To configure a Cisco switch for the 1st time and set a hostname, you need to do the following:

• Connect PC to switch using parallel/console connection
• Open terminal emulation program (i.e. Putty)
  • Use serial connection (check Windows device manager - Ports(COM & LPT) to check which port to use)
  • Speed: 9600
  • Press connect
• If the switch has not been configured (or has had a factory reset) you're asked to enter the initial configuration dialog; type no!:
• Type the following commands:

    Switch>en
    Switch#?
    Switch#conf t
    Switch#hostname switch1
    Switch#end
    Switch#copy running-config startup-config

• Initial mode is user mode (Switch> prompt)
• Typing enable gets you into privilege mode (Switch# prompt)
• Typing ? shows available commands
• Tab completion is available but if it's clear that only 1 command is available, finishing it is not necessary.
• conf t (configure terminal) enters global configuration mode (input from terminal)
• hostname switch1 then sets the hostname
• end back to privilege mode
• copy running-config startup-config writes the config to switch