Setting up a PC

(updated 7/20/2010)

Setting up a PC...

Before turning your PC or monitor on, you must :

connect the keyboard, by plugging the PS/2 (or legacy five-pin DIN in half-moon pattern) male cable end into the matching female connector on the back of your CPU case. Be sure that you align the keyboard cable pins correctly with the pin holes in the keyboard port before gently pushing the cable end in.
connect the monitor, by plugging in the 15-pin (5 pins by 3 rows) D-shaped male cable end into the matching female connector on the back of your CPU case.
connect the mouse by connecting its PS/2 connector to the matching receptacle on the back of your CPU case. (While a mouse is not required to run Windows, it can be difficult to do so without one.)
connect the "euro" power cables from both your monitor and CPU case into outlets known to have reliable, consistent power (115 Volts AC).

You may also (before or after your PC has been turned on) :

connect any modem externally to the devices allowed (see the fine print stamped into its port cover plate to identify each connection port). The ports are : PHONE and LINE IN. Connect the LINE IN port to the phone jack you intend to use with the cable supplied, and connect a telephone (optional) to the PHONE port.
connect the sound card externally to the devices allowed (see the fine print stamped into the port cover plate to identify each port). The ports are typically : LINE IN, MIC IN, and AUDIO OUT. These connectors are referred to as male "mini" audio connectors. The speakers get connected to the audio port. If symbolism is used to identify the ports, you may see concentric circles with an arrow "in" for input, and concentric circles with an arrow "out" for output. If there is a separate SPKR out, line out and speaker out have different output levels - use SPKR for non-powered speakers and LINE OUT to connect to other audio devices. If you only have LINE OUT, you can connect to other audio devices, or to "powered" speakers - speakers with their own internal amplification circuitry.
many gaming devices can be connected to a 15-pin (rows of 8 and 7 pins) JOYSTICK port, or the more modern USB ports. You may need to specifically install software for these devices, and adjust their control settings under the appropriate icon found in Control Panel.

When you are ready, turn your monitor then your PC on. You will see a number of bootstrap events take place while your system sets itself up to run the Operating System (i.e. Windows). You should see the Desktop in about one minute.

Here is a suggested positioning of components you may have...

Keep in mind these thoughts also, as you establish your workspace :

1) Cable extenders are available in the marketplace for the keyboard, mouse, monitor, modem or printer, if you find their placement in your workspace is restricted by the length of the supplied cables.

2) A power bar or power center may make turning your system components on and off much easier. (A power center sits under your monitor like an additional 2" tall base, acts like a surge-protected power bar, and allows up to 5 components to be switched on and off, together or all at once, from the front and center of your workstation.)

3) Power surge protection is a very good idea. Power surges or spikes caused by hydro or telephone problems, or lightning strikes nearby can ruin sensitive electronics in your PC and in your monitor. Using a decent power bar with surge protection can protect you, but only if you protect every possible entry point for the damaging surge. Therefore, make sure that you use a surge protection power bar - with protected phone jacks if you have a phone line coming in to you PC, and get one with a "cable" option if you have a cable modem. If you are connected to external devices like a stereo or TV, these devices need to be protected also. Every path (i.e. wire) into your PC must be protected.

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