PCs: The Missing Manual

Appendix A. Setting Up a PC

If you already own a PC, you don’t need this appendix—save it for when you buy your next computer. But if you’re staring at a new PC inside a large shipping carton or two, this appendix is for you. It explains how to remove the PC from its packaging, set it up in an appropriate spot, adjust the monitor, and plug in all the cables and connectors. You’ll also learn about what to do when you’re ready to dispose of an old PC.

Removing Your PC from Its Box

Whether you’ve picked up your new baby from the store or a delivery van dropped it off, most PCs enter homes in two giant shipping boxes. The PC lives inside the heaviest box; the other box contains the monitor. Both items come wedged inside a protective layer of molded Styrofoam.

To begin liberating your machine, pull out each box’s packing staples with a pair of pliers so the sharp edges don’t scratch anything. Then fetch a pair of scissors—they let you cut neat slits in the plastic wrapping to remove cables, keyboards, and other parts. Try not to damage the Styrofoam when extracting your PC—you may need to put it back inside if you ever need to return your computer or monitor.

Receipts, packing lists, and other important-looking papers come in handy for reference and tech support calls, so grab a large manila envelope to store them before they disappear beneath oceans of foam and plastic.

Note

If you return the PC for a refund, someone at the store will inspect the box, the Styrofoam, and other packaging for ...