3. Connect the power cable to the external hard drive, and then plug it into an electrical outlet. 4. Windows should automatically detect the external hard drive and enable you to use it right away. Note To protect your critical documents from being lost forever as a result of a hard-drive crash, use an external hard drive and backup software to make a copy of your data. Add a USB Card USB is the type of connection used by almost all computer peripher- als including printers, digital cameras, and scanners. If you have an older computer that lacks USB ports — or if you need extra ports — you can install a USB card. Note For the fastest speed, buy a USB 2.0 card. 1. Purchase a USB card from a computer or electronics store or from an Internet retailer. 2. Turn off your computer and unplug it from all electrical out- lets.This will prevent you from receiving a serious electrical shock and will protect the computer from being damaged. 3. Disconnect all wires and cables from the back of the com- puter’s base unit, and then place the unit on a wooden floor or table. Do not attempt to perform any hands-on computer work while standing or sitting on a carpet or rug. Doing so can generate static electricity that can travel from your body into the computer and damage or destroy your hardware. 4. Remove the computer’s cover. For more information, refer to the section “Open Your Computer’s Case” in Chapter 12. 5. Locate an empty PCI slot (see Figure 13-3), and then remove the slot’s metal or plastic cover by unfastening the screw or plastic arm that holds it in place. 6. Firmly but gently insert the USB card into the empty PCI slot. 7. Secure the USB card by fastening a screw or snapping the plastic arm back into place (see Figure 13-4). Chapter 13: Upgrade Your PC 167 19_068557 ch13.qxp 12/13/06 6:17 PM Page 167 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Figure 13-3: Example of an empty PCI slot Figure 13-4: Securing the PCI card 8. If any wires or cables inside the computer were accidentally disconnected while installing the USB card, reconnect them. 168 Part III • Bonus Material 19_068557 ch13.qxp 12/13/06 6:17 PM Page 168 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 9. Close the case, and then return the base unit to your desk. 10. Reconnect the wires and cables into the back of the base unit, and then plug the computer into an electrical outlet and turn it on. 11. After Windows detects the new USB card, it searches for a “driver” to finish the setup. If the correct driver isn’t found, you will need to install it by using the setup CD that came with the USB card. Add a FireWire Card FireWire is another type of high-speed connection used by many computer peripherals such as external hard drives and video cam- eras. (However, FireWire is not used with as many peripherals as USB is.) Similar to USB, FireWire capabilities can be added to a computer by installing a special card. 1. Purchase a FireWire card from a computer or electronics store or from an Internet retailer. 2. Turn off your computer and unplug it from all electrical out- lets.This will prevent you from receiving a serious electrical shock and will protect the computer from being damaged. 3. Disconnect all wires and cables from the back of the com- puter’s base unit, and then place the unit on a wooden floor or table. Do not attempt to perform any hands-on computer work while standing or sitting on a carpet or rug. Doing so can generate static electricity that can travel from your body into the computer and damage or destroy your hardware. 4. Remove the computer’s cover. For more information, refer to the section “Open Your Computer’s Case” in Chapter 12. 5. Locate an empty PCI slot (see Figure 13-5), and then remove the slot’s metal or plastic cover by unfastening the screw or plastic arm that holds it in place. 6. Firmly but gently insert the FireWire card into the empty PCI slot. 7. Secure the FireWire card by fastening a screw or by snap- ping the plastic arm back into place (see Figure 13-6). Chapter 13: Upgrade Your PC 169 19_068557 ch13.qxp 12/13/06 6:17 PM Page 169 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Figure 13-5: Example of an empty PCI slot Figure 13-6: Securing the PCI card 8. If any wires or cables inside the computer were accidentally disconnected while installing the FireWire card, reconnect them. 170 Part III • Bonus Material 19_068557 ch13.qxp 12/13/06 6:17 PM Page 170 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 9. Close the case, and then return the base unit to your desk. 10. Reconnect the wires and cables into the back of the base unit, and then plug the computer into an electrical outlet and turn it on. 11. After Windows detects the new FireWire card, it searches for a “driver” to finish the setup. If the correct driver isn’t found, you need to install it by using the setup CD that came with the FireWire card. Add a CD or DVD Drive Have you ever wanted to watch a DVD movie on your computer or make your own custom music CDs? With a modern CD or DVD drive, both activities are possible — and much more. Here are the different types of CD or DVD drives currently available: • Read-Only: These drives can only read information on prerecorded discs. Examples include CD-ROM and DVD-ROM. • Recordable or rewritable: These drives can read data on prerecorded discs and write (or “burn”) data onto blank discs. Examples include CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD- RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. Most of these drives are restricted to using one type of disc. That means “minus R” (-R) drives cannot use “plus R” (+R) discs, and vice versa. • Combo drives: These drives can read and burn data on any type of disc. They are an ideal choice for people who don’t want to worry about what type of discs to buy. To install a CD or DVD drive in your computer, do the following: 1. Purchase a CD or DVD drive from a computer or electron- ics store or from an Internet retailer. 2. Turn off your computer and unplug it from all electrical out- lets.This will prevent you from receiving a serious electrical shock and will protect the computer from being damaged. 3. Disconnect all wires and cables from the back of the com- puter’s base unit, and then place the unit on a wooden floor or table. Do not attempt to perform any hands-on computer work while standing or sitting on a carpet or rug. Doing so can generate static electricity that can travel from your body into the computer and damage or destroy your hardware. Chapter 13: Upgrade Your PC 171 19_068557 ch13.qxp 12/13/06 6:17 PM Page 171 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. . a CD or DVD drive in your computer, do the following: 1. Purchase a CD or DVD drive from a computer or electron- ics store or from an Internet retailer. 2. Turn off your computer and unplug it. hands-on computer work while standing or sitting on a carpet or rug. Doing so can generate static electricity that can travel from your body into the computer and damage or destroy your hardware. 4 capabilities can be added to a computer by installing a special card. 1. Purchase a FireWire card from a computer or electronics store or from an Internet retailer. 2. Turn off your computer and unplug