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Where Do All Of The Plugs Go?

1. Monitor Power-Power cord from the monitor to the wall outlet. With some computers, you can plug this power cord directly into the system "box" or "chassis".
2. Monitor Cable to "Box"-There are several types of monitors. Newer computers are what they call "VGA" or"SVGA".
3. Common Mistake-Trying to plug the monitor into a connection where it doesn’t belong and bending the pins. Some game "add-in" cards have sockets similar monitor cords. Check your manual, or the icons that are normally on the back of the computer that identify the various sockets.
4. Printer Connection to "box"-Some sockets look similar the the printer socket. There is normally only one printer socket so check the manual, or identification on the back of the computer.
5. Mouse-There are two types of mouse sockets. One is called the "port" mouse (some old timers may call it the PS2 mouse) and the other is called the "serial port"mouse.. Its easy to tell the difference. The "port" mouse has a one quarter inch plug that looks very similar to the small keyboard mouse. The "serial port" mouse connector is oblong and looks similar to the printer connector but smaller. Check your manual, or the identification on the back of your computer before plugging in because, like the keyboard connector, it is easy to bend the pins on the "PS/2" mouse.
6. Keyboard Plug-The diagram shows the small one quarter inch connector so that you can see how similar it is to the "PS/2" mouse plug.
7. Modem Plug-A modem is a devise that enables your computer to connect with telephone lines. The most common connector is the same connector that you have on your telephone line. There are usually two telephone connectors. One connector goes from you wall telephone to the computer,
8. and the second connector goes from the computer to the telephone that you have on your desk. Its not necessary to plug in a telephone in order to use your modem.
9. Speaker cord-Goes from one speaker to the other speaker.
10. Speaker to Sound-You will generally see three sockets that look similar. One is for the speaker and is normally identified right on the devise that it plugs into, and always is identified in a manual that pertains to the "sound card". The next socket that is similar to the speaker socket is the microphone socket. The "microphone" socket is normally identified as "mic". The third socket is for you to plug in an outside source for sound such as a tape recorder. Check your manual before plugging in any outside devise such as a tape recorder. Improper amperage may cause harm to your sound card.

Note: Some of the more expensive multimedia systems have the sound built into the "system" (often called "mother") board but the sockets look the same.

11. Power Cord-Connects the "box" to the wall outlet.
12. Monitor Power Cord-From the monitor to the wall outlet, or if you prefer, to the "box" itself so that you can turn both the monitor and the computer off/on at the same time. This connection directly to the "box" saves wall outlet spaces for other things.