Once any upgrades have been carried out it will be necessary to connect all the main components together. In the case of a PC this will mean connecting the monitor, keyboard, mouse and any other peripherals to the main unit. There are several things to watch when doing this:

• Do not connect the power to the items until everything has been connected together correctly and checked for security and damage.
• Always use the correct leads for both mains and other items.
• Ensure that the plugs have been inserted in to the correct socket. The PS/2 type mouse and keyboard can easily be fitted into the wrong socket as they both use the same din type socket. The serial plugs are male so will not fit into the parallel socket. The SCSI connectors are also keyed and will not fit in upside down.

When connecting plugs to items ensure that they are pushed fully home and if there are retaining clips or springs then these must be securely fitted. These points should also be watched if carrying out a repair at the customer’s premises. When you are sure that all items have been interconnected correctly, switch on all items and watch to see that they all start to work correctly. The main unit should boot up and the monitor should give messages during the process.