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Before you turn on your computer ? (Buying a Computer, Part 5)

Laptop - What to do next

It is not necessary to connect anything, but it may be necessary to plug in the power adapter and insert the power supply as instructed in the manual.
This is usually 2 black or very dark brown cables one end which plugs into a normally house 240V socket and the other end is usually
Either
an almost small square shaped plug (one side curved)
or
a silver coloured round shape.
This plugs into the back of the laptop computer.

The battery will charge when the power supply is connected, do this now.
The computer can be used during this time.
The power button or switch will be marked power on/off and/or have a circle with a gap a 12 O?Clock and a small vertical line through this gap.

To see this look at the on/off switch on your television this has the same symbol.

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Desktop - What to do next

Tower/Base Unit has a number of sockets on the back and/or front.

Power Socket ? triangle type shape with 3 pins in smaller triangle shape

Monitor ? almost a rectangular shape with curved ends, but top side is usually longer than then the bottom with 9 holes

Mouse ? either USB connector long rectangular shape or a circle with ?? holes ?? pin sized round and a slightly larger rectangular shape, usually coloured green (also called PS2)

Keyboard ? either USB connector long rectangular shape or a circle with ?? holes ?? pin sized round and a slightly larger rectangular shape, usually coloured purple(also called PS2)

Modem ? small square shaped with 5 connectors at the bottom

Printer ? old type long rectangular shaped with curved ends, 12 holes on the top row and 13 holes on the bottom (also called LPT1).
Most connectors are now the long rectangle shape (USB).

Scanner ? Nearly all these connectors are now the long rectangle shape (USB).

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Before you start the computer you must at least connect the following:-

Laptop ? It is not necessary to connect anything, it is useful to connect the power cable on first use as the battery is not usually charged up.

Desktop -
Mouse and Keyboard (PS2 or USB see above)
Monitor, power lead and connection to the Tower/Base unit (see above)
Tower/Base unit, power lead (see above)


Laptop and Desktop

Optional Connections

Printer

Either LPT1 cable

Description - long rectangular shaped with curved ends, connections on the top and bottom at one end and at the other a long rectangular shaped with curved ends, 12 pins on the top row and 13 pins on the bottom. The end with pins connects to the Tower or Base Unit (see above)

Or

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Description - long rectangle shape (see diagram) one end and at the other an almost square shape with one side curved. The long rectangular end connects either to the front or back of the Tower/Base Unit.

Connect the computer and switch on the power, do not worry about connecting the modem connection until we get to the internet section.

The power button or switch on the front of he tower/base unit will be marked power on/off and/or have a circle with a gap a 12 O?Clock and a small vertical line through this gap.

To see this look at the on/off switch on your television this has the same symbol.
    IP