Connections

A much more detailed set of information can be found at Technick.net - an excellent resource.

In simple terms a MALE connector has pins that protrude and a FEMALE connector has holes to fit the male pins.

Note that serial 1&2 are MALE connectors, Parallel Printer & Game ports are FEMALE.
AUDIO - typically green is LINE OUT (to speakers) blue is LINE IN and pink is MICrophone IN.

	Keyboard and PS2 mouse connector (FEMALE). The keyboard and mouse plugs that fit these have very fine pins so make sure you have aligned them correctly and do not force them into the socket, they WILL break. The keyboard socket is usually PURPLE and the mouse connection is usually GREEN.
	RJ45 LAN connection. Used to connect your computer to a HUB, another computer or BROADBAND modem. See notes re cable configuration. RJ45 connections have 8 pins.
	USB (type A) socket on COMPUTER. Connects to devices such as scanners, printers, broadband modems, PSTN (normal) modems, cameras and many more.
	USB (type B) socket on DEVICE. Some devices such as cameras have a smaller connector to this but are normally supplied with an appropriate cable.
	25 pin FEMALE connection on COMPUTER. Usually a parallel printer connection but MAY be a SCSI connection to a scanner etc. If you only have ONE connection like this it is very likely to be a parallel printer port.
	36 pin connection on printer. This connects to the 25 pin parallel port on your computer using a standard 'centronics' printer cable.
	9 pin MALE connection on computer. This is a serial (comm) port used to connect to serial devices such as modems and some printers or plotters. May also connect to various specialist devices such as telephone monitoring systems and industrial data gatherers.
	25 pin MALE connection on computer. This is a serial (comm) port used to connect to serial devices such as modems and some printers or plotters. May also connect to various specialist devices such as telephone monitoring systems and industrial data gatherers.
	15 pin FEMALE connection on COMPUTER. This is a VGA monitor connector and connects to either CRT or LCD monitors. The video plugs that fit these have very fine pins so make sure you have aligned them correctly and do not force them into the socket, they WILL break.
	RJ11 MODEM connection. Found on INTERNAL modems and connects to the telephone line. RJ11 connections have room for 6 pins. Sometimes only 2 or 4 pins are fitted however.
	FIREWIRE (IEEE1394) connection on COMPUTER. Connects to high speed devices such as external hard disk drives and video cameras.
	IEC Power connector. This is the power lead that connects your computer to the mains (240V)  power supply.
	Disk Drive & CDROM Drive power connector. black is ground (0V) yellow is +12V, red is +5V.