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Installation of peripheral devices
I hope most of you still carry sweet memories of your childhood. Do you remember that game in which we had to join different pieces and blocks to build a house? It was, in fact, the installation of different components or pieces to complete the game.
What is installation?
Today the word installation is commonly used for computers. After you purchase peripheral devices the most important task is the joining and fitting of these devices to complete the setup or we can say that the accurate installation of peripheral devices is indispensable to begin the function of the computer system. Peripheral devices can interact with the computer only after installation. Without being installed, peripheral devices cannot respond to your commands and queries.
Definition
“A program to load a product by physical connections between computer and other devices or by the programs used to direct the functions of a computer system is known as installation”.
Types of installation
There are two types of installation, which are interrelated with each other.
v HARDWARE INSTALLATION
v SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
Hardware installation of external peripheral devices
External peripheral devices are those devices, which are placed outside the processing unit. The most common external devices are your computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, speakers, and scanner. This type of installation includes connection of all peripheral devices with the computer by means of cables. In hardware installation a peripheral device may be:
v Directly conn ected to the main system or
v It may be connected to the other peripheral device to complete the interface.
Figure “1” shows that:
• A monitor is directly connected with the monitor port of the processor by means of a cable.
• A scanner is connected with the scanner port of the processor using a cable.
• Another device printer is connected with the scanner.
• Monitor, scanner and printer are connected with the power adopter or main switch.
Notice that the printer is not connected with the processor directly where the scanner is also attached with the computer.
Hardware installation of internal peripheral devices
Those devices, which reside inside the computer casing, are known as internal peripheral devices. The most common internal device is the CD-ROM drive. It is employed to insert a CD-ROM disk.
A CD-ROM drive consists of three main cables:
• Power cable: It connects the CD drive to the computer’s power supply.
• IDE interface cable to connect with IDE port of the motherboard. The IDE port may be primary or secondary.
• Audio cable to connect with the sound card. The sound card is employed in the system to play music and other sounds through the speakers.
Software installation
• Most of the devices are provided with software, which establishes communication between the operating system and peripheral devices.
• It is a process of copying the program and files from the CD disk to the PC’s hardware. For this purpose a CD is inserted in the CD-ROM drive.
• A series of dialogue boxes or windows are opened on your screen. The purpose of the software installation is to establish the best driver for your device, which is possible, only when you follow the instructions appearing on your screen.
• You will need to restart your computer when the installation of the software is completed so that the new setup begins its working.
Points to remember
• Do not try to install any peripheral device without having a complete knowledge of installation. You must consult expertise in the relevant field before beginning installation of any kind.
• Every device comes with a manual guide.
• To prevent electrical shocks always disconnect the cable from the main supply before starting hardware installation.
• Software installation has no meaning without hardware installation.
• All peripheral devices come with their own respective cables. Always use these cables to connect peripheral devices to the computer.
• Always hold the installation CD from the edges. Any damage or crack can demolish software installation.
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