Interesting Books: Laptop Repair, Computer Diagnostics (Share your findings too!)

[JosephLeo]

So I found two interesting books recently while searching on the internet how to properly use a multimeter and found something unrelated all together.

The Laptop Repair Workbook

and

Computer Repair w/ Diagnostic Flowcharts

They both look so interesting to me that I might consider breaking out the credit card right after this post and buying them. Anyone else want to share their book findings?

 

[studiot]

Impressed that someone actually reads books these days.

I recommend

Windows Administration at the Command Line
by
John Paul Meuller

Oh, and avoid the Scott Meuller book on laptops also trailed in your Amazon link - It's outdated and cr_p.

 

[JosephLeo]

I honestly can't imagine not imagine having books. I like the idea of having pageable phsyically indexable content. Although I'm thinking of getting an eBook reader when they go color OLED as a "portable library" although I will still buy all my books in the physical format as well as a virtual format for my must-haves.

 

[mrng]

I honestly can't imagine not imagine having books. I like the idea of having pageable phsyically indexable content. Although I'm thinking of getting an eBook reader when they go color OLED as a "portable library" although I will still buy all my books in the physical format as well as a virtual format for my must-haves.

I just ordered Computer Repair w/ Diagnostic Flowcharts . This book looks like crap. (ok, I guess I must explain crap to be taken seriously. The chart is so basic without much helpful information. Unless you have zero knowledge in computer hardware, this is not for you) I would give it a pass.

 

[chrisaroz]

I just ordered Computer Repair w/ Diagnostic Flowcharts . This book looks like crap. (ok, I guess I must explain crap to be taken seriously. The chart is so basic without much helpful information. Unless you have zero knowledge in computer hardware, this is not for you) I would give it a pass.

So you ordered a book that looks like it will be useless to you?

 

[mrng]

So you ordered a book that looks like it will be useless to you?

Funny ! ...I ordered the book from amazon. It looked interesting in principle based on some reviews I read. When I got the book and browsed through sections of it, as mentioned, in my humble opinion it was not of much use.

 

[Alan22]

The book is not intended for you. In the product description for the Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts book it says: "intended for the intermediate to advanced hobbyist, or the beginning technician". If you don't fall into that group, yeah, it may may not be helpful. Otherwise I think some people can get some good information from it.

 

[Alan22]

I always like the books written by Paul Thurrott. His latest book on Windows 7 is Windows 7 Secrets.

I also like the books by Scott Mueller. The 19th Edition of Upgrading and Repairing PCs recently came out.

Additonally, Mike Meyers puts out some great books.

 

[NYJimbo]

I also like the books by Scott Mueller. The 19th Edition of Upgrading and Repairing PCs recently came out.

This book is a great reference manual. I like it because many times I cannot remember something about a computer, like a connector or pinouts or other crap and this book it packed with fantastic detail, but its not a book you really read through. You sort of browse the whole thing a couple of times to familiarize yourself with it and then you know where things are when you need them.

Reminds me of Chapmans' Piloting. You dont so much read the whole book as skim it and then reference it for the rest of your life.

 

[NickCat11]

So I found two interesting books recently while searching on the internet how to properly use a multimeter and found something unrelated all together.

The Laptop Repair Workbook

and

Computer Repair w/ Diagnostic Flowcharts

They both look so interesting to me that I might consider breaking out the credit card right after this post and buying them. Anyone else want to share their book findings?

I own the second book you mentioned. Great book for sure. The first one on laptops I just bought. Nice find!

 

[chrisaroz]

Funny ! ...I ordered the book from amazon. It looked interesting in principle based on some reviews I read. When I got the book and browsed through sections of it, as mentioned, in my humble opinion it was not of much use.

HAHA, ok that makes more sense.

 

[mrng]

This book is a great reference manual. I like it because many times I cannot remember something about a computer, like a connector or pinouts or other crap and this book it packed with fantastic detail, but its not a book you really read through. You sort of browse the whole thing a couple of times to familiarize yourself with it and then you know where things are when you need them.

Reminds me of Chapmans' Piloting. You dont so much read the whole book as skim it and then reference it for the rest of your life.

I third the book Upgrading and Repairing PCs (19th Edition) Scott Mueller. I just bought it http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0789739542/ref=oss_T15_product

Also I ordered CompTIA A+ Complete Certification Kit(Exams 220-701 and 220-702) . I am not sure whether I will take the certification, but I wanted to read all the material.

I enjoy books and look forward to other recommendations.

 

[studiot]

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (19th Edition) Scott Mueller

I used to keep back copies of this as old information is deleted with each edition, but recent ones have had the full text of previous editions on the DVD.

The other books in the series have not been kept up to date anywhere near so well though.

 

[wimwauters]

Impressed that someone actually reads books these days.

I recommend

Windows Administration at the Command Line
by
John Paul Meuller

Shouldn't people focus on Powershell nowadays? All the complexity of the registry and AD at the command prompt. Lovely

But seriously: you can install powershell 2 free of charge on 2003 and XP (more recent versions of windows should come with), and that will give you a much more powerful command shell, much like on *nix. Powershell is not just about messing with AD or the registry.

 

[studiot]

There will always be need for the command line into the forseeable future.

What if you can't run a gui?

 

[cramped]

I have the second book also. I found it a good read and used it quite a bit. I found it made diagnosing alot faster. Where as before I found myself varying off in other directions when diagnosing.

 

[Elemdee]

Shouldn't people focus on Powershell nowadays? All the complexity of the registry and AD at the command prompt. Lovely

But seriously: you can install powershell 2 free of charge on 2003 and XP (more recent versions of windows should come with), and that will give you a much more powerful command shell, much like on *nix. Powershell is not just about messing with AD or the registry.

I just received this book in the mail today (Windows Administration at the Command Line by John Paul Mueller) and it does dedicate 2 chapters to Powershell.

Looks like a great book. Thank you StudioT for the recommendation!!

 

[Eddie]

I honestly can't imagine not imagine having books.

I'm the same. I like to step away from the computer when reading up on stuff and then I'll go back with the book to the computer to carry out what I've learned.

 

[SThompson86]

Also I ordered CompTIA A+ Complete Certification Kit(Exams 220-701 and 220-702) . I am not sure whether I will take the certification, but I wanted to read all the material.

.

Thats what I have been reading, and it is great. I like it because it has alot of details.

 

[SThompson86]

Question: The Windows Administration From the Command line book you guys are talking about, will that book teach me how to use the command line?? I really would like to learn how to do more with the CL other than ipconfig. Also would like some help with batch scripting and knowing what all the switches do. If that book will help me get started ile get it.