Upgrading your PC or Laptop

Okay-you,ve been thinking of upgrading your PC or LapTop. Congradulations you have decided to join the 20th century just like the rest of us. Well not to worry, you just have to understand the latest technology and terminology. However if not comfortable with repairs, then take it to a certified repair station.Tools needed-phillips-regular screw driver,pliers,tweezers,lights,mall set box wrenches.After you,ve played around with your system you begin to get the feel of taking it apart.

Box- case or outer cover. This is just the outer cover usually held on by 4-6 screws in the back of a completed computer system. The cover usually slides backwards. Laptops are a little different in getting the skin/cover off. Because of the design and components inside of laptops, I dont recommend opening it, as it is better to take it to a certified repair station.

Screen - Monitor or LCD - Just what it says, monitor=.25 dot pitch,ususlly plugs in the back,color coded wires too-so pay attention where the wire came from.

Drive - hard drive-this device stores all your applications and software.

Memory Sticks - internal memory-random access mempory-temporary storage place for data.

Processor - cpu or computer brains-processes software and firmware instructions

Modem / Fax modem - Communication device-device used to communicate across the Internet or Fax documents.

CD/RW-DVD/WR- CD reader/burner or DVD burner-we all probably know about burners. A device used to copy CD,S-DVD,S

OS-Operating system software - Windows XP nowdays.

MHZ-this term is megahertz, represents speed of processor.

MB-Mega Bytes-size of memory sticks

MB-Motherboard

At a bare minimum, you want to get familiar with these terms without getting too complicated. Now normally I use Fry,s electronics-cheap parts. Okay, when upgrading from an older system- the new requirements for XP-512mb ram, 1 mghz (Pentium or AMD) processor, cd-rom,dvd-player, possible bult in fax modem,15,17,19,20 inch monitor,DSL modem can be added later,may come with the box. Without overwhelming anyone-these are the minimum I would use.

Do you speak computerease-Basic Computer Repair

Who turned off the lights. Well I was called by a customer. They complained that the monitor was dead. Hmmm, did it work last night (yes). I turned the pc on and off (front power light worked), that meant the pc was plugged in. Hard drive light came on (hard drive was working)- - well being as smart as I am, I checked the contrast control on the monitor and bam--it was turned all the way down. That contrast control wheel-controlled how much light the monitor received, if turned all the way down-guest what-no video or picture on the monitor.

Basic computer repair starts with knowing what your taking about. You must learn simple terms and components to begin understanding whats wrong or broken. Check out this powerpoint slide with computer component descripion excerp, from Berkley Library of Science or http://www.berkeley.lib.sc.us/basiccomputer.pps . Don,t have powerpoint-download viewer without installing powerpoint-http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=powerpoint+viewer

Another pc repair pdf

Is your trash can full?

Big Mistake. Contrary to what you are doing and what you believe, your desktop trash can must be emptied. I know is a pain in the butt, but a las we must conform to safety and security.

Imagine you just submitted a credit report. You save and print several copies. Well one copy doesn,t look good enought to submit to anyone. What do you do, delete it right, its garbage.

Well one mans trash is another mans goldmine. Most computer users have virus and trojan horse problems. Trojan horses may give someone access to your computer. Access means snooping, checking, searching. Well don,t say I didn,t warn you--empty the desktop trash regularly. Be fit for 2006.