Tired of that old 15-inch CRT monitor hogging space on your desk? A new monitor is one of the quickest and easiest ways to upgrade your PC. Nowadays, there are lots of affordable options to choose from, including affordable 17-inch (or larger) CRTs and space-saving, 15-inch flat-panel displays, an increasingly popular alternative. Best of all, in most cases, all you need to do is plug it in and install new drivers.

Power down your PC.. Turn off your computer and monitor, unplug both power cords, disconnect your monitor from your computer, and remove your old monitor.

Attach the new monitor. First, plug the monitor into the PC. In most cases, you'll use the same connector. On some systems, the VGA port (a 15-pin connector) will be located on the motherboard, though it might also be on a separate PCI card. If you purchased a flat-panel display with a digital video interface (DVI), you'll need a video card with a separate DVI connector and a compatible cable. Next, plug in the power cords.

Let Windows detect the new hardware. When you turn your computer back on, Windows should automatically detect your new hardware. Follow the directions for installing the drivers for your monitor. At some point, the wizard asks whether you have a disk for your new monitor. If you have one, insert it at the right time, then choose the driver. In many cases, you won't need to install drivers because many monitors work with generic Windows Plug and Play drivers.

Troubleshoot. If Windows doesn't detect your monitor, you have to tell Windows to find it by using the Add New Hardware wizard in the Control Panel. Again, the wizard will ask whether you have a disk for your new monitor. If you have one, insert it at the correct time, and choose the driver from there. If your monitor comes with special software or utilities, install them after you've installed the drivers.