Serial connection - computer running

[Iturea]

Can you plug in a serial cable to the motherboard while the computer is running or do you have to shut the computer down first?

I know you can plug in USB cables while the computer is running but that is the only thing I know of you can do this.

I basically need to plug in a serial connection from my computer to my router to hyper terminal to it...

Any thoughts?

[Jarhed7276]

You shouldn't connect a serial plug to the port while it is running.
You run the risk of shorting out your system.

[Iturea]

Thanks - I kind of figured that!