SETTING UP A COMPUTER

COMMON OPERATING MACHINE PURPOSELY USED FOR

TECHNOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

So you have a new computer and you're ready to set it up. This may seem like an
overwhelming and complicated task, but it's actually a lot easier than you might
think! Most computers are set up in a similar way, so it doesn't matter what brand
of computer you have.

If you're setting up a new computer that's still in the box, you'll probably find
a how-to guide that includes step-by-step details. Even if it didn't include
instructions, you can still set up the computer in a few easy steps. We'll take you
through the different steps needed to set up a typical computer.

Watch the video below to learn how to set up a desktop computer.

Setting up a laptop computer

If you have a laptop, setup should be easy: Just open it and press the power button. If the
battery isn't charged, you'll need to plug in the AC adapter. You can continue using the
laptop while it charges.

If your laptop has any peripherals, like external speakers, you may want to read the
instructions below. Laptops and desktops generally use the same types of connections, so
the same steps will still apply.

Setting up a desktop computer

Step 1
Unpack the monitor and computer case from the box. Remove any plastic covering
or protective tape. Place the monitor and computer case on a desk or work area.Be
sure to place your computer case in an area that is well ventilated and has good air
flow. This will help to prevent the computer from overheating.
Step 2

Locate the monitor cable. There are several types of monitor cables, so the one for
your computer may not look like the one in the image below .If you're having
trouble finding your monitor cable, refer to the instruction manual for your
computer. (If you have an all-in-one computer that's built into the monitor, you can
skip to Step 4).

Step 3

Connect one end of the cable to the monitor port on the back of the computer
case and the other end to the monitor.

Many computer cables will only fit a specific way. If the cable doesn't fit, don't force
it or you might damage the connectors. Make sure the plug aligns with the port,
then connect it.

To figure out which cables belong in which ports, try our Connect
Cables interactive.

Step 4
Unpack the keyboard and determine whether it uses a USB (rectangular) connector
or a PS/2 (round) connector. If it uses a USB connector, plug it into any of the USB
ports on the back of the computer. If it uses a PS/2 connector, plug it into
the purple keyboard port on the back of the computer.

Step 5

Unpack the mouse and determine whether it uses a USB or PS/2 connector. If it uses
a USB connector, plug it into any of the USB ports on the back of the computer. If it
uses a PS/2 connector, plug it into the green mouse port on the back of the
computer. If your keyboard has a USB port, you can connect your mouse to the
keyboard instead of connecting it directly to your computer.
If you have a wireless mouse or keyboard, you may need to connect a
Bluetooth dongle (USB adapter) to your computer. However, many computers have
built-in Bluetooth, so an adapter may not be necessary.

Step 6

If you have external speakers or headphones, you can connect them to your
computer's audio port (either on the front or back of the computer case). Many
computers have color-coded ports. Speakers or headphones connect to
the green port, and microphones connect to the pink port. The blue port is the line
in, which can be used with other types of devices.

Some speakers, headphones, and microphones have USB connectors instead of the
usual audio plug. These can be connected to any USB port. In addition, many
computers have speakers or microphones built into the monitor.

Step 7

Locate the two power supply cables that came with your computer. Plug the first
power supply cable into the back of the computer case and then into a surge
protector. Then, using the other cable, connect the monitor to the surge protector.

You can also use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), which acts as a surge
protector and provides temporary power if there is a power outage.

Step 8

Finally, plug the surge protector into a wall outlet. You may also need to turn on
the surge protector if it has a power switch.

If you don't have a surge protector, you can plug the computer directly into the
wall. However, this is not recommended because electrical surges can damage your
computer.

Step 9
 If you have a printer, scanner, webcam, or other peripherals, you can connect them
at this point. Many peripherals are plug and play, which means they will be
recognized by your computer as soon as they are plugged in.

Other peripherals may include software that needs to be installed before you can
begin using them. Use the instructions included with the device to install it if necessary.

Generally, peripherals are optional, and you can add new ones at any time; you don't
have to add all peripherals during the initial setup of your computer.

Setup complete

That's it— you've finished setting up your computer, so it's time to start using it! We'll
talk more about how to use your computer over the next several lessons.

GENERATION OF COMPUTER

 First generation: Used vacuum tubes to perform calculations. These computers were
large, heavy, and expensive, and were only affordable to large organizations.
 Second generation: Used transistors and diodes.
 Third generation: Used integrated circuits.
 Fourth generation: Used microprocessors. These computers used VLSI chips to
combine thousands of electronic components into a single silicon chip.
 Fifth generation: Uses artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and neural networks. The
goal of this generation is to make AI more accessible to the average person.
The sixth generation of computers is emerging and will use quantum processors and
molecular computing.

The generations of computers are typically divided into five distinct phases:
First Generation (1940-1956): Vacuum Tubes. Second Generation (1956-
1963): Transistors. Third Generation (1964-1971): Integrated Circuits. Fourth
Generation (1971-Present):
Input Devices of Compute
The most common input devices are the keyboard, mouse, and touch screen. There
are hundreds of other input devices, like microphones to capture sound waves,
scanners to capture image data, and virtual reality devices to capture our body
movements.

An output device is a hardware component of a computer system that displays

information to users. Monitor, Printer, Speakers Headphones, Projector, GPS and
Plotter are some output devices of computer -school/computer/output-devices-of-
computer

VGA CABLE

The Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector was a standard connector used
for computer video output. Originating with the 1987 IBM PS/2 and its VGA
graphics system, the 15-pin connector went on to become ubiquitous on
PCs, as well as many monitors, projectors and HD television sets.
 UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS

The full form of USB is Universal Serial Bus it is a common platform that
allows communication between devices and a host controller such as a PC
(computer).

HDD

HDD stands for hard disk drive. It is a type of data storage device that is
commonly used in computers to store operating systems, software
programs, and other files.

RAM

RAM stands for random access memory, and it's one of the most
fundamental elements of computing. RAM is a temporary memory bank
where your computer stores data it needs to retrieve quickly

ROM

ROM, which stands for read only memory, is a memory device or

storage medium that stores information permanently. It is also the
primary memory unit of a computer along with the random access
memory (RAM).
 Central processing unit

The full form of CPU is Central Processing Unit. The CPU’s known as the brain
of a computer. It performs all the basic logical and arithmetic operations
activities. The term CPU is normally used to refer to a processor that consists of
the arithmetical logical unit and control unit.

CPU = ALU + CU

Where

ALU – Arithmetic Logic Unit

CU – Control Unit