An excellent site for info such as this is smartcomputing.com this is the old PC Novice magazine of old.
I have been a subscriber for more years than I like to admit..
There is a tech forum open to subscribers that has answered many of my questions and I am sure much more to come.
Up till this year one could get a 3 year subscription for about $60-$70 Thats over and a years subscription will now run $29.00
There are great articles in layman's terms in this magazine and you are allowed a one time call with any problems with your comp, I know people who have used this feature and been very pleased with the outcome.
Any one who uses computers will find this a great source of info.
Also cnet.com would be another good site...
I realize this isnt answering your question, however it may help on the road