How to fix my computer
How I did it: Lots and lots of Googling, practice, trial and error, speaking to professional technicians-- pretty much the same way most any tech does it. See my "become a computer technician" goal if you're wondering on some of the particulars.
Lessons & tips: Shop around. Learn which manufacturers are reliable, and which aren't. Buying online is helpful, particularly if the distributor is located near you. Newer is not always better. As a Linux user, I had to get a particular older card to get sound working (does sound mixing directly through the hardware).
Google is a useful troubleshooting tool. More often than not, someone else has had the same problem as you and/or has a step-by-step solution to solve it.
Resources: NewEgg
Fry's
Tiger Direct
a few small computer tech businesses, friends, and many, many resources out on the World Wide Web.
