Since it’s still the start of the year, it hasn’t been long since the holidays. Most people likely got a new computer as a gift. Now they’re wondering how to get started with it. In this article, I will go over the first things to do with a new PC. I’ll be focusing on Windows 10 computers for the purposes of this post. This is basic stuff, so I won’t go into a lot of detail.
Tech experts agree this is one of the most important things to do with a new computer. Keeping your software updated strengthens Windows against new malware and attack vectors. It often comes with new features as well. While sometimes Windows updates can break stuff, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
To check for updates, you need to have an Internet connection set up. Once done, go to Settings, then Update & Security, and click on Check for updates. This may take a little while depending on your Internet speed and how many updates your computer needs. For this reason, it’s best to check for updates when you don’t need to use your PC right away.
SET UP A WINDOWS PASSWORD OR A PIN
If you do nothing else to protect your computer, configure a password or a PIN to log in. Other than your smartphone, your PC contains your most important information and files. Not setting up a password/PIN is akin to leaving your house’s front door unlocked all the time. Another big no-no is to set up obvious passwords like “qwerty” or “abc12345”.
There’s a good way to protect your Windows PC without having to enter a complicated password every time you log in. When you first set up your computer, configure it with your Microsoft Account. It can be the same one you use for your Outlook or Hotmail account (if you have one). After that, go to Settings, then Accounts, and then Sign-in options. Click on Windows Hello PIN, and then follow the steps. Enter a 5- or 6-digit number, and that’s it. Now you can log in to your computer with it. This PIN is secure and convenient because it only unlocks your computer. If anyone learns your PIN, they cannot use it to access your Microsoft account or services (like Outlook or OneDrive).
INSTALL SECURITY SOFTWARE
Windows updates only go so far to keep your computer safe. You need software to protect against malware, too. For most users, Windows Security is good enough. It’s installed by default on PCs running Windows 10 1809 (September 2018) update and later. Reviews claim that Windows Security has improved significantly since it was Windows Defender. It now offers excellent protection, making it one of the best free antivirus suites. For an alternative, you can check out Bitdefender Antivirus Free. It’s basic yet powerful, and it doesn’t nag you with update messages or other popups. Avast Free Antivirus is another excellent free antimalware app. It has more options, including a VPN, a file shredder (to securely delete files), and a password manager. UPDATE 1/29/2020: Several reports have found that popular antivirus programs collect sensitive user data, and then sell it. The data contains all browsing history and site clicks. This includes watch activity on video sites and even Google Maps GPS locations. For this reason, I no longer recommend Avast, AVG, or any of the antivirus suites involved. If you'd rather get a paid antivirus software, I recommend Kaspersky Internet Security. It often gets top scores from independent testing labs. Kaspersky provides top-notch protection and has a clean UI, so it’s easy to use.
REMOVE ANY PROGRAMS YOU DON’T WANT
Unless you built your new PC yourself, it probably came with a lot of pre-installed software. Most of it isn’t very useful, which is why most technicians call it “bloatware”. They may not be doing much harm where they are, but they do slow down your computer.
To get rid of all these programs fast, use PC Decrapifier. As its name suggests, it searches your computer for bloatware and lets you uninstall them. After running a scan, you can select all the programs you don’t want. This way you don’t have to go to Control Panel and uninstall them all one by one. And yes, PC Decrapifier is completely free.
INSTALL YOUR FAVORITE ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE
The next thing to do with your new PC is to install your preferred software. You can transfer your settings from your previous Windows computer, though it’s better to start from scratch. That means you don’t move over any unnecessary files (like temporary files and old system DLLs). Among other software, you likely need a Web browser, an office suite, a music streaming program, and an email client.
There’s a handy service that lets you download and install various programs of your choice at once. It’s like the opposite of PC Decrapifier. The service is called Ninite. It used to be an installable program, but is now run from a Web site. Go to the Ninite main page and select which programs you want. When you’re done, click on the blue Get Your Ninite button. It will download a custom installer. Run it and it will install your requested software without your input. Ninite will get the latest version of every program, skip restart requests, and will not install toolbars or other bloatware. It will save you quite a bit of time.
BACK UP YOUR PERSONAL FILES
If you don’t already have a backup method in place, now is the time to configure one. Your files are the most valuable part of your computer. Having only one copy of them is a big risk. Today, cloud backup services make it easy to safeguard your data. Among the best ones are Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and for Apple users, iCloud. They each have their pros and cons and offer different amounts of storage capacity. If you don’t trust the cloud for storing your files, you can opt for an external hard drive or SSD. USB flash drives may seem suitable, but they aren’t reliable as a backup method. Also, make sure you don’t leave the external hard drive plugged into your PC all the time. That defeats the purpose of using it for backups. It also leaves it vulnerable in the event your computer is affected by a virus or ransomware. It’s better to store the drive somewhere safe.
OPTIONAL: UPDATE YOUR DEVICE DRIVERS
This step is better left for someone who knows what they’re doing. The device drivers that come with your computer are often more than good enough. If a problem arises with a new device, it often has to do with its driver. To check this, click on the Start button and then type “device”. Click on the suggestion that says Device Manager. A window will open showing a list of all the devices connected to your computer. If everything is okay, nothing should jump out at you. When a device is not working properly, there will be a yellow “!” icon or a white “?” icon next to its picture. You can right-click on a device to update its driver or check its properties.
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