Buttons and Ports on a Computer

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What is an Optical Disc Drive?

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Often called a CD ROM or DVD ROM drive, it lets your computer read CDs and DVDs.

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What is the function of the Power Button on a computer?

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The power button is used to power the computer on and off. It can also be used to place the computer in different power-saving modes such as hibernate, sleep, and standby.

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What are Audio In/Audio Out ports used for?

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They allow you to connect speakers, microphones, and headsets to the computer.

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What can USB (Universal Serial Bus) Ports be used for?

Back

USB ports can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras.

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What is the Power Socket used for?

Back

It is where you'll connect the power cord to the computer.

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What is the Ethernet Port used for?

Back

It is used for networking and connecting to the Internet.

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What is the Monitor Port used for?

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It is where you'll connect your monitor cable. It can be a DisplayPort, VGA, DVI, or HDMI port.

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What is a Serial Port?

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A less common port on today's computers, previously used to connect peripherals like digital cameras.

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What are PS/2 ports used for?

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They are sometimes used for connecting the mouse & keyboard, typically color-coded green for mouse and purple for keyboard.

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What are Expansion Slots?

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Empty slots where expansion cards are added to computers, such as a video card.