Please suggest books that you know are easy to understand to help me get from a basic computer user to a computer tech. I expect there will be several and if you know in what order to read them, wonderful! I want to understand how they work (not just CPU, I/O, binary language, etc. - HOW THEY WORK). I want to thoroughly grasp concepts like Cache, hard drive partitions, front-side buss speed, RAM, SDRAM, etc.

I always thought the Mike Meyers books on A+ certification were good reference material as well as great for the exam. It includes very basic information as well as more advance topics. Stop by a Barnes & Noble and see if it's what you're looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Managing-Troubleshooting-220-701-Computer/dp/0071702997/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288105007&sr=1-9

I always thought the Mike Meyers books on A+ certification were good reference material as well as great for the exam. It includes very basic information as well as more advance topics. Stop by a Barnes & Noble and see if it's what you're looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Managing-Troubleshooting-220-701-Computer/dp/0071702997/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288105007&sr=1-9

Thanks. I will do that.

Please suggest books that you know are easy to understand to help me get from a basic computer user to a computer tech. I expect there will be several and if you know in what order to read them, wonderful! I want to understand how they work (not just CPU, I/O, binary language, etc. - HOW THEY WORK). I want to thoroughly grasp concepts like Cache, hard drive partitions, front-side buss speed, RAM, SDRAM, etc.
I know you asked for books, but don't forget that the Internet was built by computer geeks and thus is a great repository of that particular brand of information. The topics you are asking about are covered in a good amount of detail even on non-specialist sites like Wikipedia (http://wikipedia.org).

The great thing about learning stuff like this over the internet is that you're not confined to learning about a single source or topic at a time. If there's something you don't understand or that isn't covered in enough detail in a book, you have to get up, get another book/computer and look it up, or hope you remember to look it up later; if you're already on your computer it's as simple as opening a new browser tab.

To start you off:
Cache (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_cache), hard drive partitions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning), front-side bus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_side_bus), RAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_access_memory), SDRAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM)

Perhaps try a podcast on the subject since technology changes rapidly.

I always thought the Mike Meyers books on A+ certification were good reference material as well as great for the exam. It includes very basic information as well as more advance topics. Stop by a Barnes & Noble and see if it's what you're looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Managing-Troubleshooting-220-701-Computer/dp/0071702997/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288105007&sr=1-9
I could not agree more. Mike Meyers book on A+ was how I got started learning about all the things having to do with PCs, supporting, fixing and ultimately building them. It was a great introduction and he made it easy and fun.....it was over 10 years ago when I started my education.

I since returned to University to get a second bachelors degree in Comp Sci but it all started with Mr. Meyers book.

I also found this one recently.....it goes into an insane amount of detail and it would have overwhelmed me early on....but if you want an outstanding PC reference book to add to your library, this one is very well done.
http://www.amazon.com/Upgrading-Repairing-19th-Scott-Mueller/dp/0789739542/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1288540842&sr=8-10

Thanks! These two books look like a good start and then some.