Setting Up Your PC

SETTING UP YOUR PC

NOTE: These instructions will guide you through setting up your computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers/headphones. If you have not purchased a full bundle from us, the instructions will be similar for your own equipment.

Unpack the monitor and computer from the box. Remove any protective film and place them where you want to set up. Be sure to place your computer in a well-ventilated area (see FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for more information). This will help to prevent overheating.
Locate the monitor cable (e.g. VGA, DVI, HDMI). Connect one end to the port on the back of the computer and the other end to the monitor. If the cable has plastic-covered screws, hand-tighten these to secure the cable.

NOTE: If your PC comes with a graphics card, you will need to ensure the cable is connected to this and not the motherboard. See the TROUBLESHOOTING section for more information and a diagram.
Unpack the keyboard and mouse and connect to the black USB 2.0 ports on the rear of the computer. There are also blue USB 3.0 ports which work faster with compatible devices, but usually won’t work until drivers are installed.
If you have external speakers or headphones, you can connect them to the computer’s audio ports on the back of the case. Most computers have colour-coded ports. Speakers/headphones connect to the green port, microphones connect to the pink port and the blue port is line in. If you are using a 5.1 system, the way the ports work can usually be changed to match your cables using software.

Some speakers, headphones and microphones have USB connectors instead of the usual audio connection. These can be connected to any USB port. Some monitors also have in-built speakers.
Locate the power cables for the computer and monitor. Connect the computer and monitor and then plug the power cables into your electricity sockets. We recommend using a surge protector as this will help to prevent damage to your PC and/or data loss from a power surge.
Ensure the power switch on the back of the computer is turned on. Your PC is now set-up and ready to go! If you didn’t purchase Windows with the PC, you will need to install an Operating System and Drivers (see INSTALLING WINDOWS and INSTALLING DRIVERS).

‘REBOOT AND SELECT PROPER BOOT DEVICE’

If you have bought a PC without an operating system, you may get a mesage similar to this when you first turn onyour PC. An Operating System is software which allows your PC to run applications, e.g. games and the internet. There are many different operating systems, but the one most people are familiar with is Windows, e.g. Windows 10.

If you are installing Windows, please follow the instructions below once you have a CD/DVD or USB drive. Otheroperating systems (e.g. Ubuntu Linux) will install similarly, so you may be able to use these instructions as a guide.

INSTALLING WINDOWS

If your PC does not come with an Operating System (e.g. Windows), the instructions below will guide you through installing your own copy of Windows.

NOTE: These instructions are for the installation of Windows 8. Installing Windows 10 is very similar, though somesteps will be in a slightly different order.

1. With your Windows DVD in your primary optical drive, turn on your PC and start tapping the F12 key. Choose the optical drive (usually mentions ‘CDDVDW’) as the boot device and press the ‘enter’ key.
Once the Windows installation screen appears, choose your preferences for Language, Time/Currency & Keyboard or Input method that you’d like to use in your installation.
Click on the Install Now button.
Important: If you’re performing a clean install of Windows as a solution to a major problem, we recommend running Start-up Repair first.
You will be prompted for your Windows product key. This can be found on your Windows box/envelope/DVD. It is the code made up of five blocks, e.g. XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
The next box is the Windows software license. Read through the agreement, check the ‘I accept the license terms checkbox’ and click Next to confirm you agree.
When prompted to select the type of installation you want, click on the Custom (advanced) button to install a new copy of Windows.
In this screen, you’ll see each HDD & partition that Windows recognizes. If you are installing Windows for the first time, just select your main Hard Drive and click Next.

If you are reinstalling Windows, click the Drive options (advanced) link to make more options available. You can now delete any operating system related partitions from your existing hard drive(s). Highlight the partition you want to delete and then click the Delete link. Once you have deleted all the old partitions you will most likely be left with a single unallocated drive (unless you have more than one Hard Drive). Select the unallocated space to install Windows on and click Next.
Windows will now begin installation. Your PC will restart a number of times during this process - this is normal. Once installation has finished, you will be presented with a Personalise screen. Click Next once you’ve chosen a colour and entered a computer name.
At the next screen you will be asked to choose some settings, for example Security and Windows Updates. We recommend you click Use Express Settings, which will automatically configure settings for you.
When prompted to create a User Account, if you do not wish to link a Microsoft Account to your Windows installation, simply click Sign in without a Microsoft Account.
Windows is now installed.

INSTALLING DRIVERS

Once Windows is installed, you will need to install Drivers for your PC. Drivers help Windows recognise the hardware in your system - without them your PC will not function correctly.
Usually, all the driver discs will be included with your PC. Sometimes you will need to download drivers from the manufacturer website (this is usually just with graphics cards). We recommend doing this anyway as it will mean you have the most up-to-date drivers for your hardware.
When in Windows, insert the discs included with your PC. They will either start automatically, or you may need to Double-Click the optical drive icon from Computer.
The easiest way to install the drivers is to click Express or Quick install and follow the on-screen instructions.
You may need to restart your PC after installing the individual drivers. If so, this is normal and the drivers will be installed once Windows loads back up.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is my invoice/manual/disc/wireless antenna/power cable etc?
You will receive two boxes with your PC - a large box which contains the PC itself, and a small box with the words ‘Documents and Accessories’. Any accessories (including driver CDs, Windows etc.) will be in this box.

Where is the driver disc for my Graphics Card? / Where do I download Graphics Card drivers?
Some graphics cards do not come with a disc. You will need to download drivers online from the following links:

AMD Graphics Cards: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download
NVIDIA Graphics Cards: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/download/index.aspx

Where do I find my Order ID/Sales Record Number?
Your Order ID/Sales Record Number can be found on your invoice. The invoices for your PC and any accessories you may have bought are included in the ‘Important Documents Enclosed’ box. Please write this number on the front of this booklet for future reference.

How do I get sound from my PC?
If your PC has a HDMI output, you can get both sound and video through one cable, providing the TV or monitor you are connecting to has speakers. If you don’t have HDMI, or you’re using separate speakers, you can connect your sound using the green 3.5mm connector on the back of your PC.

How much space should I leave around my PC?
We recommend leaving at least 4 inches on every side of your PC for optimum airflow, cooling and performance. It is very important not to keep your PC in an enclosed space.

TROUBLESHOOTING

The computer comes on, but nothing appears on my monitor
a. Ensure you have connected the monitor to the correct graphics port at the back of your PC. Some motherboards have integrated graphics, and if your PC comes with a graphics card then there will be 2 or more ports at the back of the PC. See Diagram (Graphics Card highlighted in red)

b.You may need to check if the cable is pushed in to the graphics port at the back of your PC. If it is, try using another cable if available.

c. Try using another monitor/TV if you have one available. If you get a picture then the first monitor may be faulty.

There is no HDMI port on my graphics card
Some graphics cards use a Mini-HDMI port, this is the same shape, but smaller. If this is the case you will need a HDMI to Mini HDMI cable.

My wireless signal is very poor
If your PC came with WiFi, you may need to attach the antennae. The antennae are included in the ‘Important Documents Enclosed’ Box. If you still have slow speeds, please try connecting your PC somewhere else, as speeds can vary throughout a house (e.g. a fast speed on your laptop in the kitchen doesn’t mean a fast speed on your desktop PC in the living room)

I get the mesage ‘Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key’
If your PC did not come with Windows and you are installing your own Operating System you will need to do this first. You can follow the instructions on the opposite page for installing Windows. If your PC comes with Windows and this happens when you first receive your PC, then it is likely that a cable connecting the hard drive has become loose in transit. This problem is easily fixed. Call us if you require guidance.

Setting Up Your PC