Introduction |
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1 | (4) |
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BOOK 1 SOLVE MY PROBLEM NOW! |
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5 | (24) |
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Chapter 1 Trouble Comes Hither |
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7 | (8) |
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The Root of All PC Trouble |
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7 | (1) |
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8 | (1) |
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8 | (1) |
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Adding or removing hardware |
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9 | (1) |
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10 | (1) |
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Hardware-versus-Software Problems |
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11 | (1) |
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Dealing with software issues |
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11 | (1) |
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12 | (1) |
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Addressing firmware issues |
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12 | (1) |
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13 | (2) |
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15 | (14) |
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15 | (1) |
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Checking the Settings app |
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16 | (1) |
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16 | (2) |
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Restarting a stubborn PC or laptop |
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18 | (1) |
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18 | (1) |
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19 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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21 | (1) |
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21 | (1) |
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Locating Internet support |
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22 | (2) |
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24 | (1) |
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25 | (1) |
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26 | (1) |
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Being wary of remote desktop access! |
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27 | (2) |
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BOOK 2 O, WE GOT TROUBLE! |
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29 | (208) |
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Chapter 1 Startup Problems |
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31 | (16) |
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The Onset of PC Heartbreak |
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31 | (1) |
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32 | (1) |
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32 | (1) |
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32 | (1) |
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32 | (3) |
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35 | (1) |
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35 | (1) |
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35 | (1) |
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36 | (1) |
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Phase III Startup Options |
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37 | (1) |
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37 | (1) |
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38 | (1) |
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39 | (3) |
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Phase IV The Search for an Operating System |
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42 | (1) |
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42 | (1) |
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43 | (1) |
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43 | (1) |
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Phase V Operating System Initialization |
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44 | (1) |
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44 | (1) |
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44 | (1) |
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45 | (1) |
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Phase VI Sign In to Windows |
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45 | (1) |
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45 | (1) |
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46 | (1) |
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46 | (1) |
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46 | (1) |
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47 | (36) |
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47 | (1) |
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Understanding computer storage |
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48 | (1) |
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Exploring mass storage devices |
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48 | (2) |
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Finding mass storage in Windows |
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50 | (2) |
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Adding another mass storage device |
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52 | (1) |
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52 | (1) |
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53 | (1) |
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54 | (1) |
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Resolving AutoPlay issues |
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55 | (2) |
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Removing media and mass storage |
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57 | (2) |
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Mass Storage Tools and Utilities |
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59 | (1) |
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Opening the Disk Management console |
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60 | (1) |
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Finding mere mortal storage media tools |
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61 | (1) |
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Drive Management and Maintenance |
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62 | (1) |
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Understanding fragmentation |
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62 | (2) |
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Defragmenting a hard drive |
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64 | (1) |
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Checking storage media for errors |
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65 | (2) |
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67 | (4) |
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71 | (2) |
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Joining storage media to a folder |
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73 | (1) |
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74 | (1) |
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Examining disk partitions |
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75 | (2) |
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77 | (1) |
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Creating a new volume in unallocated space |
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78 | (3) |
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81 | (1) |
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82 | (1) |
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83 | (24) |
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83 | (1) |
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Using the proper monitor terms |
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84 | (1) |
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Exploring the PCs graphics system |
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84 | (1) |
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Connecting the display adapter and monitor |
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85 | (2) |
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Discovering your PC's display adapter |
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87 | (1) |
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88 | (2) |
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90 | (1) |
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91 | (2) |
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Orienting a monitor vertically |
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93 | (1) |
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Connecting a second monitor |
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94 | (1) |
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Configuring the second monitor |
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94 | (2) |
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Captain Video Troubleshooter |
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96 | (1) |
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96 | (1) |
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Seeing only the mouse pointer |
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97 | (1) |
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97 | (1) |
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98 | (2) |
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100 | (2) |
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102 | (2) |
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Updating the video driver |
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104 | (2) |
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Disabling the video driver |
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106 | (1) |
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Chapter 4 Internal Issues |
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107 | (30) |
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107 | (1) |
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108 | (1) |
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Exploring the motherboard |
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109 | (5) |
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114 | (1) |
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Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case |
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115 | (1) |
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Upgrading the power supply |
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115 | (3) |
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Replacing the clock battery |
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118 | (1) |
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118 | (6) |
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Adding an expansion card Adding or replacing an internal drive |
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124 | (4) |
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128 | (1) |
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Locating power management controls |
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129 | (3) |
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Setting power management options for specific devices |
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132 | (2) |
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Recovering from a PC coma |
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134 | (1) |
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134 | (3) |
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Chapter 5 Printer Problems |
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137 | (18) |
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Between the Computer and Printer |
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137 | (1) |
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Configuring the printer in Windows |
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138 | (1) |
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138 | (2) |
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140 | (1) |
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141 | (1) |
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Keeping the printer stocked |
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142 | (1) |
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143 | (1) |
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The Windows Side of Printing |
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144 | (1) |
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144 | (2) |
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Using the Setup dialog box |
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146 | (2) |
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Setting the default printer |
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148 | (1) |
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149 | (1) |
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150 | (1) |
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Printer Problems and Solutions |
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151 | (1) |
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"It printed on the wrong side of the page!" |
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151 | (1) |
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152 | (1) |
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"What's this extra page?" |
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152 | (1) |
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"What are these wrong colors and streaks?" |
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152 | (1) |
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"I just loaded paper, but the printer says the tray is empty!" |
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153 | (1) |
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"The paper keeps jamming!" |
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153 | (1) |
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Using the Printing Troubleshooter |
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154 | (1) |
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Chapter 6 Peripheral Perils |
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155 | (22) |
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156 | (1) |
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Checking the Device Manager |
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156 | (1) |
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157 | (2) |
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159 | (1) |
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Running a hardware troubleshooter |
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160 | (1) |
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160 | (1) |
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161 | (1) |
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162 | (2) |
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164 | (1) |
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165 | (1) |
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Running the audio troubleshooter |
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166 | (1) |
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Updating audio device drivers |
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167 | (1) |
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167 | (1) |
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Troubleshooting basic input dilemmas |
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168 | (1) |
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169 | (1) |
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Making the mouse pointer move faster or slower |
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170 | (1) |
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Improving mouse pointer visibility |
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171 | (1) |
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Using a left-handed mouse |
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172 | (1) |
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173 | (1) |
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174 | (1) |
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175 | (2) |
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Chapter 7 Software Situations |
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177 | (20) |
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177 | (1) |
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177 | (2) |
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179 | (1) |
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Dealing with installation issues |
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180 | (1) |
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181 | (1) |
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181 | (2) |
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183 | (1) |
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Cleaning up the uninstall leftovers |
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183 | (1) |
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The Good and Evil of File Association |
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184 | (1) |
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Understanding file association |
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184 | (1) |
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Hiding or showing file extensions |
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185 | (1) |
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Changing the file association |
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186 | (2) |
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Dealing with unknown file types |
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188 | (1) |
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Common Software Problems and Solutions |
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189 | (1) |
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"How can I stop this program from starting automatically?' |
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189 | (3) |
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"I need to run this older program" |
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192 | (1) |
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"This program is broken!" |
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193 | (1) |
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"How can I purge the recently opened file list?" |
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194 | (3) |
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Chapter 8 Network Nonsense |
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197 | (28) |
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197 | (1) |
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198 | (1) |
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Reviewing network hardware |
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198 | (3) |
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Network Hardware Connection and Configuration |
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201 | (1) |
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201 | (1) |
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Connecting the gateway and modem |
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202 | (1) |
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203 | (3) |
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Connecting to a wireless network |
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206 | (2) |
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Managing wireless connections |
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208 | (1) |
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209 | (1) |
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The Software Side of Networking |
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210 | (1) |
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210 | (1) |
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Checking the Internet connection |
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211 | (2) |
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213 | (2) |
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215 | (1) |
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Accessing shared folders on the network |
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216 | (1) |
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Mapping a network folder to a drive letter |
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216 | (1) |
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217 | (1) |
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Checking the Device Manager |
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217 | (1) |
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Resetting the network software |
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218 | (1) |
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Upgrading the NIC's driver |
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218 | (1) |
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Resetting the broadband modem |
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219 | (1) |
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Restarting the entire network's hardware |
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220 | (1) |
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Network Problems and Solutions |
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221 | (1) |
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"What's this firewall warning?" |
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221 | (1) |
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"Where did that network PC go?" |
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221 | (1) |
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"I can't get a wireless connection!" |
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221 | (1) |
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"The Wi-Fi password has changed!" |
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222 | (1) |
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"What's a metered connection?' |
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222 | (1) |
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"The hotel network keeps forgetting my laptop!" |
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223 | (2) |
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Chapter 9 Shutdown Issues |
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225 | (12) |
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225 | (1) |
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Walking through the Windows shutdown process |
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226 | (2) |
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Reviewing shutdown options |
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228 | (2) |
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230 | (1) |
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Experiencing a random restart |
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230 | (2) |
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232 | (1) |
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233 | (1) |
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Upgrading software to fix shutdown issues |
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234 | (1) |
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Turning off a stubborn PC |
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234 | (1) |
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Waiting for an update to install |
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234 | (1) |
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Discovering that another user is signed in! |
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235 | (1) |
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Dealing with the Restart Anyway prompt |
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235 | (2) |
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237 | (104) |
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Chapter 1 Windows Recovery Environment |
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239 | (18) |
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Startup Keys and Recovery Options |
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239 | (1) |
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Reviewing the startup keys |
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240 | (1) |
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Locating recovery options in Windows |
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241 | (1) |
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242 | (2) |
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244 | (1) |
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The Sacred Recovery Volume |
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244 | (1) |
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Checking to see whether the PC has a Recovery volume |
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244 | (1) |
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245 | (2) |
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Windows Recovery Environment Duties |
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247 | (1) |
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Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from Windows |
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248 | (1) |
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Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from a repair disk or thumb drive |
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248 | (2) |
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Running the Windows Recovery Environment |
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250 | (1) |
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Performing startup repair |
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251 | (1) |
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Changing startup settings |
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252 | (1) |
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252 | (2) |
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254 | (1) |
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255 | (1) |
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255 | (1) |
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Recovering a system image |
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256 | (1) |
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Chapter 2 The Device Manager |
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257 | (8) |
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Your Pal, the Device Manager |
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257 | (1) |
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Opening the Device Manager |
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257 | (2) |
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Looking for hardware in the Settings app |
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259 | (2) |
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261 | (1) |
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Dealing with errant hardware |
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261 | (1) |
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261 | (3) |
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264 | (1) |
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Chapter 3 MSCONFIG and the Task Manager |
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265 | (14) |
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The System Configuration Utility |
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265 | (1) |
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266 | (4) |
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Reviewing the troubleshooting tools |
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270 | (7) |
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277 | (1) |
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Examining the startup services |
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277 | (1) |
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Disabling a startup service |
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278 | (1) |
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279 | (14) |
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279 | (1) |
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280 | (1) |
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Understanding Safe mode modes |
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280 | (1) |
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281 | (1) |
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Using safe boot for Safe mode |
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282 | (2) |
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Getting into Safe mode at boot-time |
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284 | (1) |
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Entering Safe mode unexpectedly |
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285 | (1) |
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Exploring safe boot options |
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285 | (2) |
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Leaving safe boot Safe mode |
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287 | (1) |
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288 | (1) |
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Checking for problems in Safe mode |
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288 | (1) |
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Running the System File Checker (SFC) |
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289 | (2) |
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Reviewing the CBS.log file |
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291 | (1) |
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292 | (1) |
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293 | (12) |
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The System Restore Philosophy |
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293 | (1) |
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Understanding System Restore |
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294 | (1) |
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Accepting System Restore's limitations |
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295 | (1) |
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Activating System Restore |
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295 | (1) |
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Restore the System, Restore Your Sanity |
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296 | (1) |
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297 | (2) |
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Getting to System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment |
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299 | (1) |
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Choosing an older restore point |
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299 | (1) |
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300 | (1) |
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300 | (1) |
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System Restore on Schedule |
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301 | (4) |
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Chapter 6 The Task Manager |
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305 | (12) |
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305 | (1) |
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Summoning the Task Manager |
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306 | (1) |
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307 | (1) |
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Exploring the Task Manager window |
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308 | (1) |
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Connecting programs to processes |
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309 | (1) |
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Examining all the processes |
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310 | (1) |
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311 | (1) |
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Here a Task, There a Task |
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312 | (1) |
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313 | (1) |
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Halting a process on the Details tab |
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314 | (1) |
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Disabling startup programs |
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314 | (3) |
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Chapter 7 The Windows Registry |
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317 | (12) |
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317 | (1) |
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Understanding the Registry |
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318 | (2) |
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Using the Registry Editor |
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320 | (1) |
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321 | (1) |
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322 | (1) |
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Making specific Registry changes |
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323 | (2) |
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Finding stuff in the Registry |
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325 | (1) |
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326 | (3) |
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Chapter 8 Events and Diagnostics |
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329 | (12) |
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329 | (1) |
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330 | (1) |
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331 | (1) |
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Filtering and searching events |
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332 | (1) |
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Diagnostics to the Rescue |
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333 | (1) |
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Understanding diagnostics |
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334 | (1) |
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Viewing system information |
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334 | (1) |
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335 | (2) |
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Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool |
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337 | (1) |
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Using other diagnostic tools |
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338 | (3) |
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BOOK 4 PC PRIVACY AND SECURITY |
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341 | (48) |
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343 | (10) |
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344 | (1) |
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Setting general privacy options |
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344 | (1) |
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Reviewing the permissions |
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344 | (1) |
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Allowing camera and microphone access |
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345 | (2) |
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347 | (2) |
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349 | (1) |
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350 | (1) |
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Dealing with activity history |
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350 | (1) |
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Guarding against web page tracking IDs |
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350 | (3) |
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Chapter 2 Keeping Software Current |
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353 | (10) |
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Windows Updates, Doesn't It? |
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353 | (1) |
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Understanding Windows Update |
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354 | (1) |
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Configuring Windows Update |
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355 | (1) |
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356 | (1) |
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357 | (1) |
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357 | (1) |
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Installing a program update |
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357 | (2) |
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Updating the firmware (BIOS) |
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359 | (1) |
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359 | (1) |
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360 | (1) |
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Fixing a stuck Windows update |
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361 | (2) |
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Chapter 3 Keep Mr. PC Safe |
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363 | (12) |
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Malicious + Software = Malware |
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363 | (1) |
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363 | (2) |
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Obtaining malware (accidentally) |
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365 | (1) |
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Surviving the malware scourge |
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366 | (1) |
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Defending Against Viruses and Malware |
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367 | (1) |
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Understanding malware protection |
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367 | (1) |
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368 | (1) |
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Dealing with an infection |
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368 | (1) |
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369 | (1) |
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Understanding the firewall |
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370 | (1) |
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Using the Windows Firewall |
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371 | (1) |
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Dealing with a firewall alert |
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372 | (1) |
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373 | (2) |
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Chapter 4 Backup and Restore |
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375 | (14) |
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375 | (1) |
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376 | (1) |
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377 | (1) |
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378 | (1) |
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378 | (1) |
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Selecting folders for backup |
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379 | (1) |
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Modifying the backup routine |
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380 | (1) |
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Making an immediate backup |
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381 | (1) |
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Confirming that the backup worked |
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381 | (1) |
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382 | (1) |
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Recovering an older version of a file |
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382 | (1) |
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383 | (2) |
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Restoring all your personal files |
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385 | (1) |
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385 | (1) |
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Creating the system image |
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386 | (1) |
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387 | (2) |
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389 | (38) |
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Chapter 1 Performance and Resources |
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|
391 | (8) |
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The Relationship Between Performance and Resources |
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392 | (1) |
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393 | (1) |
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Viewing the Performance Monitor |
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393 | (1) |
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Checking the Performance tab |
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394 | (2) |
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Monitoring system resources |
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396 | (1) |
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Using the monitors as troubleshooting tools |
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397 | (2) |
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Chapter 2 More Mass Storage |
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399 | (16) |
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399 | (1) |
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Looking at the storage situation |
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400 | (2) |
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402 | (1) |
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Get Yourself More Mass Storage Capacity |
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|
403 | (1) |
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|
403 | (2) |
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|
405 | (2) |
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|
407 | (2) |
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|
409 | (1) |
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Compressing every dang doodle file on a drive |
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|
410 | (2) |
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|
412 | (1) |
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|
412 | (1) |
|
|
412 | (1) |
|
|
413 | (2) |
|
Chapter 3 Boost PC Performance |
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|
415 | (12) |
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|
415 | (1) |
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|
416 | (1) |
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|
417 | (1) |
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|
417 | (1) |
|
|
417 | (1) |
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Performing regular maintenance |
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|
418 | (1) |
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|
418 | (1) |
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|
419 | (1) |
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Putting ReadyBoost to work |
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|
420 | (1) |
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Setting the number of processors |
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|
421 | (2) |
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Disabling background services |
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|
423 | (4) |
Index |
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427 | |