Tune Up Your PC in a Weekend Book

	Introduction	xxii
	Friday Evening: Assessing Your System	1
	What Makes a Computer Work?	3
	Hardware	3
	Operating System	6
	Application Software	7
	What Have You Got?	7
	Evaluating Your Current Processor	13
	Evaluating Your Current Operating System	15
	What's Your Beef?	18
	Overall Slowness	18
	Out of Memory Errors	19
	Out of Disk Space Errors	20
	General Protection Faults	20
	Missing File Error Messages	21
	Lockups and Freezes	21
	Certain Programs Not Working	22
	Choppy Sound or Video	23
	What's Your Solution?	23
	Repair the Problems	24
	Reformat and Reload Everything	24
	Improve the Performance	26
	Buy and Install Upgrades	26
	Take a Break	28
	Backing Up Important Files	29
	Copying Data Files to a Removable Disk	30
	Backing Up to CD	32
	Copying an Entire Drive Image	34
	Creating an Emergency Startup Disk	34
	Creating a Startup CD-ROM	36
	Testing Your PC's Ability to Boot from CD	37
	What Makes a CD Bootable?	38
	Setting Up Your Software to Create a Bootable CD	39
	Working with the Recovery Console (Windows XP Only)	41
	Installing the Recovery Console on Your Hard Disk	41
	Starting the Recovery Console from Your Hard Disk	41
	Starting the Recovery Console from the Windows XP CD	42
	Using the Recovery Console	42
	Showing All Files and File Extensions	42
	Take a Break	43
	Saturday Morning: Fixing Problems	45
	Correcting Disk Errors	48
	Understanding Disk Errors	48
	Checking for Errors with ScanDisk (Windows 95/98/Me)	49
	Checking for Errors with Check Disk (Windows XP)	50
	Preventing Computer Viruses	52
	About Viruses	53
	Antivirus Programs to the Rescue	53
	Take a Break	58
	Fixing Startup Problems	59
	If Windows Won't Start at All	59
	Lockups During Startup	61
	Registry Errors at Startup	64
	Restoring an Earlier Copy of the Registry	65
	Missing File Error Messages at Startup	67
	Controlling Which Programs Load at Startup	72
	Correcting a Video Driver Problem	81
	Enabling or Disabling the Startup Menu (Windows 98/Me Only)	81
	Fixing Windows Errors	83
	Repairing the Windows Registry	83
	Still No Luck?	85
	Fixing a Specific Device	85
	Checking a Device's Status in Device Manager	86
	Installing or Updating a Device Driver	89
	Troubleshooting a Device Conflict	100
	Solving Printer Problems	111
	Fixing a Specific Program	116
	Locating a Missing File	117
	Uninstalling an Application	118
	Reinstalling an Application	120
	Configuring a DOS-Based Program (Windows 95/98/Me)	123
	Setting Up a DOS-Based Program	123
	Troubleshooting DOS Program Operation	124
	Using the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows XP	129
	Take a Break	130
	Saturday Afternoon: Enhancing System Performance	131
	Improving System Speed	133
	Defragmenting the Disk	133
	Setting Cache Size (Windows 95/98/Me Only)	140
	Checking for DOS Compatibility Mode (Windows 95/98 Only)	142
	Configuring Virtual Memory	143
	Eliminating Unnecessary Programs from Startup	147
	Updating Your System	147
	Downloading Updated Drivers and Software	148
	Updating Windows with Windows Update	148
	Saving Disk Space	151
	Uninstalling Unwanted Programs	153
	Removing Windows Components	155
	Deleting Unwanted Data Files	158
	Converting to a 32-Bit File System (Windows 98 Only)	162
	Compressing a Disk (Windows 95/98 Only)	163
	Take a Break	165
	Improving the Display	165
	Selecting a Video Mode	166
	Configuring the Monitor	169
	Changing the Display Refresh Rate	172
	Turning Off Unnecessary Visual Effects (Windows XP Only)	175
	Making the Computer Easier to Use	175
	Organizing the Start Menu More Efficiently	176
	Managing Desktop Shortcuts	183
	Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar	187
	Scheduling Maintenance Tasks	189
	Running the Maintenance Wizard (Windows 98/Me Only)	189
	Scheduling Additional Recurring Tasks	193
	Take a Break	195
	Saturday Evening: Starting Fresh with a Clean Install	197
	Why Do a Clean Install?	199
	Eradication of Tough-to-Troubleshoot Problems	199
	Removal of Unwanted Files	200
	What to Try First	201
	How Clean Is "Clean"?	202
	Will You Repartition Your Hard Disk?	202
	Will You Reformat Your Hard Disk?	204
	Preparing for a Clean Install	206
	Backing Up Your Important Files	206
	Checking Installation Disks	207
	Making Notes About System Settings	207
	Testing Your Startup Disk	209
	What Next?	210
	Partitioning a Hard Disk with FDISK (Windows 95/98/Me Only)	211
	Formatting a Hard Disk with FORMAT (Windows 95/98/Me Only)	216
	Preparing to Install Windows 95/98/Me without Reformatting	217
	Preparing the Disk Space	218
	Renaming Folders	219
	Cleaning Out the Root Folder	219
	Preparing to Install Windows XP without Reformatting	220
	Take a Break	222
	Installing Windows XP	223
	Installing Windows 95/98/Me	225
	Running Windows 95/98/Me Setup from the CD	225
	Running Windows 95/98/Me Setup from Your Hard Disk	226
	Completing Windows 95/98/Me Setup	227
	Reinstalling Device Drivers	229
	Reestablishing Your Network Connection	230
	Installing the Network Card Driver	230
	Installing Network Drivers	230
	Setting Up Network Access Control	233
	Sharing a Drive or Printer	236
	Reestablishing Your Internet Connection	240
	Checking the Modem	240
	Running the Internet Connection Wizard	243
	Reinstalling Applications	244
	Take a Break	244
	Sunday Morning: Planning System Upgrades	245
	Upgrades That Enhance Performance	247
	A Faster Processor	248
	More Memory	249
	New Hard Disk	256
	A Larger or Better Monitor	259
	Take a Break	264
	Upgrades That Add New Capabilities	264
	Operating System Upgrades	264
	CD-ROM Drives	265
	Removable Mass Storage	272
	Modems and Other Internet Access Methods	274
	Sound Cards	277
	Printers	278
	Scanners	285
	Video Capture and Digital Cameras	287
	Mouse Variants	288
	Special Keyboards	289
	TV and Radio Cards	290
	Joysticks and Game Controllers	290
	Portable Digital Audio Players	291
	Hand-Held Organizers	292
	Name-Brand or Generic Parts?	292
	Making Your Buying Decision	294
	Where to Buy Upgrades	295
	Locally Owned Computer Store	296
	Computer Superstore	296
	Office Supply Stores	297
	Department Stores	298
	Discount Stores	298
	Direct from the Manufacturer	298
	Mail Order Vendors	299
	Some Final Shopping Recommendations	300
	Take a Break	300
	Sunday Afternoon: Installing Upgrades	301
	Need Professional Help?	303
	Installing a New Version of Windows	304
	Hardware Installation Tips	305
	General Tips	305
	Monitors	307
	Printers	308
	Scanners	310
	Keyboards	311
	Processor	312
	Circuit Boards	319
	Memory	323
	Batteries	327
	Drives	329
	Modems	343
	Take a Break	345
	Making Windows Recognize a New Component	346
	If You Have a Setup Program	346
	Telling Windows to Detect a New Device	347
	If Windows Fails to Detect the Device	347
	Take a Break	348
Appendix A	Acquiring and Installing TweakUI	349
	Downloading TweakUI from the Internet	350
	Installing TweakUI	351
	What TweakUI Can Do	351
	Glossary	355
	Index	370