The nuts and bolts of setting up a computer

It seems that we are in a computer buying season. I have several appointments this week to setup new computers. While we have a number of tips on the site about how to setup a new computer for safety, we don't have much written about the physical setup of the system. Here are a few tips to get things setup quickly and efficiently.

1. Start with the big parts - Don't take every cable and disk out of the box, just remove the big pieces and set them in their place. The trick to getting large pieces out of the box is to open the box then turn it over. You can then pull the box off the top leaving a neat pile of components.

2. Place the big parts where you want them - This will allow you to plan out your setup.

3. Start connecting essential parts - Connect the keyboard, mouse and monitor. Don't connect the printer, scanner, digital camera, PDA or other devices until the system is up and running.

4. Plug in the power - Once the essentials are connected, you are ready to power the system up. The system will walk you through the steps. Remember, you don't need to type in the names of each person in the house when the computer asks who will be using the computer. You also do not need to register the system or any other devices.

5. Setup the Printer - Once the system is up and running, you are ready to install the printer. Make sure to follow the instructions exactly. Many printers do not want you to connect them to the computer until the software is loaded.

6. Setup the Internet - Whether you are on broadband or dial-up, you shouldn't connect to the Internet until everything else is running per normal. At this point follow the steps in our previous "Tip of the Week" on setting up a new computer.

Once you have followed these steps you are ready to use the computer for fun and productivity. 

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