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Installing Your New PC Hardware

So you just got your new PC. That is great! Now how do you install it and get started using it? There are a few important things to consider.

First determine where to locate your PC. It should have good power. Do not plug it into an overloaded circuit like one connected to a radiant heater or coffee maker. Install a surge protector between the PC, monitor, modem (telephone for a computer) and high speed Internet connections. Surge suppressors typically have connections for each of these.

Be sure that there is plenty of air flow around the PC. The room air is the primary mechanism for cooling the PC. If a PC gets too hot the components can burn up and self destruct. PCs are natural dust magnets because the air flowing through them contains dust particles that are electrically charged. These dust particles are attracted to the electrically charged components in the PC. The result is dust build up in the PC that increases heat inside the PC necessitating annual cleaning.

Once you have decided where to place the PC, connect up the components. Keyboard and mouse connect into two small round sockets in the back of the PC. Mouse plugs into the right or top socket and keyboard plugs into the left or bottom socket. These are color coded. Matching the colors assures the connections are correct. If you misconnect them the first time, you are assured of getting them correct the on the second try. The monitor goes into a “D” shaped 15-pin connector, the speakers plug into a small round connector that is color coded. There are small icons next to each connector that identify the socket function as well. The speaker output icon is an arrow pointing away from the socket with concentric half-circles around the arrow. If you miss the connection, the consequence is no sound. So keep trying sockets until sound comes out of the speakers. Also, be sure the speakers have power.

The modem typically has two sockets, one for the line from the wall jack to the modem and the other from the modem to a phone. Icons or the words “phone” and “line” identify which connection is which. The high speed Internet connection looks like a phone jack on steroids. It looks like a phone jack but bigger. A cable goes between the high speed standard Ethernet socket and the Internet modem from the Telephone or Cable Company. Printers are connected using Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables. These connectors are flat and only insert one way. If it is difficult inserting them, flip them over and try the other side. They should slide in easily. Both USB and Ethernet connections are on the rear of the PC near the mouse and keyboard sockets.

Lastly the power connector for both the computer and the monitor are inserted into their respective three prong sockets. Some PCs have a secret switch on the rear that must be turned on before the front switch can power up the main chassis. If you do not get power to the main chassis, check for this switch where the power cord plugs into the rear of the PC.

Now you should be ready to run. Once the PC is running, then it is time to set up your software. But that is another article.


Link to "How to Install new computer hardware"

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


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