How to Set-up a Computer

The easiest way to figure it out is to look at a computer that is already setup and is just like the one you need set up. Just duplicate the setup. On the examples below, click on the thumbnail picture to open an enlarged view.

If your computer looks like this:	the wires connect like this:
Headphones or speakers plug into tower - in these examples the small black cord goes to the headphones	Not all towers look the same on the back - headphone port is sometimes color-coded green
White Dell		These White Dells do not automatically shut off the tower - wait until you see the message, then turn both the tower and monitor off. Headphones plug into tower
Speakers under monitor		Monitor with speakers-headphones plug into speakers at side
Black Dell with PS2 Mouse and Keyboard (not USB)	one monitor jack or two monitor jacks	headphones in front jack
Black Dell with USB Mouse and Keyboard If the keyboard and mouse are not in the indicated ports, the computer will not always network properly and it will take “forever” to boot and seem terribly slow.
Black Dell Tower using old "white" monitors	see handout	headphones in front jack

Monitor has 2 cords	the power cord (be sure to plug one end into an electrical outlet and the other into the back of the monitor) the cord that connects the monitor to the tower
Keyboard wire	plugs into the tower
Mouse wire	plugs into the tower
Network switch has at least 2 cables that look like telephone wires, and an electrical wire for power:
One network cable	plugs into the network switch and the network jack usually located on a wall
Additional network cable(s)	plugs into the tower and the network switch
Power cord	one end plugs into the network switch, the other end into a power pack that must be plugged into an electrical outlet
Several types of speakers are in our buildings:
A. Free standing speakers have 3 cords	cable that connects the two speakers to each other cable that goes into the tower from one of the speakers (it is usually permanently attached to one of the speakers) power cord - one end goes into one of the speakers, the other end into a power pack that must be plugged into an electrical outlet
B. Speakers mounted under monitor have 2 cords, and an additional wire if you are using headphones	cable that connects the speaker unit to the monitor power cord - one end goes into the speaker unit, the other end into a power pack that must be plugged into an electrical outlet headphone wire plugs into the left side of the speaker unit, near the volume control dial
C. Speakers are part of the monitor (you don't actually see a speaker)	only one cable that connects the monitor to the sound jack on the tower
Headphones connect in various ways depending upon the configuration of your computer system:
	plug into free standing speaker
	plug into speaker under monitor
various towers have different sound cards - look for one like yours	plug into the computer tower