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How to Set Up Your Computer
Back when the first personal computers first hit the market, those powerful machines were for the most part prohibitively expensive, making computer technology for the home inaccessible to all but the wealthiest of individuals. In a relatively short period of time, however, this situation has changed dramatically, and the falling prices of computer technology, coupled with vast increases in computing power, have combined to make personal computers affordable for virtually every family.
Even if the price of computers and computer technology has come down, however, these machines still represent a significant investment, in terms of both time and money, and it is therefore important for new computer owners to get off to the right start with their new PCs. How that new computer is set up in the beginning can have a profound impact on its usefulness down the road, so it pays to take the time to read the instructions carefully and set up that new PC according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
First Things First
Perhaps the most important thing in the box which holds that new computer is not the computer itself but the instruction page that comes with it. It is essential for new computer owners to carefully read all the instructions that came with their new purchase, as these instructions contain valuable information that should not be ignored.
Many computer manufacturers go out of their way to make things simple, often providing a simple to follow one page poster which details the process of setting up the new PC in a step by step manner. These simple to follow documents generally provide a guide to the various parts of the PC, including the CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse and accessories. From there it is simply a matter of hooking it all up and plugging it in.
If such a step by step guide is not provided, it is important to carefully review the instruction booklet that shipped with the PC. This instruction booklet should provide information on where to plug in which components, and how to make them all work together.
Take Care of Your PC
No matter what the nature of the instructions, it is important to set up that new computer with safety and security in mind. For safety’s sake, it is important to connect the power cord of the PC and monitor not to an ordinary electrical outlet, but to a surge protector or uninterrupted power supply (UPS). These devices will help to protect this valuable equipment in the event of a power surge, lightning strike or power outage. These simple devices often cost less than $50, and they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damaged equipment.
Of course PCs today face dangers far greater than power surges and lightning strikes, and it is important to protect that new PC from intentional damage as well. Most PCs these days will ship with some sort of virus protection software, either a trial version or a full version. It is essential that this virus protection be turned on before the PC is connected to the internet. As soon as the power cord is connected and the keyboard and mouse in place, it is essential to run the setup program for this virus scanner to ensure that it is up and running. And the first website the new PC owner visits should be that of the virus software manufacturer, in order to obtain needed updates which may have been released. Keeping virus scanning software up to date is one of the most crucial parts of setting up any new computer.
And of course new computer owners will want to learn as much as they can about their new purchase and how to get the most out of their new investment. There are plenty of excellent training resources available online, and it is a good idea for new computer owners to take the time to explore these resources and see what they have to offer. From courses covering the basics of the Windows and Macintosh operating systems to advanced courses covering virtually every software package ever made, the resources available to computer users are nearly endless. All it takes is some research and determination. After all, setting up a new computer, and exploring the vast resources of the internet, should be fun. Learning how to make that new computer do what you want it to do is one of the greatest things about this type of technology. Try our computer training courses with CBT Planet's offerings for Microsoft Office, Windows XP, Vista, Cisco, Oracle, Networking, Programming, and more!
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