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Set Up A New PC With Windows XP
So,
you got a new PC for the holidays? You're not alone. By one reliable estimate,
PC makers sold more than 164 million new computers in 2004, with the lion's
share being sold in the fourth quarter. Your new PC undoubtedly came with
Windows XP pre-installed, and with just a few clicks, you can get past the basic
setup and begin working with Windows. But don't be too quick to dive in. Pay a
little attention to some simple setup details now, and you can avoid headaches
later. In this column, I share the checklist I use when setting up a new
computer. Follow this advice to make sure that your PC is secure and that your
data and settings are well organized.
Before You Begin
Before you begin the
actual work of setting up your new computer, you need to gather some essential
tools and information. If you collect this information now, you won't be stymied
later.
You'll need the following items:
Your Windows XP CD and product key. You may
be asked for this at some point when installing Windows additional features.
Passwords
and logon information for Internet access, e-mail accounts, and other protected
services.
Up-to-date
antivirus software, including the latest definition files. If you use Symantec
Norton Antivirus you can locate the latest virus definitions at
Symantec's Security Response site. Users of McAfee products can find patches
and updates at the
McAfee Security Downloads
page.
The
latest service pack for Windows XP, if it's not already installed on your
computer, along with any critical updates. Although you can add these from
Windows Update, downloading the files and burning them to a CD minimizes the
risk that you'll connect an unprotected system to the Internet. Visit the
Windows Downloads site to search for service packs and other important
security updates.
Windows-XP
compatible drivers for external hardware devices. (The original CD is a good
starting point, but you'll have best results if you download the most recent
version from the hardware manufacturer's Web site.)
Original
program disks and CDs for third-party software. For programs you've downloaded
from the Internet, burn the original setup files to a CD if possible. Don't
forget to save serial numbers and license keys for programs that require them.
If your current computer
doesn't have a CD burner, use a USB-based flash drive. These simple little
devices, with storage capacities of 32 MB or more, work on any computer and
offer a simple, fast way to move files from one computer to another.
Step 1: Take Inventory
Plug in the CPU, connect
the keyboard and mouse, and attach a monitor. Then push the power switch and
make sure everything's working right. Go through the basic setup steps required
to get to the Windows desktop, but don't hook up any non-essential hardware
devices or connect to the Internet yet. Here are a few tests I always perform:
During
the shipping process, cables can come loose. Remove the cover and verify that
the CPU, add-in cards, and memory chips are firmly seated and that all fans are
working properly.
Give
your storage system a quick workout by copying some files from CD and DVD drives
to your hard disk.
If
you own a notebook, test your battery, inspect your LCD, configure power
management, and deal with other options that are unique to portable PCs.
Click
Start, right-click
My Computer, and then click Properties.
The General tab of the
System Properties dialog box, shown in Figure 1, contains details
about your CPU speed, amount of installed memory, and which Windows XP service
pack is installed. Make sure these details match what you see on the invoice
that came with your new computer.
For a detailed look at
the components and software installed on your new computer, click
Start, click Run,
enter msinfo32 in the Open box, and then
click OK. The
System Information dialog box, shown below, provides a wealth of
information about your new computer.
Step 2: Get Connected—Safely
In the 21st Century, a
computer without Internet access is practically useless. But a computer with an
insecure Internet connection is downright dangerous. Setting up a new computer
creates a dilemma for most people. You have to connect to the Internet to
download updates, but how do you avoid exposing yourself to hostile software
like the Blaster worm, which can spread over any network connection? Here's the
safest procedure to follow:
Install
antivirus software first. Normally, you would use the software's automatic
update features to get the latest updates. Because you downloaded those updates
earlier and copied them to a CD or a USB-based external storage device, you can
apply them now and ensure that you're fully protected from any threats.
Enable
a firewall to protect your computer from network-based threats. A hardware
router offers protection from network-based security threats. If you don't have
a router, turn on the
Internet Connection Firewall that comes with Windows XP.
With those preliminaries
out of the way, you can now plug in your network cable (or connect your modem to
a phone line, if you're using a dial-up connection) and run the Network Setup
Wizard. In Control Panel, click Network and Internet
Connections, and then pick the appropriate task:
Set up or change your Internet connection or
Set up or change your home or small office network.
The wizard configures your Internet connection and sets up the appropriate
security options. If you have more than one computer in your home or small
office, the wizard helps you set up your network as well.
Step 3: Protect Your PC and Your Privacy
Your brand-new computer
is free of viruses, worms, and spyware. Now's the perfect time to make sure it
stays that way. The first challenge is to bring Windows up to date. After that,
you can configure your computer to automatically update Windows and your
antivirus software. With those essentials out of the way, you can configure the
security and privacy options that are part of Windows XP. Here's the checklist:
Run
Windows Update. From Internet Explorer, on the
Tools menu, click Windows Update,
and then click Scan for Updates. (If this is
the first time you've visited Windows Update, you'll need to click
OK to a security dialog box that asks your
permission to install the latest version of the Windows Update software.)
Install everything you find in the Critical Updates and
Service Packs category. Read the descriptions of the items in the
Windows XP and
Driver Updates category and install any that are appropriate for your
system. You might need to restart your computer and run Windows Update several
times to be sure you've installed all necessary updates.
Set
up
Automatic Updates to ensure that your PC remains protected. Click
Start, right-click
My Computer, and then click Properties.
In the System Properties dialog box, on the
Automatic Updates tab, and select the
Keep my computer up to date check box, and
then click Download the updates automatically and
notify me when they are ready to be installed. Click OK to
save your changes.
Adjust
privacy settings to control cookies. From Internet Explorer, on the
Tools menu, click
Internet Options. On the Privacy
tab, you can choose one of the preset cookie-handling options. For maximum
control over cookies, I recommend that you click
Advanced and set custom options as shown in the figure below. With
these settings in place, you can give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down each time you
visit a new site that wants to set a cookie, but you won't be pestered after
that. Third-party cookies, which are most likely to invade your privacy, are
blocked by default.
Configure
automatic updates for your antivirus software. See the program's documentation
for specific instructions.
If
you use additional security software, such as a third-party firewall program,
security suite, or spyware blocker, install it now.
Step 4: Personalize and Organize
One of the most
frustrating parts of adjusting to a new computer is fine-tuning the many
settings and preferences that you've tweaked over the years to make Windows
easier to use. At this point in the process, I typically go through a series of
dialog boxes and change settings to match my preferences.
In
Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes,
and then click Folder Options. Go
through the options on the View tab to
adjust Windows Explorer preferences. For instance, I like to display the full
path in the Address bar, an option that is disabled by default.
From
Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click
Internet Options. On the
General tab, I like to click the
Settings button under
Temporary Internet Files and adjust the size of the Temporary
Internet Files folder to no more than 20 MB. The preferences on the
Advanced tab are especially useful to power
users.
Right-click
any blank portion of the desktop and click Properties.
From the Display Properties dialog box, you
can adjust the screen resolution, change your desktop background, and add
password protection to your screen saver.
Right-click
Start, click
Properties, and adjust settings for the Start menu and taskbar. You
can choose the Classic Start menu or use the Windows XP-style interface. Click
Customize to specify which icons and menus
should be available from the Start menu.
Open
Windows Explorer, navigate to the Desktop, right-click the
Recycle Bin, and click Properties.
I don't need to see an "Are you sure?" dialog box every time I delete a file, so
I clear the Display delete confirmation dialog
check box. You might also want to lower the amount of space Windows reserves for
the Recycle Bin, especially if you have a very large hard drive.
Finally,
I install a copy of the superb Tweak UI, part of the
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP collection.
At this point, you're
ready to begin hooking up hardware, installing software, and preparing to
transfer files from your old computer (a topic I'll cover in my next Expert Zone
column). But before you do that, I recommend that you back up your system. You
can use the
Windows XP Backup program or a third-party utility like
Drive Image or
Norton Ghost, which takes a snapshot of your entire computer. If anything
goes wrong, you can restore the backup and get back to your current state,
without having to go through this painstaking process again.
Walton Chin
Certified
Microsoft Office Specialist (C.M.O.S)
If
you have any comments about this article you can send
them to me at
wchin@primus.ca
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