The contents of this book cover the components of a
PC-compatible system. In this book, you discover how all the
components operate and interact, and how these components
should be set up and installed. You see the ways that
components fail and learn the symptoms of these failures. You
review the steps in diagnosing and troubleshooting the major
components in a system so that you can locate and replace a
failing component. You also learn about upgrades for
components, including what upgrades are available, the
benefits of an upgrade, and how to obtain and perform the
actual upgrade. Because failing components so often are
technically obsolete, it is often desirable to combine repair
and upgrade procedures to replace a failing part with an
upgraded or higher performance part.
The information I present in this book represents many
years of practical experience with PC-compatible systems. A
great deal of research and investigation has gone into each
section. This information has saved companies many thousands
of dollars. By reading this book, you also take advantage of
this wealth of information, and may save you and your company
time, energy, and most importantly, money!
Bringing PC service and support in-house is one of the best
ways to save money. Eliminating service contracts for most
systems and reducing down-time are just two of the benefits of
applying the information presented in this book. As I indicate
many times in this book, you can also save a lot of money on
component purchases by eliminating the middleman and
purchasing the components directly from distributors or
manufacturers.
The vendor list in Appendix A provides the best of these
sources for you to contact. If you intend to build your own
systems, the vendor list will be extremely useful as I list
sources for all of the components needed to assemble a
complete system--from the screws and brackets all the way to
the cases, power supplies, and motherboards. I've found that
this list is one of the most frequently used parts of this
book. Many people have been unable to make direct purchases
because doing so requires a new level of understanding of the
components involved. Also, many of the vendors are unable to
provide support for beginning users. I hope that this book
gives you a deeper level of knowledge and understanding so
that you can purchase the components you want directly from
the vendors who manufacture and distribute them, saving a
great deal of money in the long run.
I used many sources to gather the information in this book,
starting with my own real-world experiences. I also taught
this information to thousands of people in seminars presented
over the last 15 years by my company, Mueller Technical
Research. During these seminars, I am often asked where more
of this type of information can be obtained and whether I have
any "secrets" for acquiring this knowledge. Well, I won't keep
any secrets! I can freely share the following four key sources
of information that can help you become a verifiable expert in
PC upgrading and repairing:
- Manuals
- Modems
- Machines
- Magazines
Manuals
Manuals are the single most important source of computer
information. Unfortunately, manuals also are one of the most
frequently overlooked sources of information. Much of my
knowledge has come from poring over technical-reference
manuals and other original equipment manufacturer's (OEM)
manuals. I would not even consider purchasing a system that
does not have a detailed technical-reference manual available.
This statement applies also to system components--whether it's
a floppy drive, hard disk, power supply, motherboard, or
memory card. I have to have a detailed reference manual to
help me understand what future upgrades are possible and to
provide valuable insight into the proper installation, use,
and support of a product.
Often times these manuals must be obtained from the OEM of
the equipment you purchase, meaning the vendor or reseller
will not supply them. Wherever possible, you should make an
effort to discover who the real OEM of each component in your
system is, and try to obtain documentation from them on the
product or component.
Large manufacturers such as Intel, IBM, Compaq,
Hewlett-Packard, and others both manufacture their own
components as well as purchase components from other sources.
Many of these manufacturers also make available complete
libraries of technical documentation for their systems. I have
included a list of some of IBM's technical documents in
Appendix A, which are quite detailed and, unfortunately, often
fairly expensive. These documents are excellent at detailing
the operations of CPU, memory, bus, and other architectures in
the system, and are even appropriate when discussing
compatible systems because most systems must be compatible
with IBM in most elements. In other words, the IBM
documentation would be interesting to those who do not even
own a single piece of true IBM hardware.
Other companies, such as Compaq and HP, also have extensive
documentation libraries. IBM, HP, and Compaq make their
technical libraries available in a CD-ROM version, which is
very convenient and easy to search. These CD-ROMs contain
detailed information about PC systems from these companies. In
addition to IBM, both Compaq and HP also have BBS services
available for technical support; check the vendor list for
phone number information as well as for Web pages and other
BBS systems.
A simple analogy explains the importance of manuals, as
well as other issues concerning repair and maintenance of a
system. Compare your business use of computers to a taxicab
company. The company has to purchase automobiles to use as
cabs. The owners purchase not one car but an entire fleet of
cars. Do you think that they would purchase a fleet of
automobiles based solely on reliability, performance, or even
gas-mileage statistics? Would they neglect to consider
on-going maintenance and service of these automobiles? Would
they purchase a fleet of cars that could be serviced only by
the original manufacturer and for which parts could not be
obtained easily? Do you think that they would buy a car that
did not have available a detailed service and repair manual?
Would they buy an automobile for which parts were scarce and
that was supported by a sparse dealer network with few service
and parts outlets, making long waits for parts and service
inevitable? The answer (of course) to all these questions is
no, no, no!
You can see why most taxicab companies as well as police
departments use "standard" automobiles such as the Chevrolet
Caprice or Ford Crown Victoria. If ever there were "generic"
cars, these models would qualify! Dealers, parts, and
documentation for these particular models are everywhere. They
share parts with many other automobiles as well, which makes
them easy to service and maintain.
Doesn't your business (especially if it is large) use what
amounts to a "fleet" of computers? If so, think of this fleet
as being similar to the cars of a cab company, which would go
out of business quickly if these cars could not be kept
running smoothly and inexpensively. Now you know why the
Checker Marathon automobile used to be so popular with cab
companies: Its design barely changed from the time it was
introduced in 1956 until it was discontinued in July 1982. (At
last report, there was only one still in service in New York
City!)
In many ways, the standard XT- and AT-compatible systems
are like the venerable Checker Marathon. You can get technical
information by the shelf-full for these systems. You can get
parts and upgrade material from so many sources that anything
you need is always immediately available and at a discounted
price. I'm not saying that you should standardize on using
older XT or AT systems. However, there are good reasons for
standardizing on systems that follow the "generic" physical
design of the XT or AT, but use newer internal components.
This results in systems that are completely modern in
performance and capabilities, and which are easily supported,
repaired, and upgraded.
It's amazing that people purchase computers that have no
technical documentation and no spare-parts program, or parts
available only through dealers, or that use nonstandard
form-factor components, and so on. The upgrade, repair, and
maintenance of a company's computer systems always seem to
take a back seat to performance and style.
In addition to the system OEM manuals, I like to collect
documentation from the different OEMs that make the components
used in various systems. For example, I recently worked with
Gateway 2000 and Hewlett-Packard systems, both of which use
Epson floppy drives. The OEM documentation for these systems
did not include detailed information on the Epson floppy
drives, so I called Epson and ordered the specification manual
for these drives. I also ordered the specification manuals for
several other drives used in these systems, including Western
Digital and Quantum hard disks. I now have detailed
information on these drives, which covers jumper settings,
service and repair information, and other technical
specifications not provided otherwise.
TIP: I recommend that you inventory each major
component of your system by manufacturer and model number.
If you don't have the specification or technical reference
manuals for these components, call the manufacturers (the
vendor list in Appendix A will help), and ask for them.
You'll be amazed at the wealth of information you can get.
If you want information about the electronics and chip
level components in the system, you can contact the
manufacturers of these devices and get their data books.
Intel, for example, has volumes of information available on
their processors, motherboard chipsets, cache controller
chips, and other components they make. Other chipset
manufacturers have data books on their chips that tell you
about all the esoteric settings you see in your CMOS setup.
Most of the BIOS manufacturers also produce documentation
specific to their BIOS software. Check the vendor list in
Appendix A for the manufacturers of the components in your
system and call them to see what documentation they have
available.
If you're looking for more general-purpose documentation,
especially on operating systems or applications software, try
Que Corporation, which specializes in this type of computer
book. These books combine basic hardware information with more
extensive software and operating system coverage. Microsoft
and IBM also publish books of interest to computer enthusiasts
and technicians. For example, Microsoft sells both Windows 95
and Windows NT Resource Kits, which should be considered
mandatory additions to any technical library, as well as
Platinum Edition Using Windows 95 and Windows NT
Advanced Technical Reference by Que.
Machines
The term machines refers to the systems themselves.
Machines are one of my best sources of information. For
example, suppose that I need to answer the question, "Will the
XYZ SCSI host adapter work with the ABC tape drive?" The
answer is as simple as plugging everything in and pressing the
switch. (Simple to talk about, that is.)
Seriously, experimenting with and observing running systems
are some of the best learning tools at your disposal. I
recommend that you try everything; rarely will anything you
try harm the equipment. Harming valuable data is definitely
possible, if not likely, however, so make regular backups as
insurance. You should not use a system you depend on for
day-to-day operations as an experimental system; if possible,
use a secondary machine. People sometimes are reluctant to
experiment with systems that cost a lot of money, but much can
be learned through direct tests and studies of the system. I
often find that vendor claims about a product are somewhat
misleading when I actually install it and run some tests. If
you are unsure that something will really work, make sure that
the company has a return policy that allows you to return the
item for a refund if it does not meet your expectations.
Support people in larger companies have access to
quantities of hardware and software I can only dream about.
Some larger companies have toy stores, where they
regularly purchase equipment solely for evaluation and
testing. Dealers and manufacturers also have access to an
enormous variety of equipment. If you are in this position,
take advantage of this access to equipment, and learn from
this resource. When new systems are purchased, take notes on
their construction and components.
Every time I encounter a system I have not previously
worked with, I immediately open it up and start taking notes.
I want to know the make and model of all the internal
components, such as disk drives, power supplies, and
motherboards. As far as motherboards, I like to record the
numbers of the primary IC chips on the board, such as the
processor (of course), integrated chip sets, floppy controller
chips, keyboard controller chips, video chipsets, and any
other major chips on the board. By knowing which chipset your
system uses, you can often infer other capabilities of the
system, such as enhanced setup or configuration
capabilities.
I like to know which BIOS version is in the system, and I
even make a copy of the BIOS on disk for backup and further
study purposes. I want to know the hard drive tables from the
BIOS, and any other particulars involved in setting up and
installing a system. Write down the type of battery a system
uses so that you can obtain spares. Note any unique brackets
or construction techniques such as specialized hardware (Torx
screws, for example) so that you can be prepared for servicing
the system later. Some programs have been designed to help you
maintain an inventory of systems and components, but I find
that these fall far short of the detail I am talking about
here.
This discussion brings up a pet peeve of mine. Nothing
burns me up as much as reading a review of computer systems in
a major magazine, in which reviewers test systems and produce
benchmark and performance results for, let's say, the hard
disks or video displays in a system. Then, they do not open up
the machines and tell me (and the world) exactly which
components the manufacturer of the system is using! I want to
know exactly which disk controller, hard drive, BIOS,
motherboard, video adapter, and so on are found in each
system. Without this information, their review and benchmark
tests are useless to me.
Then these reviewers run a test of disk performance between
two systems with the same disk controller and drives and say
(with a straight face) that the one that came out a few
milliseconds ahead of the other wins the test. With the
statistical variation that normally occurs in any manufactured
components, these results are meaningless. The point is
perhaps to be very careful of who you trust in a normal
magazine review. If it tells me exactly which components were
tested, I can draw my own conclusions and even make
comparisons to other systems not included in that review.
Modems
Modems refers to the use of public- and private-information
utilities and online services, which are a modem and a phone
call away. With a modem, you can tie into everything from
local electronic bulletin board systems (BBSes) to major
information networks such as CompuServe and, of course, the
Internet featuring the World Wide Web. Many hardware and
software companies offer technical support and even software
upgrades over their own public bulletin boards or the
Internet. The public-access information networks such as the
Internet, CompuServe, and other BBS systems include computer
enthusiasts and technical-support people from various
organizations, as well as experts in virtually all areas of
computer hardware and software. Bulletin boards are a great
way to have questions answered and to collect useful utility
and help programs that can make your job much easier. The
world of public-domain and user-supported software awaits, as
well as more technical information and related experiences
than you can imagine.
Appendix A includes not only the name, address, and voice
phone number for the company, but also the Internet addresses
(Web sites) and BBS numbers where available. If you need more
information on a vendor's products, or need technical support,
try using the vendor's online connection. Many companies today
provide online services to facilitate obtaining updated
software or driver files which you can download quickly and
easily. When a vendor provides an online connection, I
consider that service a major advantage in comparison to other
vendors who do not provide such a service. Using
vendor-provided online connections either through the Internet
or via a private BBS or even CompuServe has saved me money and
countless hours of time.
Many companies that provide online services do so through a
public access utility, such as CompuServe, or through their
own Web site on the Internet, rather than running their own
BBS. The CompuServe Information Service (CIS) is a
public information access utility with an extensive network of
dial-in nodes that allows you to log onto its cluster of
mainframe systems (based in Ohio) from virtually anywhere in
the world through a local telephone call. Among CompuServe's
resources are the forums sponsored or attended by most of the
major software and hardware companies, as well as enthusiasts
of all types. CompuServe also provides access to the Internet,
including the World Wide Web. CompuServe or other Internet
providers, combined with a local electronic bulletin board or
two, can greatly supplement the information you gather from
other sources.
In fact, CompuServe electronic mail is probably the most
efficient method of reaching me. My CompuServe ID is
73145,1566 (through the Internet, it is 73145.1566@compuserve.com),
and if you have questions or just a comment or useful
information you think I might be interested in, please send me
a message. Because of the extra steps in processing, my
standard mail can get backed up and it can take me quite a
while to answer a regular postal letter; electronic mail,
however, involves fewer steps for me to send, and always seems
to have a higher priority. If you do send a regular letter, be
sure to include a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) so
that I will be able to reply.
Magazines
The last source of information, magazines, is one of the
best sources of up-to-date reviews and technical data.
Featured are "bug fixes," problem alerts, and general industry
news. Keeping a printed book up-to-date with the latest events
in the computer industry is extremely difficult or even
impossible. Things move so fast that the magazines themselves
barely keep pace. I subscribe to most of the major computer
magazines and am hard-pressed to pick one as the best. They
all are important to me, and each one provides different
information or the same information with a different angle or
twist. Although the reviews usually leave me wanting, the
magazines still are a valuable way to at least hear about
products, most of which I never would have known about without
the magazines' reports and advertisements. Most computer
magazines are also available on CD-ROM, which can ease the
frantic search for a specific piece of information you
remember reading about. If CD-ROM versions are too much for
your needs, be aware that you can access and search most major
magazines on the Internet. This capability is valuable when
you want to research everything you can about a specific
subject.
One of the best kept secrets in the computer industry is
the excellent trade magazines that offer free subscriptions.
Although many of these magazines are directed toward the
wholesale or technical end of the industry, I like to
subscribe to them. Some of my favorites magazines include the
following:
- Computer Design
- Electronic News
- Computer Hotline
- Electronic Products
- Computer Reseller News
- Processor
- Electronic Design News
- Service News
- Electronic Buyer's News
- Test and Measurement World
- Electronic Engineering Times
These magazines offer free subscriptions to anyone who
qualifies. Aimed at people in the computer and electronics
industries, these magazines offer a much greater depth and
breadth of technical and industry information compared to the
more "public" magazines that most people are familiar with.
You'll find these and other recommended magazines in the
vendor list in Appendix A.
The Appendixes
The appendixes provide a collection of technical
information, tables, charts, and lists especially useful to
people in a computer support, troubleshooting, service, or
upgrading role. Whether you're looking for the meaning of a
word in the glossary, seeking the address and phone number of
a company or vendor in the vendor list, or searching for
something as technical as determining the pinout of the ISA
bus connector, you'll most likely find the information in the
appendixes.
The appendixes started out as a brief collection of
essential information, but have grown into a complete
reference resource. No other book currently on the market
contains such a complete and informative technical reference,
which is one reason why so many large companies and
educational institutions have standardized on this book for
their technicians and students. This book is currently being
used as an official textbook for many corporate and
college-level computer training courses, as well as my own PC
training seminars, for which the book was originally designed.
In Conclusion
I hope that Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Eighth
Edition, is beneficial to you, and I hope that you have
enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. If
you have questions about this book, or if you have ideas for
future versions, I can be reached at the following address:
Scott Mueller Mueller Technical Research 21718 Mayfield Lane
Barrington, IL 60010-9733 Phone: (847)726-0709 Fax:
(847)726-0710 CompuServe ID: 73145,1566 Internet
address: 73145.1566@compuserve.com
Remember that the best way to contact me is through e-mail;
often time constraints prevent me from responding to regular
mail. If you do need a response through the mail, please
include a self-addressed stamped envelope so that I can reply
to you. If you are interested in one of my many intensive PC
training seminars or videotapes, please call my office.
Thank you again for reading this book, and a special thanks
to those people who have been loyal readers since the first
edition came out in December 1988.
Sincerely,
Scott Mueller
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