Chapter 14: Adding and Removing Hardware

Windows Vista lets you add new hardware to your computer relatively easily, but you still have a lot of details to get right. This chapter describes the general steps for installing hardware. It also discusses Plug and Play, the Device Manager, the types of hardware you may want to install, how to configure Windows to work with new hardware, troubleshooting hardware, and adding memory.

How Do You Add Hardware to a Windows Computer?

Most Windows-based computers let you add extra hardware to extend your computer's capabilities. Some hardware fits inside your computer; some plugs into existing connectors on the back of the computer; and some requires adding a card inside your computer, into which you plug external equipment. After you add the device, you need to configure Windows to use your new hardware.

Tip  

For the definitions of many hardware- related terms and acronyms, see the Velocity Micro web site at http://www.velocitymicro.com/hw.php.

Adding hardware is a three-step process:

1. Set any switches and jumpers on the new equipment as needed. For example, if you install a second hard drive in your computer that you plan to use as a secondary disk, you must use jumpers to set it up as the non-boot drive (sometimes referred to as the "slave" drive).

2. If the card or drive goes inside the computer, turn off and unplug the computer, open it up, install the card or drive, and put the computer back together. Plug in any external equipment.

3. Turn on the computer and tell Windows about the new equipment.

Tip  

Before adding new hardware, make a backup of your important files, in case you can't restart your computer (see Chapter 10).