How to Set Up Your Computer for the First Time

Easy tips for a hassle-free first computer experience

Author Info

Last Updated: November 15, 2024

This is how to set up a PC for use with Windows and Linux operating systems. Make sure you have everything to use the PC.

How to Set Up Your Computer: A Quick Guide

Carefully unpack your new computer from its box and put it where you want it.
Connect the hardware components.
Connect everything to an extension cable and connect that to an AC outlet.
Turn on the computer, and you're all done!

Steps

Download Article

1
First, purchase a Desktop PC from companies such as Dell and PC World. Make sure that the PC does what you want it to do.
2
Next, open the box to find the components purchased with the desktop (monitor, mouse, keyboard).

Advertisement
You should have a VGA or DVI cable for the monitor, a 3.5 mm cable for the speakers, A PS/2 or USB cable for the keyboard and mouse and a power cable.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can I change the display size on the desktop?

Community Answer

For Windows, go to Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Change display settings or Adjust screen resolution.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 10
Question

My computer is prompting me to check the video cable. Where and what is that?

Denneisk

Top Answerer

The video cable is the cable that sends video (and sometimes audio) information to the monitor. Depending on what kind of cable you used, it could look different. Look for something blue, white or black. In step four of this article, the blue connector is a 'male' VGA connector, which is a video cable.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 4
Question

Should I choose auto setup or custom setup?

Denneisk

Top Answerer

In most cases, all you need is automatic setup, but some people prefer custom setup because they want to change certain variables. If the custom option is overwhelming, back out and choose automatic or choose the default settings.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Do not link extension cables together, as this causes a majority of house fires.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Do not open the PC up until the PC is disconnected from the power or extension cord.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0