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Cable Help
The first thing tech support will tell you is
"Did you check the Cables?" The typical answer is yes, but
did you *really* check the cables? Here is a
page to take you through the assignment your techie has given you.
Power Cables:
Click on each picture to see a close up.
Power cords should be checked for a good power source. The
power cords are usually black but are sometimes gray. Power cords can sometimes
can wiggle lose. Gently remove the power cords from the computer or monitor
outlet and plug them back into the source. Also,check that the other end of
the plug is secure inside a power outlet. If there is a power problem, check
the power outlet with some other electrical item to see if the outlet is working.
Notice the red switch on the last picture. That is the surge
reset button. If you do not have power and all the cables and cords have *really*
been checked, then flick this switch up and down a few times with the power
cord pulled out. Then put the power cord back in and try to start it again.
Make sure the red switch reads 115 before plugging back the power cord.
Network Cables:
Click on each picture to see a close up.
If your machine is having problems connecting to the internet
or the network, check the network cable. This is generally a gray cord with
a connector similar to a telephone jack. To unplug this cable from the drop(the
connection into the wall) or the computer, push in the tab on the head of
the cord to release the cable.
Some network cards that are inside of your computer have
an indication light on the outside that is green and shines brightly if everything
is working properly. If your green light is not on, try unplugging the cable
from the wall and the computer and trying a new cable. Cable cords that are
old or twisted and tangled can break down fragile lines inside the cables
and cause them not to work anymore.
If replacing the cord does not solve your problem, try using
a cable on a machine that already works by unplugging the working cable cord
from the machine it is hooked into and plug it into the one that doesn't work.
If the green light shines this time, the problem might be from your wall connection
(drop) you had the nonworking machine plugged into.
If the green light still does not work, then your network
card inside the machine may need to be replaced and it is time to call in
the reserves, your IT team.
Monitor Cables:
Click on each picture to see a close up.
Monitors have power plugs along with other cables that connect
to the computer.
On the first picture, you see three cables. The first is
the power cord, the middle cord is the cable that connects to the video port
(a connection) on the computer and the third set of cables (the small ones)
are audio cables that plug into the audio ports. (this particular monitor
has built in speakers)
The middle picture shows the monitor connection(blue) in
the back of the computer. There is a tiny picture of a monitor below the connection.
The last picture shows the audio ports. These ports connect
sound from the computer to the monitor (some monitors do not have this feature;
then these ports are used for external speakers and microphones)
USB Cables:
Click on each picture to see a close up.
USB cables will plug in only one way. The flat end of the
cable goes into the computer,whereas the square arched end connects into the
device, such as a keyboard, mouse, digital cameras and camcorders, external
drives and some scanners and printers. Notice the first USB port is on the
bottom and the second one is on the top.
Mouse/Keyboard:
Click on each picture to see a close up.
Most mouse and keyboard connections are color-coded; green
for the mouse and purple for the keyboard. Where the cables connect on the
computer, there are small pictures of a mouse and keyboard to help you distinguish
between the two connections. The one thing to remember about these cables
is the following:
Do not plug in the mouse or keyboard,
called PS2 connections, while the computer power is on. The motherboard,
the heart of the computer, can be damaged profoundly if they are plugged
in while the power is on. Turn off the computer before re-plugging in a mouse
or keyboard.
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