Inside the Machine

A Practical Guide to Computer Hardware, Installation and Repair

For owners, beginners and future technicians

Pre-order · releases 15 Jan 2027

Paperback prices include all taxes; shipping is a flat ₹60 per order within India. PDF ebooks: 18% GST added at checkout.

Format

Paperback · PDF ebook

Size

170 × 240 mm

Pages

162 (paperback)

Language

English

Edition

First Edition, 2026

Release date

15/01/2027

ISBN

To be announced

Understand your computer. Build it right. Keep it running.

Written for computer owners, beginners and anyone training to work as a hardware or installation technician in India, this practical guide explains what happens inside a computer and how to assemble, install, upgrade, maintain and repair one, one clear step at a time.

What you will learn

Understand electricity, electronic components and digital logic
Learn how processors, memory, storage and devices work together
Install and configure Windows and Linux, drivers and devices
Choose compatible parts and assemble a desktop safely
Upgrade memory, storage and laptops, and protect data with backups
Troubleshoot startup, performance, display and network faults
Remove malware, handle e-waste and run a fair, trusted service business

Includes 27 illustrated figures, 24 case studies, 14 real-life service scenarios, worked examples, self-check questions and ready-to-use templates, plus a career roadmap with jobs, pay, qualifications and business ideas.

Electricity and electronic components
How a computer works
Input, output and connectivity
Operating systems
Motherboard, BIOS and processor
Memory, storage and power
Tools, safety and assembling a computer
Troubleshooting, maintenance and working as a technician

Plus reference tables, glossary, self-check answers, ready-to-use templates and real-life scenarios.

Employment direction

Where this book can take you

Every guide ends with a career roadmap: jobs, typical starting pay, how careers grow, recognised qualifications, where to find work, business ideas and a 90-day action plan.

Job	Where you work	Starting pay / month: tier-1 cities*	Tier-2 cities*
Computer hardware technician	Service centres, repair shops, IT companies	₹14,000–22,000	₹11,000–16,000
Desktop support engineer	Offices, schools, hospitals	₹15,000–22,000	₹11,000–16,000
Laptop and chip-level repair technician	Repair centres, brand service partners	₹16,000–26,000	₹12,000–19,000
Field service engineer (printers, PCs)	Brand service partners, AMC companies	₹15,000–23,000	₹12,000–17,000
Computer sales and assembly executive	Computer shops, system builders	₹14,000–20,000plus incentives	₹11,000–15,000plus incentives

Build your base: from practice to the job

New to the field? Employers hire freshers who can already do the basic tasks safely and correctly. This book builds that foundation through practice, not just reading: here is what you will be able to do from your first day at work.

On the jobIdentify parts and assemble a desktopHow this book builds it

Component guides and a step-by-step assembly sequence

On the jobInstall Windows or Linux and driversHow this book builds it

Operating system installation and setup walk-throughs

On the jobDiagnose a PC that will not startHow this book builds it

A fault-finding flow for power, display, boot and overheating problems

On the jobService customers and keep job recordsHow this book builds it

Job-card templates and real-life service scenarios

Understand the whyEach chapter explains how things work before how to do them, so you can handle situations the book never mentions.
Practise hands-onFollow the step-by-step tasks, checklists and templates on real tools, real customers or real data.
Test yourselfUse the skills check: aim for 3 or 4 on every task, and work through the real-life scenarios.
Show your proofKeep your skills record, photos and projects as a portfolio for interviews and your first employer.

How your career grows

Entry: Trainee technician, helper
Skilled: Hardware engineer, desktop support
Senior: Senior engineer, service centre in-charge
Own business: Repair shop or service centre owner

Get qualified

Hardware and networking courses from recognised institutes and ITIs
Entry-level IT support certifications from recognised vendors
Brand service partner training (laptops, printers)

Start on your own

Computer and laptop repair shop (start-up about ₹1–3 lakh)
Refurbished laptop sales (start-up about ₹1–4 lakh)
Office IT annual maintenance service (start-up about ₹50,000–1 lakh)

*Typical starting pay per month for the first 0–2 years, reviewed in October 2026 against Glassdoor and Indeed India salary data. Tier-1: metro cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata. Tier-2: cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Kochi, Nagpur and Surat. For software, data, AI and security jobs, tier-1 figures are for product companies and large tech firms; many freshers in metros start at about ₹25,000–45,000. Pay varies by employer, skills and experience. Explore all careers →