| Now that your preparation is complete, it's time to perform the upgrade itself. What you do next depends on whether you're adding an internal or an external peripheral. Figure 2.4 provides a roadmap you can use for implementing your upgrade. Figure 2.4. To add a peripheral to your computer system, follow this upgrade roadmap.
tip | Most peripherals you add to your system come with their own sets of instructions and their own installation disks or CDs. You should always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions even if they contradict the general upgrade instructions presented in this book. In all instances, specific instructions outrank general advice! |
Upgrading from the Outside The easiest way to add new devices to your system is to add them via an external connector; this way, you don't have to open your PC's case to make the upgrade. Of course, the easiest way isn't always the best way. That's because some types of peripherals run faster if they're installed internally rather than externally. For example, an internal hard disk will probably run faster than an external one. Still, for most users, an external connection preferably via USB is the way to go. That said, there are many different types of external connectors available each optimized to send and receive specific types of data. And, because different types of hardware connect via different types of connectors, it's important to know the different types of ports and connectors with which you might be working. Table 2.3 shows the many types of external connectors available on a typical PC. These connectors are most likely located on the back of your system unit, although some computers have auxiliary ports (typically for USB and FireWire) on the front, as well. Note, however, that not all PCs will have all types of connectors. Table 2.3. Common External ConnectorsConnector | Type | Common Uses | Description |
|---|
| Serial | Modems, printers, mice | A serial port (sometimes called an RS-232 or COM port) is an interface that enables communication one bit at a time, in one direction at a time | | Parallel | Printers, scanners | A parallel port (often called a printer port) is an interface that can handle communications going in two directions at once | | USB | Any printers,scanners, modems, external sound cards, mice, keyboards, joysticks, CD-ROM/DVD drives, external hard drives, cameras | A USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is a newer, faster, more intelligent type of serial port; USB devices can be added while the computer is still running, which you can't do with other types of connections; the newer USB 2.0 standard is much faster than the existing 1.1 variety | | FireWire | Digital video cameras, external hard drives, CD burners | FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) is an interface that enables hot-pluggable, high-speed data transmission | | SCSI | External hard drives, CD burners, CD-ROM/DVD drives, Zip drives, tape backups | The SCSI (computer system interface pronounced "scuzzy") port is a high-speed parallel interface, typically used to connect mass storage media | | Gameport | Joysticks and other controllers; MIDI devices (with adapter) | Use the gameport to connect all your gaming controllers; this port also functions as a MIDI port when you use the proper MIDI-to-15 pin adapter | | Mouse | Mice, trackballs, other pointing devices | The mouse port (sometimes called a PS/2 port) is used to connect wired pointing devices, as well as the wireless receiver used by wireless mice | | Keyboard | Keyboard | The keyboard connector (also sometimes called a PS/2 port) is used to connect both wired keyboards and the wireless receiver used by wireless keyboards | | Audio Out | Powered speakers, audio amplifiers/receivers | The audio out jack feeds a line-level output that can be used by any audio amplifier or set of powered computer speakers | | Audio In | External audio devices (CD players, turntables, cassette decks) | Some advanced sound cards let you plug in typical audio components, so you can record their output to digital files on your hard disk | | S/PDIF | Digital audio | The S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) connector is used to transmit high-end digital audio (typically from a DVD player) to and from a soundcard | | Digital DIN | Speaker systems | A 9-pin digital interface used to connect high-end multiple-speaker systems | | Microphone | Microphone | Accepts input from consumer-grade microphones | | Headphone | Headphone | With the right plug adapter, any set of headphones can be plugged into this jack | | MIDI | Musical keyboards, audio mixers, other MIDI-compatible devices | This jack is used to connect musical instruments and other devices using the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard | | VGA | Computer monitors | This is the 15-pin adapter used to connect almost all traditional CRT computer monitors | | DVI-I | LCD monitors | DVI (Digital Video Interface) is used to connect some newer LCD monitors, and provides a crisper picture than the older VGA connection | | Video Out | Television monitors | This composite video output that can feed your computer display signal to any television set with a similar video input. | | S-Video | Television monitors | This connector also feeds your computer display signal to a television monitor; S-Video provides a crisper picture than composite video, and should be used when available | | Ethernet | Wired networks | Ethernet enables connection to wired networks at speeds up to 100Mps | | Telephone | Telephone lines | The telephone connector is part of your system's modem; use this connector to plug into a telephone line to connect to the Internet (some PCs have both telephone in and telephone out connectors, thus enabling a through feed of the phone line signal when you're not online) | | PC Card | PC Card devices, from modems to hard drives | The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) established the standard for the PC Card interface used on most of today's portable PCs; on a portable PC, the PC Card slot can be used to connect all manner of devices |
On newer PCs, many of these connectors are color-coded, which makes it easier to figure out which cable plugs into where. Table 2.4 provides the color coding (specified by Microsoft in its PC 99 Connector Guidelines) for common types of connectors. To see these colors in living color, go to the Color Coding for Connectors page on the PC Design Guide Web site (www.pcdesguide.org/documents/pc99icons.htm). note | Everything that is hooked up to your PC is connected via some type of port. A port is simply an interface between your PC and another device either internally (inside your PC's system unit) or externally (via a connector on the back of the system unit). Internal ports are automatically assigned when you plug a new card into its slot inside the system unit; external ports are identified by specific types of connectors on the back of the PC. |
Table 2.4. Connector Color CodesConnector | Color |
|---|
VGA (analog) monitor | Blue | Digital monitor | White | Video out | Yellow | Mouse | Green | Keyboard | Purple | Serial | Teal or turquoise | Parallel (printer) | Burgundy | USB | Black | FireWire (IEEE 1394) | Gray | Audio line out (left) | Red | Audio line out (right) | White | Audio line out (headphones) | Lime | Speaker out/subwoofer | Orange | Right-to-left speaker | Brown | Audio line in | Light blue | Microphone | Pink | Gameport/MIDI | Gold |
Upgrading via USB The most common external connector today is the USB port. USB is a great concept (and truly "universal") in that virtually every type of new peripheral comes in a USB version. Want to add a second hard disk? Don't open the PC case; get the USB version. Want to add a new printer? Forget the parallel port; get the USB version. Want to add a wireless network adapter? Don't bother with Ethernet cards; get the USB version. caution | Older PCs produced before the PC 99 Connector Guidelines might use different color coding. When in doubt, consult the instruction manual! |
See a trend here? The easiest way to upgrade your system is via USB. If you have a choice, get the USB-compatible peripheral. It will make the job of upgrading extremely easy. "Mike Sez" | USB is so popular today that it's possible to run out of USB connectors on your PC. If that happens to you, buy an add-on USB hub, which lets you plug multiple USB peripherals into a single USB port. |
Another nice thing about USB, in addition to its universality, is that USB peripherals are hot swappable. That means you can just plug the new device into the USB port, and Windows will automatically recognize it in real time; you don't need to reboot your machine to finish the installation. There are currently two flavors of USB available. The older USB standard, version 1.1, has been around for awhile and, if your PC is more than a year or so old, is probably the type of USB you have installed. The newer USB 2.0 protocol is much faster than USB 1.1, and is now standard on most new computers. See the icons in Figure 2.5 to make sure you're using the right version of USB for your system. Figure 2.5. USB 1.1 and 2.0 icons.
Because USB 2.0 ports are fully backward-compatible with older USB 1.1 devices, you can't go wrong with the newer version. For this reason, installing a USB 2.0 port (via expansion card) is a very popular and inexpensive upgrade if you have an older PC. I'll assume you're sold on USB, and proceed to the upgrade instructions. To add a USB peripheral to your system, follow these steps: Connect the new peripheral to an open USB connector on your system unit, as shown in Figure 2.6. Figure 2.6. Connecting a peripheral via the USB port.
Windows should automatically recognize the new peripheral and either install the proper driver automatically, or prompt you to provide a CD or disk containing the driver file. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish installing the driver.
note | A device driver is a small software program that enables your PC to communicate with and control a specific device. Windows XP includes built-in device drivers for many popular peripherals. If Windows doesn't include a particular driver, you typically can find the driver on the peripheral's installation disk or on the peripheral manufacturer's Web site. |
That's it! The only variation on this procedure is if the peripheral's manufacturer recommends using its own installation program, typically provided on the installation CD. If this is the case, follow the manufacturer's instructions to perform the installation and setup. By the way, FireWire peripherals are also hot swappable, and just as easy to install as USB devices. So if you're installing a FireWire-compatible device, follow the same procedure as you would for a USB device. Upgrading via Serial, Parallel, and Other External Ports When you're connecting to something other than a USB or FireWire port (such as a serial or parallel port), you need to follow a slightly different procedure. The big difference is that you need to turn off your PC before you connect the new device. Just follow these steps: Close Windows and turn off your computer. Find an open port on the back of your system unit, and connect the new peripheral. If the peripheral needs to be plugged in, do that now; if the plug uses thumb screws, secure them after plugging it in. note | As with USB devices, if your new peripheral comes with its own unique installation instructions, follow those steps instead of these general ones. |
Restart your system. As Windows starts, it should recognize the new device and either install the proper drivers automatically or ask you to supply the device drivers (via CD or disk). Windows installs the drivers and finishes the startup procedure. Your new device should now be operational.
Upgrading from the Inside Adding an internal device usually through a plug-in card is slightly more difficult than adding an external device, primarily because you have to use your screwdriver and get "under the hood" of your system unit. Other than the extra screwing and plugging, however, the process is pretty much the same as with external devices. The one major difference is recognizing the type of card you're installing and the type of expansion slots you have available and making sure they match. There are three major types of expansion slots used on today's PCs, as detailed in Table 2.5. Table 2.5. Types of Internal Expansion SlotsCard/Slot | Type | Description |
|---|
| ISA | ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slots have been around since the dawn of the PC era; they're big, they're dumb, and they are for all practical purposes, outdated and unused on today's newer PCs so don't be alarmed if your PC doesn't have any of these. | | PCI | PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slots are about a decade old now, but still widely used on today's PCs; these slots accept relatively small cards and are good for everything except really fast video. | | AGP | AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slots are used primarily for speedy 3D graphics cards. |
In general, you'll want to use PCI cards and slots for all your internal upgrades except video; if you're adding a new video card, get an AGP model. And, if at all possible, avoid the older ISA cards unless you have a really old PC that doesn't have any open PCI slots. caution | Never open up the system unit with the power still on. Electricity is no fun to play with! |
After you have the cards and slots all figured out, follow these steps to add the new card to your system: Turn off your computer and unplug the power cable. Take the case off your system unit, per the manufacturer's instructions. Some cards, and most all hard drives and CD drives, contain physical switches that must be configured for your system. As you can see in Figure 2.7, these switches might be physical switches (often called "dip" switches) or they might be jumpers, little wire prongs that have to be connected in the proper pattern. (Switches are common on older cards and devices, jumpers on newer ones.) You don't need any special tools to set dip switches or jumpers, although a set of long-nosed pliers might be useful if the jumpers on a card are lodged too tightly. If your new card has switches or jumpers that need to be configured, do this before inserting the card into your system unit. Figure 2.7. The dip switches and jumpers you'll find on a typical expansion card.
caution | Because electrical discharges can damage critical electronic components, you should avoid creating static electricity when working inside your system unit. That means working on a clean wooden or tile surface not a carpet and wearing cotton or other natural-fiber clothing. You might also want to consider using an anti-static work mat or an anti-static grounding strap, both available at Radio Shack and most computer retailers. |
Find an open card slot inside the system unit. If you need to remove the slot's cover (on the back of the system unit), do so now, as shown in Figure 2.8. (And if things are too tight inside the case to insert the card, consider using another slot you don't have to use slots sequentially, you can leave some empty slots between cards.) Figure 2.8. Removing the slot's cover.
Insert the new card according to the manufacturer's instructions, as shown in Figure 2.9. (Make sure the card is firmly plugged in; if you can wiggle it, you haven't made a good connection. ) Figure 2.9. When inserting a card into a slot, press firmly!
caution | Handle all expansion cards by the top or side edges. Avoid any physical contact with the gold contact edge of the card. |
After the card is appropriately seated and screwed in, put the case back on the system unit, plug in the unit, and restart your system. After Windows starts, it should recognize the new device and automatically install the appropriate driver.
tip | You probably want to see whether the new component configures properly and works fine before you close your system unit back up. For that reason, you might want to leave the case off until you're convinced everything is working okay and you don't need to do any more fiddling around inside your PC. |
Using the Windows Add Hardware Wizard Whether you're adding an internal or external component, both your system and Windows should recognize the new device without any manual prompting. If, however, Windows doesn't recognize your new device, you can install it manually via the Add Hardware Wizard. To use the Add Hardware Wizard in Windows XP, follow these steps: Click the Start button and then select the Control Panel option to open the Control Panel folder. Select Printers and Other Hardware, Add Hardware, to open the Add Hardware Wizard, shown in Figure 2.10. Figure 2.10. Use the Add Hardware Wizard to add new hardware to your computer system.
Click the Next button. If you're asked if you've already installed any new hardware, select Yes and click Next. Windows now evaluates your system and displays a list of installed devices. To add a new device, select Add a New Hardware Device from the list, and click the Next button. When the next screen appears, select Search For and Install the Hardware Automatically; then click Next. Windows now looks for new plug-and-play hardware. If it can identify the new hardware, the wizard continues with the installation. If it can't find a new device, it tells you so. If this is your situation, click Next to begin a manual installation. Select the type of device you want to install, and then click Next. On the next screen, select the manufacturer and specific device. If you want to install the drivers that came with the device, click the Have Disk button and follow the onscreen instructions. To use a built-in Windows driver, click the Next button. When the necessary files have been loaded, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Note, however, that in most cases new hardware is detected automatically by Windows, thus eliminating the need for this somewhat more complicated procedure. Configuring System Settings Some devices you add to your PC in particular, memory and disk drives might need to be configured at the system level, before you ever get into Windows. As you learned back in Chapter 1, "Hardware Basics for the Absolute Beginner," these settings make up your system's BIOS, and are stored in a special battery-powered memory called CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) RAM. To change the settings stored in your system's BIOS, you need to reboot your computer and then interrupt the startup process before Windows launches. Most systems, on startup, display an onscreen message that tells you what key to press to access your BIOS settings; it's typically one of the function keys, such as F2 or F8 or F10. (If you don't see this message, look in your computer's instruction manual for the setup key.) Table 2.6 shows the startup interrupt key for some common types of computer BIOS. Table 2.6. Startup Interrupt KeysComputer BIOS | Key(s) |
|---|
AMI BIOS | Del | Award BIOS | Del or Ctrl+Alt+Esc | Compaq | F10 | IBM Aptivas and Thinkpads | F1 | Microid Research (MR BIOS) | Esc | Phoenix BIOS | F2 | Toshiba notebooks/laptops | Esc, then F1 at prompt |
When you enter the BIOS setup utility, you can change a number of basic system settings, such as which disk drives boot first, or what kind of hard disk you have, or how much memory is installed. There are typically several "pages" of settings in this utility, so make sure you page through until you find the settings you want to change. After you make any changes to your system's BIOS, follow the onscreen instructions to save your settings and exit the setup utility. Your computer will then resume the startup process, using the new settings you just entered. |