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This book has been replaced in most usages by my latest book of
up-to-date:
PC Repair with
Interactive Flowcharts. Click here to get there:-)
The Old Hand-Me-Down PC (originally posted in 1995, ten
years ago!) applies to PC's with pre-Pentium era CPU's
Copyright 1995, 2005 Morris Rosenthal, All Rights Reserved
Introduction - Home PC Repair and Troubleshooting
Welcome to the on-line version of The Hand-Me-Down PC and The Midnight Question.
The Hand-Me-Down PC has been re-written for publication by McGraw-Hill and
expanded about 50% over the on-line book, to include Windows 95 and Pentium
PCs. The first edition of the printed book was published in October, 1997
- the 300+ pages include over 70 illustrations and new chapters on upgrading
decisions, the Internet and the future of PCs.
In fifteen short years, PCs have gone from being workplace curiosities to
outselling color television sets. Ironically, one of the factors that has
helped make PCs so wildly popular also makes them a little hard to explain.
A PC isn't just a word processor, a game machine or an accounting system,
it's all of these things and more. PCs are general purpose computers that
can run a vast array of software which instantaneously transforms them into
an electronic checkbook, an F-16 cockpit, or a window onto the World Wide
Web. Through the addition of internal components called "adapters" and external
components called "peripherals," PCs can be enhanced to do almost any job
in the factory or the office.
PCs are currently entering their ninth major generation of hardware, yet
some people continue to work away on PCs from the first three generations,
the original IBM PC, the IBM PC-XT and the IBM PC-AT. Starting with the PC-XT,
other computer manufacturers began producing copies of these machines, called
compatibles. At some point, the copies got so good that they became known
as "clones." After the PC-AT, IBM decided to recapture market share by selling
PCs that couldn't be legally cloned, called PS/2s. The copy makers kept right
on making improvements to the PC-AT, sticking to the basic design known as
the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA). Today's Pentium PCs are direct
descendants of the IBM PC-AT.
With the introduction of each new generation of PC, the prices of older models
fall through the floor. In addition, many purchasers of new PCs are replacing
an older model. These "hand-me-down" PCs are sold to employees, donated to
schools and charities, or given to friends and family. Unfortunately, these
PCs, even when free, are not always the bargain they first appear to be.
Some require hardware upgrades to run the software the new owner wants to
use, others require "minor" repairs. The primary purpose of this book is
to empower owners and potential buyers of hand-me-down PCs so they can determine
whether it makes financial sense for them to invest money in technology that
may already be obsolete. In addition, we have included a troubleshooting
guide for those who want to do their own repairs and upgrades, and a guidelines
for dealing with PC shops for the less adventurous.
This book is divided into four basic sections. The first section gives an
overview of all of the parts that make up a PC. Readers new to the world
of computers may have a little trouble at first with some of the new vocabulary,
which is always explained in the text. Just remember that while we all know
that a light year is a lot farther than a league, few of us know exactly
how long either is in feet. Likewise, the computer terms will be important
to most users only in their relative measure, i.e., 100 Megahertz is better
than 25 Megahertz. Pricing information is introduced in this section to provide
context and is repeated in later sections. Some areas, like the discussion
of monitors (TV displays), are a little heavy on technical jargon for the
same reason that descriptions of high fidelity stereo systems are loaded
with esoteric terms. High prices for upscale models have to be justified
somehow!
The second section of the book looks at the various tasks a PC can be called
upon to fulfill. Software is treated first, because there are some software
components every computer must have, like an operating system. Applications
software is also introduced, since users in a wide spectrum of situations
will need some of the same programs, such as a word processor. Students,
moon-lighting accountants, secretaries and artists, all need different software
and peripherals to get the most out of their PC. A hand- me-down PC might
become the core office equipment for a home office or startup new business.
Twenty identical PCs might be donated in one clump to create a computer lab
in a classroom, or one might be left in a basket on the steps of a church.
The role the PC will play has everything to do with the hardware required.
There are many sad stories about individuals who have spent more money upgrading
an older PC into something less than a new PC, for more than a new PC's price.
This section also covers multimedia computers, which are standard PCs with
a couple extra parts thrown in. In addition, peripherals like laser printers
and scanners, and networks for office and classroom environments, will be
discussed.
The third section addresses buying or upgrading hand-me-down PCs. We'll consider
the options from two viewpoints: that of users who will do their own work,
and that of users who will pay someone else for their labor. The stress here
is on money for both parts and labor. Cost of components is discussed in
detail, with an emphasis on mail order pricing. The value of knowing good
mail order pricing, for readers with no intention of doing their own work,
is that competitive mail order prices come within a few percentage points
of true wholesale. A couple of minutes spent leafing through Ziff Davis
Publishing's "Computer Shopper," will arm the reader with the knowledge of
what their repair person or computer store is paying for parts. Good mail
order pricing is found only in magazines that take advertising from hundreds
of different suppliers. Catalogs which offer one-stop shopping, no matter
how highly recommended they come, are generally overpriced.
The final section of the on-line book is a hardware troubleshooting guide.
There is no attempt to give the reader with a cram course in electronics,
or to explain the underlying principles of PC operation. The goal of the
troubleshooting guide is to enable the reader to determine which component
is causing a problem.. Failed computer components in PCs are always replaced
rather than repaired. There simply isn't enough value in any individual component
to justify the expense of the equipment and training that would be needed
to repair these mass produced parts. The only tools ever required are a screw
driver and a willingness to dive in.
Two generations of PCs are the main focus of this book, those known as 386s
and 486s. (The expanded version from McGraw-Hill includes Pentium based systems
as well) These PCs represent about 50% of all clones currently in use. Older
PCs are occasionally mentioned and are treated in the troubleshooting guide,
but are generally excluded from discussion due to their limitations with
the Windows operating system. Newer PCs, based on the Pentium and Pentium
Pro, are heavily referenced in order to make comparisons on price/performance.
Pentium systems are also included in the troubleshooting guide.
I've considered updating this book and republishing it as print-on-demand,
since the rights publication rights I signed away in the contract have now
reverted to me (a written request was required). The main problem with
print-on-demand for this sort of a book is that black and white photographs
just don't reproduce that well on the industrial-strength laser printers
that are actually used to print the books. The economics are great, and anybody
who's tempted to publish a computer book with print-on-demand should check
out my example of the PC business book I printed through Lightning Source.
It's used by everyone from academic publishers to the biggest trades, but
it's also ideal for the home business, or home publisher.
Introduction
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The System Box or Case
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The Bare Bones System
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The Power Supply
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The Motherboard
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CPU (The Brain)
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RAM (The Memory)
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Drives
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The Floppy Drive
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Hard Drives
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CD-ROM Drives
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Tape Drives
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Adapters
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Video Adapters
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VGA Adapters with 256KB RAM
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SVGA Adapters with 512KB RAM
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Video Adapters with 1MB RAM and Beyond
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Input/Output (I/O) Adapter
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SIDE Adapter
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Other Adapters
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Internal Modem
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Sound Cards
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Network Adapters
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Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Adapters
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Video Capture Cards
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Things Outside the System Box
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Keyboards
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Monitors
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Screen Size
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Interlace and Horizontal Frequency
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Resolution and Dot Pitch (DP)
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Mice and Other Pointing
Devices
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Printers
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Dot Matrix Printers
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Inkjet Printers
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Laser Printers
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Scanners
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Pen Plotters
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Speakers and Microphones
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Operating Systems and Environments
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Windows 3.1 and Windows 95
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PC Application Software
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The PC as a Spreadsheet
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The PC as a Word Processor
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The PC as a Desktop Publishing System
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The PC as a Database
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The PC as a Game Machine
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The PC as a Multimedia Platform
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The PC as a World Wide Web Browser
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The PC as a Network Workstation
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The PC as a Network Server
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Custom Computing
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Computing for School Children
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Computing for College Students
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Public School Classroom
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The Moonlighting Accountant
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Outside Salespersons
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A Drafting (CAD) Workstation
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Desktop Publishing
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Home Office or New Business
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Determining What's in Your PC
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Visual Inspection of the System Box
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System Configuration Displayed at Boot
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Software Reporting Application
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Looking in the System Box
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Safe Handling of Computer Components
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Memory Upgrades
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Single Inline Memory Modules (SIMMs)
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Time and Cost for Upgrades
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Adding Memory to a 286 or 386SX
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Adding Memory to a 486 or 386DX with 30 pin SIMMs
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Adding Memory to a 486 with 30 pin and 72 pin SIMMs
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Adding Memory to a 486 with 72 pin SIMMs
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Adding Memory to a Pentium
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Video Adapter Upgrades
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Time and Cost for Upgrades
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Upgrading Video Memory on an Existing Adapter
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Installing a New SVGA Adapter
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CPU Upgrades
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Time and Cost for Upgrades
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Reasons not to Upgrade the CPU
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Motherboard and CPU combination upgrade
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Time and Cost for Upgrades
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Removing the Old Motherboard
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Preparing the New Motherboard
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Installing the New Motherboard in the System Box
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Hard Drive Upgrades
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Adding a Second IDE Drive
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Replacing an Old Non-IDE Drive with an IDE Drive
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Adding a SCSI Drive
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Modems
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Installing an Internal Modem
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Installing an External Modem
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Installing Modem Software
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CD ROM Drive
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Adding an IDE CD Drive to a System with an IDE Hard Drive
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Adding an IDE CD Drive to a System with Two IDE Hard Drives
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Adding a CD Drive with a Proprietary Adapter
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Adding a SCSI CD drive
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Sound Card
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Installing a Sound Card
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Multimedia Upgrade
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Installing a Multimedia Upgrade Kit
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Network Adapter
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Time and Cost for Upgrade
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Installing a Network Adapter
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Installing a Thin Ethernet LAN
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Installing a 10Base-T LAN
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Dealing with PC Shops for Upgrades and Repairs
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Dealing With Nationwide Warrantee Providers
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