs

Using Images on the Web

Digital Video

Making the Connections

Capturing the Video

Editing

Titles, Graphics and Special Effects

Finishing the Program

Chapter 16: Working with Audio and Music

Getting Started with Sound

Playing Back Sound Files

Digital Audio Basics

Sampling Rates and Compression

File Formats

Recording Your Own CDs

Digital Audio Recording

The Hook Up

Recording and Editing

Processing

Special Effects

Making Music

Audio Re-Mixing

MIDI Basics

MIDI Sequencing

Tracks vs. Channels

Operation

MIDI Connections

Editing

Editing Views

Quantization

The Final Mix

General MIDI

Music Notation

Other MIDI Software

Patch Editor/Librarians

Auto-Accompaniment Software

Putting Sound Files on the Web

Converting Files

Adding Them to Your Pages

Part 5: Fixing Your PC

Chapter 17: Troubleshooting Techniques

Troubleshooting Strategies

Define the Problem

Narrow in on the Specifics

Use Available Resources

Keep Track of What You Do

Test Your Solution

Basic Troubleshooting Checks

Physical Connections

Updates and Upgrades

Hardware Troubleshooting Concepts

Drivers

Device Manager

Windows Update

Real-Mode Drivers

Resources

Fixing Resource Conflicts with ISA Devices

Fixing Resource Conflicts with PCI Devices

Software Troubleshooting Concepts

Shared Files and DLLs

Software Conflicts

Uninstalling

Updating

File Corruption

Moving DLLs

Bugs

Viruses

Troubleshooting Tools

Boot Disk with CD or DVD-ROM Driver and Utilities

Diagnostic Programs

Windows 98 Utilities

System Information

System Configuration Utility

System File Checker

Version Conflict Manager

Dr. Watson

ScanDisk

Registry Checker

Automatic Skip Driver Agent

Update Wizard Uninstall

Signature Verification Tool

Windows Report Tool

Windows 95 Diagnostic Tools

System Configuration Editor

Disk Defragmenter

System Monitor and System Resource Meter

WinTop

SANDRA

Other Programs

Starting Over

Fixing Startup Problems

BIOS Setup

Adjustments for Hard Disks and Removable Drives

Other BIOS Setup Adjustments

SCSI Adapter BIOS

Startup Files

Boot Files

Config.sys and Autoexec.bat

Bootlog.txt

Using Safe Mode

Turning certain Files Off

Restoring/Reinstalling Files

Fixing the Registry

Shutdown Problems

Fixing Hardware Problems

Video Display Problems

Hard Drive Problems

Bad Sectors

Partitions and Drive Letters

Compression

Mice, Keyboard, and Joystick Problems

Printer Problems

Modem and Internet Connection Problems

Modem Speed and Line Quality Problems

Dial-up Networking Problems

Sound Card/Audio Problems

Power Management Problems

USB Problems

Power Issues

Compatibility

SCSI Problems

Network Problems

Fixing Software Problems

Uninstalling Software

Consistent and Random Crashes

Running Out of Memory

Windows Memory Problems

DOS Memory Problems

DOS Games

PIFs

Customized Startup Files

Web Browser/Internet Problems

E-mail Problems

Message Formats

Decoding File Attachments

Appendix