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 Installing software 8 Adding or removing hardware 9 Changing settings 10 Hardware-versus-Software Problems 11 Dealing with software issues 11 Solving hardware issues 12 Addressing firmware issues 12 When to Give Up 13 Chapter 2: Quick Fixes 15 Things to Try First 15 Checking the Settings app 16 Restarting the PC 16 Restarting a stubborn PC or laptop 18 Running a troubleshooter 18 Repairing a program 19 Fixing Windows 20 Restoring the system 21 Help! 21 Locating Internet support 22 Downloading drivers 24 Perusing forums 25 Contacting tech support 26 Being wary of remote desktop access! 27 Book 2: O, We Got Trouble! 29 Chapter 1: Startup Problems 31 The Onset of PC Heartbreak 31 Phase I: Power On 32 What happens 32 What could go wrong 32 Troubleshooting steps 32 Phase II: The POST 35 What happens 35 What could go wrong 35 Troubleshooting steps 36 Phase III: Startup Options 37 What happens 37 What could go wrong 38 Troubleshooting steps 39 Phase IV: The Search for an Operating System 42 What happens 42 What could go wrong 43 Troubleshooting steps 43 Phase V: Operating System Initialization 44 What happens 44 What could go wrong 44 Troubleshooting steps 45 Phase VI: Sign In to Windows 45 What happens 45 What could go wrong 46 Troubleshooting steps 46 The Last Thing You Do 46 Chapter 2: Disk Disaster 47 PC Storage Overview 47 Understanding computer storage 48 Exploring mass storage devices 48 Finding mass storage in Windows 50 Adding another mass storage device 52 Adding media 52 Replacing drive C 53 Assigning drive letters 54 Resolving AutoPlay issues 55 Removing media and mass storage 57 Mass Storage Tools and Utilities 59 Opening the Disk Management console 60 Finding mere mortal storage media tools 61 Drive Management and Maintenance 62 Understanding fragmentation 62 Defragmenting a hard drive 64 Checking storage media for errors 65 Formatting media 67 Changing drive letters 71 Joining storage media to a folder 73 Fun with Partitions 74 Examining disk partitions 75 Shrinking a volume 77 Creating a new volume in unallocated space 78 Extending a partition 81 Deleting a partition 82 Chapter 3: Monitor Mayhem 83 The PC Graphics System 83 Using the proper monitor terms 84 Exploring the PC''s graphics system 84 Connecting the display adapter and monitor 85 Discovering your PC''s display adapter 87 Exploring the monitor 88 Adjusting the monitor 90 Saving your eyeballs 91 Orienting a monitor vertically 93 Connecting a second monitor 94 Configuring the second monitor 94 Captain Video Troubleshooter 96 Seeing nothing 96 Seeing only the mouse pointer 97 Swapping monitors 97 Saving the screen 98 Saving power 100 Adjusting the resolution 102 Updating the video driver 104 Disabling the video driver 106 Chapter 4: Internal Issues 107 Deep Inside the Case 107 Opening the PC case 108 Exploring the motherboard 109 Closing the PC case 114 Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case 115 Upgrading the power supply 115 Replacing the clock battery 118 Expanding memory 118 Adding an expansion card 122 Adding or replacing an internal drive 124 Power Management Issues 128 Locating power management controls 129 Setting power management options for specific devices 132 Recovering from a PC coma 134 Updating power drivers 134 Chapter 5: Printer Problems 137 Between the Computer and Printer 137 Configuring the printer in Windows 138 Connecting a printer 138 Controlling the printer 140 Disconnecting a printer 141 Keeping the printer stocked 142 Feeding envelopes 143 The Windows Side of Printing 144 Printing in Windows 144 Using the Page Setup dialog box 146 Setting the default printer 148 Working with print jobs 149 Canceling a print job 150 Printer Problems and Solutions 151 "It printed on the wrong side of the page!" 151 "Print preview lied!" 152 "What''s this extra page?" 152 "What are these wrong colors and streaks?" 152 "I just loaded paper, but the printer says the tray is empty!" 153 "The paper keeps jamming!" 153 Using the Printing Troubleshooter 154 Chapter 6: Peripheral Perils 155 Hardware Troubleshooting 156 Checking the Device Manager 156 Diagnosing USB issues 157 Doing the hardware swap 159 Running a hardware troubleshooter 160 Audio Anxieties 160 Testing the speakers 161 Connecting speakers 162 Fixing silence 164 Testing the microphone 165 Running the audio troubleshooter 166 Updating audio device drivers 167 Keyboard and Mouse Woes 167 Troubleshooting basic input dilemmas 168 Taming a wild mouse 169 Making the mouse pointer move faster or slower 170 Improving mouse pointer visibility 171 Using a left-handed mouse 172 Honing the keyboard 173 Vacuuming a keyboard 174 Cleaning the mouse 175 Chapter 7: Software Situations 177 Installation Issues 177 Adding software 177 Downloading software 179 Dealing with installation issues 180 Banish the Unwanted 181 Uninstalling software 181 Removing bloatware 183 Cleaning up the uninstall leftovers 183 The Good and Evil of File Association 184 Understanding file association 184 Hiding or showing file extensions 185 Changing the file association 186 Dealing with unknown file types 188 Common Software Problems and Solutions 189 "How can I stop this program from starting automatically?" 189 "I need to run this older program" 192 "This program is broken!" 193 "How can I purge the recently opened file list?" 194 Chapter 8: Network Nonsense 197 The Network Big Picture 197 Understanding networking 198 Reviewing network hardware 198 Network Hardware Connection and Configuration 201 Plugging in the network 201 Connecting the gateway and modem 202 Configuring a gateway 203 Connecting to a wireless network 206 Managing wireless connections 208 Checking network privacy 209 The Software Side of Networking 210 Looking at the network 210 Checking the Internet connection 211 Enabling sharing options 213 Sharing a folder 215 Accessing shared folders on the network 216 Mapping a network folder to a drive letter 216 Network Troubleshooting 217 Checking the Device Manager 217 Resetting the network software 218 Upgrading the NIC''s driver 218 Resetting the broadband modem 219 Restarting the entire network''s hardware 220 Network Problems and Solutions 221 "What''s this firewall warning?" 221 "Where did that network PC go?" 221 "I can''t get a wireless connection!" 221 "The Wi-Fi password has changed!" 222 "What''s a metered connection?" 222 "The hotel network keeps forgetting my laptop!" 223 Chapter 9: Shutdown Issues 225 Such a Turn-Off 225 Walking through the Windows shutdown process 226 Reviewing shutdown options 228 Problems with Restarting 230 Experiencing a random restart 230 Restarting automatically 232 Shutdown Malaise 233 Upgrading software to fix shutdown issues 234 Turning off a stubborn PC 234 Waiting for an update to install 234 Discovering that another user is signed in! 235 Dealing with the Restart Anyway prompt 235 Book 3: Tools to Use 237 Chapter 1: Windows Recovery Environment 239 Startup Keys and Recovery Options 239 Reviewing the startup keys 240 Locating recovery options in Windows 241 Resetting Windows 242 Using Advanced Startup 244 The Sacred Recovery Volume 244 Checking to see whether the PC has a Recovery volume 244 Creating a repair disk 245 Windows Recovery Environment Duties 247 Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from Windows 248 Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from a repair disk or thumb drive 248 Running the Windows Recovery Environment 250 Performing startup repair 251 Changing startup settings 252 Using the command prompt 252 Uninstalling updates 254 Accessing the UEFI 255 Choosing System Restore 255 Recovering a system image 256 Chapter 2: The Device Manager 257 Your Pal, the Device Manager 257 Opening the Device Manager 257 Looking for.