Chapter 13: Adding and Removing Hardware

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.

Adding hardware is a three-step process:

1. Set any switches and jumpers on the new equipment as needed.
2. If the card goes inside the computer, turn off and unplug the computer, open it up, install the card, and put the computer back together. Plug in external equipment.
3. Turn on the computer and tell Windows about the new equipment.

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