Connecting New Devices
Note: This guide is a general guideline for connecting new devices and recommendations concerning these. Always refer to the instructions that came with your device.
Connecting USB and 1394 (Firewire) Devices
90% of devices nowadays are USB or Firewire, so this guide will primarily concern these devices. The first thing to do is ensure all components that came with your device (CDs, the device itself, cables, cartridges, batteries, etc) are present. Generally if there are more than one or two parts, the instructions or the box will have a list of items that should be present. If not all of them are there, then take it back to the store or call the manufacturer and ask for the part.
Next, locate the CD that has the device drivers on it--some devices come with additional software CDs. These are generally not pertinent to setting up the new device. Place the CD into the drive, and follow the installation procedures. (If you need help with Auto-play or installing programs, see the Installing New Programs guide). If the drivers are small, they may be on a floppy disk. If this is the case, run the program off the floppy drive.
The program may tell you to connect the device, or simply run and then ask to reboot. Follow the instructions of the program. Generally it is best to install the program first, then connect the device after the installation is over or when it tells you to. Some devices are automatically detected by Windows--these you can simply plug into the USB port on the front or back of the computer. Generally it is a good idea to reboot your computer before using the device.
In Windows 98, you may have to configure the "Add New Hardware" dialog box that comes up when the device is connected. Usually you will have to tell it where the drivers are, or it will find them itself. Again, check the instructions that came with the device.
Troubleshooting Device Issues
If the device is not recognized, first check the obvious:
Are the cables securely connected?
Is the device powered?
Is the device ready, and not showing error messages?
Did you insert the proper CD or floppy drive?
Did you restart your computer?
Did you connect the device before the install was complete?
If none of these are the case, make sure your version of Windows is supported by the device drivers. Some older devices won't work properly with Windows XP without an updated driver that usually has to be downloaded off the Internet. Newer devices sometimes have difficulty working with Windows 98, and Windows 95 has virtually no USB support at all, and definitely no Firewire.
If you still have issues, consult the troubleshooting section of the instructions, browse the company website for support, or call their help-line.