NORMAN — Have you ever wanted to move your desktop computer from one location to another, but weren’t sure where to start? With a little planning and knowledge, the chore of moving and setting up your own computer can be a trouble-free and rewarding experience; here’s how.
The first question to ask is, “Will the cords reach?” The length of your wires, such as power cords, USB cables, printer cables, phone cords, speaker cables, network cables, video cables, mouse and keyboard cables should all be considered. You may have a place picked out for your computer tower (the big box that everything plugs into), but will the cords reach? Some cables, such as power and network cables, can be very long, if needed; other cables, such as USB and video, have length limitations.
If you are using Cox cable or AT&T DSL internet services, is there a cable TV or phone jack nearby? If not, you may need to purchase cables long enough to reach from your available jacks to where your cable or DSL modem will be located.
Network cables look like phone cables, with a plastic tab that clicks and locks them in place, only the plug at the end is larger, having eight “pins” instead of four. Network cables are used in between modems, routers and your computer. Depending on the application, network cables (also known at Cat-5 or Cat-6 cables) can be used in lengths well over 100 feet before signal degradation sets in.
I have cables running all over my house, climbing up the walls and strung across the ceilings. For some folks, visible cables like these would definitely not fit in with their home’s décor and would be totally unacceptable. In such cases, the phone or cable company can run additional, in-the-wall wiring for you, or the work can be done by a licensed electrician. Hard-core, careful and knowledgeable do-it-yourselfers can do the job, too, but such activities may be frowned upon by local building code authorities.
Extender cables are available for just about everything, including your mouse or keyboard. Purchasing a wireless keyboard and mouse is an option, too, but since most people keep their mouse and keyboard perpetually in the same place, I consider such expensive wireless devices to be a bit silly.
Wireless networking, on the other hand, can be a viable option if running network cables to another part of the house is out of the question. Wireless network cards can be installed inside desktop computers, or external USB wireless networking devices can be used. Keep in mind that the more obstructions, such as walls or ceilings, that a wireless signal has to go through, the worse performance becomes. Websites can be slow to load, or fail to load altogether. Distance is a factor, as well. There are laws of physics involved here that cannot be avoided. Consumer-grade wireless equipment, such as can be bought cheaply at local big-box retailers, is relatively underpowered and is only capable of so much. To achieve acceptable performance, it may be necessary to move up to more expensive and powerful professional-grade gear.
The biggest question for many people will be, “How do I hook all this stuff up?” Much of the cabling will be obvious, as some things will only plug in one way. Even so, a homemade wiring chart can be handy. Stick-on labels can be attached to the ends of cables and the jacks to which they connect. A “Plug 1 goes into hole 1, plug 2 goes to hole 2” system can work quite well.
Unless I’m in a hurry, I almost never buy cables locally. For some reason, local prices for items like network or USB cables are exorbitantly high. The same goes for video cables, such as HDMI or S-Video cables used in home entertainment centers. If you can stand to wait a few days, buy your cables from reputable dealers on eBay; you’ll find much better prices.
Finally, be sure to backup your files before moving your computer. Accidently dropping your computer can ruin its hard drive, and all your files go down the drain. Oops.
Dave Moore has been repairing computers in Norman since 1984, when he borrowed $1,200 to buy a Commodore 64 system. He can be reached at 919-9901 or at www.davemoorecomputers.com.
