I/O Device Basics
This is the best guide for installing and supporting an I/O device.
What is the manufacturer's instructions?
This video port is commonly used for high-definition audio and video transmission.
What is HDMI?
This software utility in Windows is commonly used to uninstall, disable, or enable devices.
What is Device Manager?
This is the first thing to check if a monitor is turned on but shows no image.
What is the video cable connection?
A user cannot log in because the keyboard is not responding. This key should be checked first.
What is the NumLock key?
This type of account is required in Windows to install certain I/O devices.
What is an administrator account?
This Apple-specific connector is used to charge and transfer data between mobile devices.
What is Lightning?
If replacing an onboard port with an adapter card, this step must be done in BIOS/UEFI before installation.
What is disabling the onboard port?
This monitor type uses a thin layer of LED material and does not require backlighting.
What is OLED?
A laptop screen is black, but the power light is on. Connecting an external monitor can help determine if this component is faulty.
What is the LCD panel?
This is the term for a device that can be connected and disconnected without restarting the computer.
What is hot-swappable?
This port, now mostly replaced by USB, was once the standard for serial communication.
What is RS-232?
This input device, commonly used by graphic designers, is also called a digitizing tablet.
What is a graphics tablet?
This feature allows a computer to send video output to multiple monitors simultaneously.
What is dual monitor support?
A user reports distorted or flickering video. Updating this component’s drivers can help resolve the issue.
What is the video card?
This type of connection allows up to 127 devices to be daisy-chained together.
What is USB?
This high-speed connection is often used for external storage and display devices on high-end computers.
What is Thunderbolt?
For a laptop keyboard replacement, this must be removed first before accessing the keyboard ribbon cable.
What is the keyboard bezel?
A monitor's image is blurry. Adjusting this setting to match the screen's native value can fix the issue.
What is screen resolution?
If a mouse cursor is drifting when not in use, this could be a likely cause.
What is a faulty touchpad or mouse sensor?
This is one of the most common reasons for I/O device malfunction, often requiring an update or reinstallation.
What is a driver issue?
This external storage connection is an alternative to USB and is often found on older systems.
What is eSATA?
A new USB device is connected to a Windows system. This is the first action the OS takes.
What is launching Windows Device Setup?
This issue occurs when an image remains faintly visible on an LCD screen after being displayed for a long time.
What is burn-in?
A new scanner is connected to a computer but is not recognized. This Windows utility can help check for installation issues.
What is Device Manager?