Learn to diagnose and fix simple PC problems with this easy-to-follow guide When something goes wrong with your computer, it's frustrating and potentially expensive. With Fix Your Own Computer For Seniors For Dummies, you can find out what's wrong, how to fix it, whether you need to call in professional help, and how to practice preventive maintenance. This friendly guide avoids techie jargon and shows you how to diagnose the problem, find out whether the software or hardware is at fault, make simple repairs, and add external devices such as scanners, printers, and hard drives. It also helps you maintain your computer through basic steps like defragmenting the hard drive and cleaning out files - techniques that can prevent a lot of problems from occurring in the first place. Written specifically for first-time computer users, this book explains how to diagnose basic PC problems, understand error messages, and fix common issues Specific step-by-step procedures guide you through basic repairs such as replacing the hard drive Explains common mistakes and how to avoid them Outlines the steps for preventive maintenance, such as how to defragment the hard drive, clean files, delete old files, and organize files Explores ways to expand and enhance a computer with external devices including hard drives, Web cameras, Web phones, scanners, printers, flash drives and other hardware Shows what you can fix yourself and when to seek help from a repair service or the manufacturer Easy to read and follow, Fix Your Own Computer For Seniors For Dummies will boost your confidence when dealing with your computer and with professional technicians, too.

An illustrated, step-by-step guide to repairs and upgrades Whether you want to prepare your computer for Windows 7, avoid investing in a new one, or just "go green", this fully illustrated guide has what you need. You'll learn how to add printers and new keyboards, boost your PC's performance and increase memory, improve power consumption, rev up your multimedia capacity, and much more. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by photos that show you exactly what you should see at every stage. Learn to perform basic upgrades and prepare your PC for high-speed Internet connections, network connections, and added security, all with fully illustrated instructions Find out how to expand memory, enhance speed, and update your computer's power supply Prepare an old computer for Windows 7 and beef up your capacity for multimedia Upgrading & Fixing Computers Do-It-Yourself For Dummies is a show-and-tell course in making your PC happy, healthy, and green.

Why throw away that broken PC? You can fix it - really! Fixing it will save you much needed cash - and keeping your hardware out of the trash is good for the environment, too. Best of all, you don't need to be a technical expert to do most typical computer repairs - and this book proves it. If you've found other computer repair books too complicated (or too cute), you're in the right place. McFedries covers everything you need to know, get, and do, in plain English, with plenty of crystal-clear pictures.

Explains how to upgrade and repair processors, memory, connections, drives, multimedia cards, and peripherals.

Illustrates the new features of Windows 10.

Updated and revised with eighty percent new material, this book is 100 percent of what readers need to upgrade, fix, or troubleshoot PCs Sixty-five percent of U.S. households own a PC; this book caters to the do-it-yourselfers in these households, both novices and tech hobbyists alike, who are looking for an approachable reference A one-stop reference for topics such as video, CD, and DVD; multimedia; storage; communications (network and Internet); peripherals; and integrating with laptops and handhelds Concludes with a step-by-step tutorial on building an "extreme" machine that can handle the most demanding multimedia or gaming applications Written by Marcia and Barry Press, authors of PC Toys (076454229X)

The bestselling PC reference on the planet—now available in its 13th edition Completely updated to cover the latest technology and software, the 13th edition of PCs For Dummies tackles using a computer in friendly, human terms. Focusing on the needs of the beginning computer user, while also targeting those who are familiar with PCs, but need to get up to speed on the latest version of Windows. This hands-on guide takes the dread out of working with a personal computer. Leaving painful jargon and confusing terminology behind, it covers Windows 10 OS, connecting to and using services and data in the cloud, and so much more. Written by Dan Gookin, the original For Dummies author, it tells you how to make a PC purchase, what to look for in a new PC, how to work with the latest operating system, ways to protect your files, what you can do online, media management tips, and even basic topics you're probably too shy to ask a friend about. Determine what you need in a PC and how to set it up Configure your PC, hook up a printer, and connect to the Internet Find your way around Windows 10 OS with ease and confidence Play movies and music, view photos, and explore social media If you're a first-time PC user at home or at work or just need to brush up on the latest technological advancements, the new edition of this bestselling guide gets you up and running fast.

Shows tech hobbyists how to build the perfect PC, whether they want to create the ultimate gaming machine or combine new and recycled parts to construct an inexpensive computer for a child The do-it-yourself craze is sweeping through the tech community, and this guide is now significantly revised and updated to cover the wide array of new hardware and accessories available Step-by-step instructions and dozens of photos walk first-time computer builders through the entire process, from building the foundation, and adding a processor and RAM, to installing a video card, configuring a hard drive, hooking up CD and DVD drives, adding a modem, and troubleshooting problems

The all-time bestselling PC reference, fully updated for the newest technologies! Previous editions of this fun and friendly PC guide have sold more than three million copies, making it the bestselling PC reference in the world. Dan Gookin, the author whose straightforward and entertaining style is the foundation of the For Dummies series, gives you the same easy-to-follow guidance in this edition, fully updated for Windows 8, using the cloud, and all the newest PC bells and whistles. It's perfect for the absolute beginner as well as for anyone switching to the latest hardware and software. Updated with information on all the latest upgrades, this edition of a worldwide bestseller covers all the essentials of using a PC, and presents them in a fun, non-intimidating style Popular technology author Dan Gookin starts at the beginning with all the basics that other books assume everyone knows Covers setting up your PC, exploring the Windows 8 interface, using network hardware and software, getting online and browsing with the newest version of Internet Explorer, setting up an e-mail account, connecting to the cloud, and using cloud-based services Shows you how to install and upgrade programs and manage files and folders Explores working with digital photos, downloading music, watching movies, and participating in social media PCs For Dummies, 12th Edition is the jargon-free, easy-to-use guide to everything you need to know about your PC.

Most computer users think that fiddling with the insides of their PC is taboo. They fear that by removing the screws that hold the case on, they're crossing into forbidden territory. And even for those who know they can open the box and fix or upgrade their PC, analysis paralysis often stops them in their tracks: Which upgrades offer the best bang for the buck? How do you pinpoint the faulty component that's making your system freeze? What about compatibility issues? Get ready to get unstuck and get your PC running fast and running right. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC delivers start-to-finish instructions, simple enough for even the most inexperienced PC owner, for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading your computer. Written by hardware experts Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, this book covers it all: how to troubleshoot a troublesome PC, how to identify which components make sense for an upgrade, and how to tear it all down and put it back together. This book shows how to repair and upgrade all of your PC's essential components: Motherboard, CPU, and Memory. Choose the optimal match of these core components to keep your PC running at top speed Hard Drive, Optical Drive, and Removable Storage Give your computer what it needs for long-term and short-term storage Audio and Video. Enhance your computing experience with the right sound and graphics devices for your needs Input Devices. Pick the best keyboard and mouse to keep your hands happy and healthy Networking. Set up secure wireless networking to keep the bits flowing between your computers and the outside world Cases and Power Supplies. Keep everything running cool and reliably With its straightforward language, clear instructions, and extensive illustrations, this book makes it a breeze for PC owners of any skill level to work on their computer.