Why This Chapter Matters

The purpose of this chapter is to teach you to resolve basic end-user calls involving devices that are attached to a computer. The chapter explains the different types of ports on a computer and shows how to troubleshoot basic problems that users of applications might encounter. This chapter also covers handheld devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, smart displays, and tablet PCs. Making these connections requires an understanding of the devices themselves, available connection types, and the software required by the devices. Advanced skills include understanding basic input/output system (BIOS) requirements and port requirements and troubleshooting BIOS settings when the connection is not functioning properly.

Before You Begin

Before you begin this chapter, you should have basic familiarity with the Microsoft Windows XP interface. You should also have access to a computer running Windows XP on which you can experiment with changing various settings.