Lay each cable out neatly next to the device to which it belongs. Now you're back to square one, and you can begin connecting everything again--the right way.

Now that you've untangled the cables so that they no longer resemble some sort of warped Rubik's puzzle, you need to take the time to label them. Trust me: It will simplify life in the long run. Eventually you'll need to replace or troubleshoot something, and you'll be thanking me for prodding you to label your cables.

Attach a label to each cord or cable describing which device or peripheral it connects. I recommend using a label maker to create nice, legible labels. You don't need to be that fancy, though; writing a label on a piece of paper and using clear tape to attach it, or attaching strips of masking tape and writing directly on them, will do the trick. Just make sure that the labels are easy to read, or you will create a whole different kind of frustration.