First 10 things I do to a new computer

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If you’re like me, anytime you get your hands on a new computer there are a handful of things you do to it. That could be if the computer is for your use or for someone else. Here is my top 10 things I do:

  1. If there is trialware software, I remove it – especially if it is anti-virus software! Clean up all of the unneeded software
  2. Run Microsoft Updates to ensure the operating system is fully patched. Even newly shipped computers can need 10’s to over 100 updates!
  3. Visit the hardware manufacture’s website such as the Dell Support Website and check for updates to the BIOS and other hardware. As with #2 above, the vast majority of computer shipped directly from the manufacture is running old software such as BIOS and firmware.
  4. Install a web browser of choice – for me I install both Chrome and Firefox.
  5. Install a handful of standard apps every user needs:
    1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
    2. Java for Desktop Computers
    3. Adobe Flash Player (but you’ll need to do this for each browser you use)
    4. Adobe Shockwave Player (old, but some sites still require it)
    5. Adobe AIR Player (used on some sites)
    6. VLC (plays just about any media)
    7. Open Office (if you don’t own a copy of Microsoft Office)
    8. Virtual Drive Clone (lets you mount ISO as if they were CDs)
  6. Install any purchased or commercial software
  7. Download and CCleaner, and run the registry cleanup utility – during the install, I uncheck virtually all of the install options. I like this tool hidden, not actively running, and not even viewable on the start menu. I will execute it from the “Program Files” directory manually. I prefer an un-cluttered Start menu, so many utilities, especially for other people, I keep un-linked in the start menu.
  8. Install Anti-virus software:
    1. I prefer commercial Anti-virus software, and never recommend a consumer grade AV software for anyone
    2. If you don’t have access to a commercial/business AV software, choose Microsoft Security Essentials – a lightweight, free, non-ad driven Anti-virus software
  9. Run a disk defragmentation software, either Microsoft’s built in utility, or Diskkeeper (highly recommend)
  10. Setup a non-administrative user account. If this is a domain based workstation, then this is likely already taken care of but for small work groups, friends or family personal computers, I always setup two accounts. Their “user” account and their “adminsitator account”. Both have passwords, typically the same password to make it easy for them. I have them always use the “user account”. And if appropraite setup the computer to auto login to that account.

In the next article I will discuss some of the software tools I install on my own workstations as an administrator and power user.

Enjoy!