So you got or gave a computer for Christmas
12-24-2010, 07:19 AM
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So you got or gave a computer for Christmas
The Holidays are such a wonderful time of year, with an influx of new computer users, people upgrading from their 100MHz Windows 95 machine, etc.
Here are a few tips to getting things going smoothly on your new machine, they apply to Windows users, this should only take about an hour to do at the most:
* If the machine is prebuilt, buy a pack of dvds, you've got some burning to do (if the machine doesn't have a burner, skip this unless you have an external burner and it didn't come with restore media). These days manufacturers try to skimp out even more by not including restore media, instead there is a restore partition on the hdd (which you can keep or delete and absorb into the main partition, I'd recommend keeping it), which while useful, is useless if the hdd dies, so read that manual section on making restore media and do it, keep these dvds in a relatively safe place. Alternatively, don't do this, and just download a (crack-free, your legit license key is on that sticker on the machine) copy of the OEM (not retail) install media for Windows and never worry about uninstalling bloatware next time you nuke and pave.
* Some folks find User Account Control annoying, here's how to change the settings for it: click on the start icon, and then the icon that is your user picture (sticks out a little above the start menu). This takes you to the User Accounts window, which is where you can add and remove users, manage accounts, etc, but also modify UAC settings. Click on Change User Account Control settings and move the slider to your preferred level (I highly recommend leaving UAC on for non-administrative user accounts) if Windows 7, or turn it off and reboot if Vista.
* The majority of preassembled systems with Windows come with a ton of bloatware, free trials, etc. This complete and utter crap (some of which is disguised to make it seem important) serves no purpose other than to waste precious resource. Removal of this crap is priority number one after getting to the desktop for the first time and installing your preferred browser. There are tools for doing this but they don't cover everything. Get PCDecrapifier (I think it's spelled that way) and run it, it'll remove a lot of the crap and you can get rid of it once it's done. Then get CCleaner, take a gander at the settings for application temporary files cleanup, then run it and follow the prompts, then run the registry cleanup (backup the registry first!). Now, Google the make and model of the new computer with "bloatware removal" next to it (e.x. "toshiba portege 660CDT bloatware removal"), you should find a forum or something with a list of programs that are installed on the machine that are not necessary. Now goto the Uninstall or change a program window and uninstall any remaining software on that list that was not nuked by pcdecrapifier, run ccleaner registry cleanup again. Congratulations, your computer should now run significantly better, boot faster, and crap golden goose eggs.
* DO NOT install Norton/Symantec ANYTHING, EVER. These are literally some of the worst pieces of software in existence, and if you are a college student who's school requires Norton AV, you have my pity. Uninstalling any Norton/Symantec product is an exercise in futility that will end with much crying and gnashing of teeth, and a format and reinstall. If the machine came with a Norton trial "installed" but never once run (if it's already running, you're scr00bed), now is your only chance to be rid of it. For Anti-Virus, look no further than Nod32, AVG is good but not as good, don't bother with anything else, even if it's free crap is still crap. For anti-spy/malware, learn how to surf the web instead of clicking every link and Malwarebytes will be all you will ever need and you'll only need to run it once in a never. If you're a power user, there's also Hijackthis, which you should already know about (why are you reading this if you're a power user).
* Now, go to the system properties, click on System protection, and for each drive listed select the drive, click on configure, move the slider all the way to the left and turn off system protection. Restore Points, while a great idea, are a terrible thing to use, and a huge waste of space, the reason why you want to turn it off is because these days having it on is a big security hazard, as some viruses are capable of inserting themselves into restore points, making it impossible to remove them by restoring.
* Go to your machine's manufacturer's website and download any drivers or utilities (the utilities that aren't considered bloatware that is) updates that are there and install them. Run CCleaner again (though you could always just make this the only time you run ccleaner during this process).
* Take care of your personal prefs, like windows updates (you know you can turn off the auto-reboot, and auto-install features, and just have it notify you, right?), security settings, advanced system settings (check out the performance settings if you haven't before), themes, etc.
* Enjoy your new computer.
I'm sure some folks here have other tips, but these will get you to a nice, clean system.
Tips for new Mac owners:
* Sell the computer on eBay.
* Buy a much more reasonably priced non-Mac PC that has the same specs and pocket the difference, or with much better specs for the same cost.
* Do OSx86 if you need OSX. Slap one of those Apple logo stickers on the back of the screen.
Tips for new *nix/Other PC owners:
* Shower.
* Shave.
* Go outside.
Here are a few tips to getting things going smoothly on your new machine, they apply to Windows users, this should only take about an hour to do at the most:
* If the machine is prebuilt, buy a pack of dvds, you've got some burning to do (if the machine doesn't have a burner, skip this unless you have an external burner and it didn't come with restore media). These days manufacturers try to skimp out even more by not including restore media, instead there is a restore partition on the hdd (which you can keep or delete and absorb into the main partition, I'd recommend keeping it), which while useful, is useless if the hdd dies, so read that manual section on making restore media and do it, keep these dvds in a relatively safe place. Alternatively, don't do this, and just download a (crack-free, your legit license key is on that sticker on the machine) copy of the OEM (not retail) install media for Windows and never worry about uninstalling bloatware next time you nuke and pave.
* Some folks find User Account Control annoying, here's how to change the settings for it: click on the start icon, and then the icon that is your user picture (sticks out a little above the start menu). This takes you to the User Accounts window, which is where you can add and remove users, manage accounts, etc, but also modify UAC settings. Click on Change User Account Control settings and move the slider to your preferred level (I highly recommend leaving UAC on for non-administrative user accounts) if Windows 7, or turn it off and reboot if Vista.
* The majority of preassembled systems with Windows come with a ton of bloatware, free trials, etc. This complete and utter crap (some of which is disguised to make it seem important) serves no purpose other than to waste precious resource. Removal of this crap is priority number one after getting to the desktop for the first time and installing your preferred browser. There are tools for doing this but they don't cover everything. Get PCDecrapifier (I think it's spelled that way) and run it, it'll remove a lot of the crap and you can get rid of it once it's done. Then get CCleaner, take a gander at the settings for application temporary files cleanup, then run it and follow the prompts, then run the registry cleanup (backup the registry first!). Now, Google the make and model of the new computer with "bloatware removal" next to it (e.x. "toshiba portege 660CDT bloatware removal"), you should find a forum or something with a list of programs that are installed on the machine that are not necessary. Now goto the Uninstall or change a program window and uninstall any remaining software on that list that was not nuked by pcdecrapifier, run ccleaner registry cleanup again. Congratulations, your computer should now run significantly better, boot faster, and crap golden goose eggs.
* DO NOT install Norton/Symantec ANYTHING, EVER. These are literally some of the worst pieces of software in existence, and if you are a college student who's school requires Norton AV, you have my pity. Uninstalling any Norton/Symantec product is an exercise in futility that will end with much crying and gnashing of teeth, and a format and reinstall. If the machine came with a Norton trial "installed" but never once run (if it's already running, you're scr00bed), now is your only chance to be rid of it. For Anti-Virus, look no further than Nod32, AVG is good but not as good, don't bother with anything else, even if it's free crap is still crap. For anti-spy/malware, learn how to surf the web instead of clicking every link and Malwarebytes will be all you will ever need and you'll only need to run it once in a never. If you're a power user, there's also Hijackthis, which you should already know about (why are you reading this if you're a power user).
* Now, go to the system properties, click on System protection, and for each drive listed select the drive, click on configure, move the slider all the way to the left and turn off system protection. Restore Points, while a great idea, are a terrible thing to use, and a huge waste of space, the reason why you want to turn it off is because these days having it on is a big security hazard, as some viruses are capable of inserting themselves into restore points, making it impossible to remove them by restoring.
* Go to your machine's manufacturer's website and download any drivers or utilities (the utilities that aren't considered bloatware that is) updates that are there and install them. Run CCleaner again (though you could always just make this the only time you run ccleaner during this process).
* Take care of your personal prefs, like windows updates (you know you can turn off the auto-reboot, and auto-install features, and just have it notify you, right?), security settings, advanced system settings (check out the performance settings if you haven't before), themes, etc.
* Enjoy your new computer.
I'm sure some folks here have other tips, but these will get you to a nice, clean system.
Tips for new Mac owners:
* Sell the computer on eBay.
* Buy a much more reasonably priced non-Mac PC that has the same specs and pocket the difference, or with much better specs for the same cost.
* Do OSx86 if you need OSX. Slap one of those Apple logo stickers on the back of the screen.
Tips for new *nix/Other PC owners:
* Shower.
* Shave.
* Go outside.
Last edited by Magnusian; 12-24-2010 at 07:26 AM.
04-05-2011, 06:49 AM
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Tips for new Mac owners:
* Sell the computer on eBay.
* Buy a much more reasonably priced non-Mac PC that has the same specs and pocket the difference, or with much better specs for the same cost.
* Sell the computer on eBay.
* Buy a much more reasonably priced non-Mac PC that has the same specs and pocket the difference, or with much better specs for the same cost.
hahhahahha i like that
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