Introduction 1
About This Book 1
How This Book Works 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Book 1: Solve My Problem Now! 5
Chapter 1: Trouble Comes Hither 7
The Root of All PC Trouble 7
What's Changed? 8
Hardware versus Software Problems 11
When to Give Up 12
Chapter 2: Quick Fixes 15
Things to Try First 15
Help! 22
Book 2: O, We Got Trouble! 29
Chapter 1: Startup Problems 31
The Onset of PC Heartbreak 31
Phase I: Power On 32
Phase II: The POST 35
Phase III: Startup Options 36
Phase IV: The Search for an Operating System 42
Phase V: Operating System Initialization 44
Phase VI: Sign In to Windows 45
The Last Thing You Do 46
Chapter 2: Disk Disaster 47
PC Storage Overview 47
Mass Storage Tools and Utilities 59
Drive Management and Maintenance 61
Fun with Partitions 73
Chapter 3: Monitor Mayhem 83
The PC Graphics System 83
Captain Video Troubleshooter 96
Chapter 4: Internal Issues 107
Deep Inside the Case 107
Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case 115
Power Management Issues 127
Chapter 5: Printer Problems 135
Between the Computer and Printer 135
The Windows Side of Printing 143
Printer Driver Duties 151
Printer Problems and Solutions 154
Chapter 6: Peripheral Perils 159
Hardware Troubleshooting 160
Audio Anxieties 165
Keyboard and Mouse Woes 172
Chapter 7: Software Situations 181
Installation Issues 181
Banish the Unwanted 185
The Good and Evil of File Association 188
Common Software Problems and Solutions 194
Chapter 8: Network Nonsense 201
The Network Big Picture 201
Network Hardware Connection and Configuration 205
The Software Side of Networking 214
Network Troubleshooting 222
Network Problems and Solutions 226
Chapter 9: Shutdown Issues 229
Such a Turn-Off 229
Problems with Restarting 234
Shutdown Malaise 237
Book 3: Tools to Use 241
Chapter 1: Windows Recovery Environment 243
Startup Keys and Recovery Options 243
The Sacred Recovery Volume 249
The Windows Recovery Environment 252
Chapter 2: The Device Manager 261
Your Pal, the Device Manager 261
Device Manager Duties 265
Chapter 3: MSCONFIG and the Task Manager 271
The System Configuration Utility 271
MSCONFIG Startup Options 284
Chapter 4: Safe Mode 287
The Mode Is Safe 287
Safe Mode to the Rescue 288
Not Safe Mode Duties 299
Chapter 5: System Restore 301
The System Restore Philosophy 301
Restore the System, Restore Your Sanity 304
System Restore on Schedule 309
Chapter 6: The Task Manager 313
Task Control Central 313
Here a Task, There a Task 321
Chapter 7: The Windows Registry 325
Behold the Registry 325
Registry Cleaning 334
Chapter 8: Events and Diagnostics 335
What Has Gone On Here? 335
Diagnostics to the Rescue 339
Book 4: PC Security 347
Chapter 1: Windows Update 349
Windows Updates, Doesn't It? 349
Update Hiccups 353
Chapter 2: Keep Mr PC Safe 357
Malicious + Software = Malware 357
Windows Defender to the Rescue 361
Life Behind the Firewall 365
Chapter 3: Backup and Restore 371
An Emergency Copy 371
Prepare for Backup! 373
File Time-Travel 378
The System Image 381
Book 5: This Old PC 385
Chapter 1: Performance and Resources 387
The Relationship Between Performance and Resources 387
How Ya Doin', PC? 388
Chapter 2: More Mass Storage 395
The Mass Storage Pie 395
Get Yourself More Mass Storage Capacity 399
Even More Storage 407
Chapter 3: Boost PC Performance 411
Man, Your PC Is Slow! 411
Speed Up Your PC 413
Index 421
