From Start to Finish: A Complete Computer Setup

So, let’s say you have just gotten yourself a brand new computer and want to start setting it up to be ideal for your workflow. Where exactly should you start and what do you need to do? There are a few steps you should go through to get your machine set up after you have unpackaged it. These can even include where to set it and what kind of work area to have.

First of all, you want your computer to be in an area with good airflow that is well ventilated to prevent it from suffering from overheating during use.

Second, you need to locate and connect the monitor cable. Depending on what kind of cable you’ll be using, this can be easier or harder. The most common types of cables are HTML and DisplayPort cables which are fairly easy to recognize as they are curled up on one side, rather like a mouth. If you have difficulties identifying which port to use, consult the manual. You should find a diagram identifying which cable goes to which connection port inside your manual somewhere.

After connecting the monitor, you should find and connect the keyboard and mouse. While almost all modern keyboards and mouses use a USB port, there are still a few that use a unique connection so make sure to check that your computer is compatible if yours is one of these.

At this point, you should connect your PC’s various peripherals such as speakers or headphones and a printer (if you have one). Depending on your PC and specific peripherals, they may connect in several different ways but USB is the most common for printers or webcams though some will require either software installation or connect with both USB and audio ports.

With all of the peripherals hooked up, the only thing left to do is to connect the power. Find your computer and monitor’s power cables, hook them up and connect them to a surge protector before plugging the surge protector into a wall outlet.

And that is it. You are now finished with setting up your computer and it’s ready to be used, at least in the hardware sense. There may still be some software or drivers that need installing or updating but your PC can now be turned on and you can start using it at last.

If you have any further questions or need more information about computer setup then please contact us.