Building and Repairing PCs

Building and Repairing PCs

Released April 2014
Publisher(s): Pearson
ISBN: 0133047296

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Video description

While many think that the world of PCs is an off-the-rack business, virtually nothing could be further from the truth. There are millions of people out there who still prefer to "roll their own" when it comes to their PCs. Buying off the rack is easy, to be sure, but if you want a system tailored to your specifications, then you're pretty much relegated to purchasing it piecemeal, then grabbing a screwdriver and rolling up your shirtsleeves. PC gamers, graphics professionals, power user and all around geeks still prefer the "from scratch" approach. Problem is, there are a dizzying number of new technologies introduced each year - and not all of them play nice with each other. Even a bona fide, pocket protector wearing geek can have trouble sorting through the maze of hardware available.

Just some of what you will learn here includes:

  1. Choosing the right parts
  2. Building the system from the ground up
  3. Installing Windows
  4. Connecting to a network
  5. Tweaking your BIOS
  6. Overclocking your PC for raging performance
  7. Installing some of the newest PC components, including solid-state hard drives
  8. Configuring your PC for game peformance, including setting up SLI and CrossFire dual-card rigs
  9. Upgrading your laptop hard disk
  10. Upgrading your existing PC

This three-hour, downloadable video is a groundbreaking compilation of four teaching formats:

  • Pure video: Shot in a professional studio using an HD camera
  • Camtasia:  Video capture of Windows desktop and programs with voiceover
  • PowerPoint:  Slides with optional photos
  • Photomovie:  Photos converted into a movie with voiceover and transition

This video is primarily a hands-on tutorial dedicated to building and repairing desktop and laptop PCs. Viewers will be walked through each step - starting with choosing the right parts, then assembling each part, tweaking the BIOS, loading Windows, overclocking and beefing up your computer for today's demanding games and power-hungry application.

While learning all of this in three hours might sound daunting, fortunately, PC hardware enthusiast and expert, Mark Soper, is at the ready. Mark has been training people how to use computers - including how to build and repair them - for more than 25 years, and he will guide you, step-by-step.

Mark Edward Soperis an increasingly familiar name to both US and international audiences shopping for tech-related information. As the author or co-author of over two dozen book titles (all published by Pearson), many of which are available worldwide in languages ranging from Chinese to Russian, Polish to French, a trainer of thousands of users on topics ranging from PC troubleshooting and CompTIA A+ Certification to Microsoft Windows and digital imaging, and an author of hundreds of print and online articles, Mark offers a rare combination of broad and deep technical knowledge and the ability to help ordinary users use, understand, and enjoy technology.

Mark is a regular contributor to Upgrading and Repairing PCs, the industry's leading PC hardware book. Mark’s most recent books include Using Microsoft Windows Live, CompTIA A+ Cert Guide (first and second editions), Easy Microsoft Windows 7, and Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows in 10 Minutes. Using Microsoft Windows Live includes dozens of Camtasia video clips that teach users how to use Windows Live web-based and Essentials programs and services, and he has also created a series of how-to videos illustrating PC upgrading topics for Que Publishing.

Table of contents

  1. Chapter 1: Choosing Components
    1. 01-01 Selecting Desktop Components: Choosing the Right Motherboard 00:04:53
    2. 01-02 Choosing Components: The Right Chassis 00:02:41
    3. 01-03 Choosing Components: The Right Power Supply 00:03:59
  2. Chapter 2: Preparing the Chassis
    1. 02-01 Opening/Prepping Drive Bays 00:01:58
    2. 02-02 Preparing the Chassis: Installing the Standoffs 00:02:01
    3. 02-03 Preparing the Chassis: Installing the Power Supply 00:02:21
    4. 02-04 Preparing the Chassis: Installing Fans 00:02:46
  3. Chapter 3: Assembling Your Motherboard
    1. 03-01 Installing an AMD CPU and Heatsink 00:01:31
    2. 03-02 Installing Intel CPU and Heatsink 00:01:51
    3. 03-03 Connecting Power Supply & Fans 00:01:11
    4. 03-04 Assembling Your Motherboard: Installing RAM 00:01:03
    5. 03-05 Connecting Cables to the Motherboard 00:02:00
  4. Chapter 4: Installing Internal Drives
    1. 04-01 Installing Internal Drives: SATA Hard Disk 00:02:44
    2. 04-02 Installing Internal PATA and SATA Optical Drives 00:02:08
  5. Chapter 5: Using SSDs
    1. 05-01 Setting Up AHCI Support for Solid-State Drives (SSDs) 00:02:48
    2. 05-02 Preparing an SSD for Cloning 00:01:24
    3. 05-03 Installing an SSD in a Desktop 00:01:58
    4. 05-04 Using EZ Gig to Clone a Hard Disk to an SSD 00:03:22
  6. Chapter 6: Graphics and TV Tuners
    1. 06-01 Installing a PCI-Express Video Card 00:02:09
    2. 06-02 Installing a Second Video Card for NVIDIA SLI 00:01:37
    3. 06-03 Installing a Second Video Card for AMD Radeon 00:02:40
    4. 06-04 Connecting Display Cables 00:01:32
    5. 06-05 Features of Typical USB TV Tuners 00:02:06
    6. 06-06 Using AMD's Vision Control Center for RADEON GPUs 00:04:57
    7. 06-07 Using NVIDIA's Control Panel 00:04:23
  7. Chapter 7: Configuring System BIOS
    1. 07-01 Configuring System BIOS: Overview of Settings 00:03:41
    2. 07-02 Configuring System BIOS: Basic BIOS Information 00:01:46
    3. 07-03 Configuring System BIOS: Fans and PC Health Features 00:01:30
    4. 07-04 Configuring System BIOS: Boot Sequence & Exit Options 00:02:23
    5. 07-05 Configuring System BIOS: Integrated Ports 00:01:55
  8. Chapter 8: Overclocking
    1. 08-01 Overview of Overclocking 00:01:19
    2. 08-02 Overclocking – Adjust memory Speeds and Voltage 00:02:12
    3. 08-03 Overclocking – Replacement Processor Heatsinks 00:02:16
    4. 08-04 Installing High-Performance RAM 00:01:52
  9. Chapter 9 Installing Windows 7
    1. 09-01 Installing Windows 7 00:02:56
    2. 09-02 Performance Comparison: Before and After Driver Installs 00:02:08
  10. Chapter 10: Configuring Windows 7
    1. 10-01 Managing the Desktop in Windows 7 00:03:29
    2. 10-02 Configuring Dual Displays in Windows 7 00:04:21
    3. 10-03 Using the Personalization Menu in Windows 7 00:05:48
    4. 10-04 Customizing the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 7 00:05:31
  11. Chapter 11: Backing Up and Restoring Your System in Windows 7
    1. 11-01 Selecting a Hard Disk for Use with Windows Backup 00:02:02
    2. 11-02 Using Backup for Windows 7 00:03:21
    3. 11-03 Making a Repair Disc in Windows 7 00:01:23
    4. 11-04 Restoring a File with Backup for Windows 7 00:01:19
    5. 11-05 Restore Folder with Backup for Windows 7 00:01:29
  12. Chapter 12: Networking with Windows 7
    1. 12-01 Network Hardware in Windows Device Manager 00:01:28
    2. 12-02 Connecting to a Wireless (Wi-Fi) Network 00:03:53
    3. 12-03 Connecting to an Ethernet Network 00:01:51
    4. 12-04 Using the Windows Firewall 00:02:36
  13. Chapter 13: Upgrading and Reusing Hard Disk Storage
    1. 13-01 Swapping Desktop Hard Disks 00:01:42
    2. 13-02 Remove Old Laptop Drive, Install New Laptop Drive 00:04:39
    3. 13-03 Reusing a Hard Disk: Using a Drive Enclosure 00:03:07
    4. 13-04 Reusing a Hard Disk: Using a Drive Dock 00:01:34
    5. 13-05 Formatting a Hard Disk with Windows 7 00:03:40
    6. 13-06 Adding a Second Hard Disk for a RAID Array 00:01:49
    7. 13-07 Configuring a RAID 0 Array 00:03:23
    8. 13-08 Configuring a RAID 1 Array 00:02:30

Product information

  • Title: Building and Repairing PCs
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: April 2014
  • Publisher(s): Pearson
  • ISBN: 0133047296