How to Hook Up Speakers on Windows XP

1. Set up the speakers. Ideally, you should arrange your speakers around your PC's monitor. If your computer speaker system includes a sub-woofer, you will have to plug each speaker into the sub-woofer using its color-coded system. Behind or underneath each speaker, you will find an 'R' or 'L' indicating whether the speaker should be placed on your right or your left. After you have arranged all of the speakers, plug the speaker system's power adapter into a power outlet and turn them on.
2. Locate your PC's sound card. On the back of your computer tower, you will find a group of color-coordinated audio jacks. This is your PC's sound card. The audio jacks might also be labeled with a variety of audio-related symbols, such as a microphone and a pair of headphones. Even if your computer has additional audio jacks on the front panel, you should use the computer's sound card found on the back of the computer. This is because the jacks on the front panel are intended only for headphones, not speaker systems.
3. Plug the audio cable into the sound card. Your computer speaker system will include a speaker cable that has a 1/8 inch jack on one or both ends. Plug this audio cable, which may be colored green on its ends, into the green audio jack on your computer's sound card. If your speaker system includes a sub-woofer, the sub-woofer will also have a green jack for this audio cable to be plugged in.
4. Test each speaker by opening a sound file. Windows XP contains a folder of sample audio you can use to test your speakers. To open one of these audio files, double-click your 'My Documents' folder and open the 'My Music' folder. Inside the My Music folder you will find a folder called 'Sample Music.' Double-click the folder, then double-click one of the Windows Media files to play the music in the Windows Media Player. Check that sound is coming from each speaker. If you do not hear the music, check that the speakers are securely plugged into your sound card and that the volume is not muted or turned all the way down.
5. Adjust your audio settings using the 'Volume Control' tool. Double-click the speaker icon found in the system tray. When the Volume Control loads, you will see several volume controls where you can adjust the master volume, wave volume, CD audio volume and other audio source volumes. To adjust the bass and treble, click the 'Advanced' button and move the slider left or right to increase or decrease the bass or treble.