Adding New External Hardware

The easiest way to add a new device to your system is to connect it externally which saves you the trouble of opening your PC's case.

No matter how you're connecting a new device, make sure to read the installation instructions for the new hardware and follow the manufacturer's instructions and advice.

Connecting via USB or FireWire Ports

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.

USB is so popular because it's so easy to use. When you're connecting a USB device, not only do you not have to open your PC's case, but also you don't even have to turn off your system when you add the new device. That's because USB devices are hot swappable. That means you can just plug the new device in to the port, and Windows will automatically recognize it in real-time.

tip

If you connect too many USB devices, 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 in to a single USB port.

The original USB standard, version 1.1, has been around for awhile and, if your PC is more than two years 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 standard on most new computers. USB 2.0 ports are fully backward compatible with older USB 1.1 devices.

And let's not forget FireWire. Like USB devices, FireWire devices are hot-swappable, and very easy to connect. Like USB 2.0, FireWire is a very fast standard, which makes it ideal for connecting devices that move a lot of data, such as hard drives and camcorders. (It's also a little more expensive, which is why USB is still preferred for most devices.)

To connect a new USB or FireWire device, follow these steps:

1. Find a free USB or FireWire port on the back of your system unit and connect the new peripheral.
   
   

2. Windows should automatically recognize the new peripheral and either install the proper device driver automatically or prompt you to provide a CD or disk containing the driver file. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish installing the driver.
   
   

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 an installation CD. If this is the case, follow the manufacturer's instructions to perform the installation and setup.

Connecting via Parallel or Serial Ports

Connecting a new device to a parallel or serial port is slightly more involved in that you have to turn off your system first, connect the new device, and then restart your system. Follow these steps:

1. Close Windows and turn off your computer.
   
   

2. Find an open port on the back of your system unit and connect the new peripheral.
   
   

3. Restart your system.
   
   

4. 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-ROM or disk).
   
   

5. Windows installs the drivers and finishes the startup procedure. Your new device should now be operational.