Opening up your own computer case and trying your own desktop repairs probably seems daunting. Besides the fact that most PC manufacturers void their warranty if you break the seal on the side panels, the inside of a computer seems like a royal mess. Shrouded in rabid dust bunnies and guarded by growling cooling fans the intricate and delicate components of the system look like no business for human hands. Desktop computers are actually very simple to understand as a collection of basic elements that work together for sophisticated tasks. With a little knowledge you can start to recognize the components and understand how they interface. The set of tools you use is also pretty simple. For most repairs in a computer all you will need is a screwdriver. Another important tool to have along when you're dealing with the fragile and expensive chips and circuits is a grounding wrist strap as a precaution.

The computer as a whole is just made up of storage space (the hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM, and other devices), the processors (the Central Processing Unit, the Graphics Processing Unit, and other controllers), and peripherals (like your printer and monitor). All of these come together and communicate through the chassis of your system, the motherboard (or to be gender-neutral, call it the "mainboard"). There are a lot of wires and cable packed inside the computer case, but with a little patience you can follow them along to see where they go. Most problems on your computer will be the result of a software error that can be fixed with the computer turned on and inside the operating system, but then there are times when you'll have to repair or even replace components inside the case (with the power turned off, of course). You'll need to do a bit more homework to know exactly what parts will be compatible with your system. But be brave, you computer is just made of metal and silicon.