As you'd expect, Sandler documents the whole process with words, photographs, and a few line drawings. The photos look "pixilated" and kind of bland--publishers of computer books aren't used to including photos in their publications--but they do the job of clarifying the procedures Sandler undertook on the test-bed machine. The text is of decent quality, too, and you'll be able to use Sandler's presentation as a guide if you're willing to experiment a bit and apply common sense to the specific machine you're upgrading. If you want details on many different hardware devices (especially older models), look at Upgrading and Repairing PCs. If performance is what you're after, look at Tom's Hardware Guide. --David Wall
Topics covered: The mechanics of opening up a computer's case, spotting hardware that needs to be upgraded, and replacing it with more capable equipment. Sections address IDE hard drive replacement; memory addition and replacement; CD-ROM and DVD-ROM installation; video card replacement; and other upgrades suitable for late-1990s home machines.