How To Set Up a New Computer

There’s a reason computer stores sell concierge services to set up your new machine — getting these things out of the box and plugged in represents only the start of the fun.

Outsourcing the labor of fixing system settings, ditching unwanted software and configuring a backup routine can save time, but doing the job yourself will save cash and help acquaint you with the computer. And with the arrival of Microsoft’s Windows 7 and Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard, some of this work has gotten easier than it was just a year ago.

The first step, as ever, has to be securing the computer against online threats. On a PC, you won’t be able to avoid this — the bundled security program will pop up windows demanding that you register and start your trial subscription.If you like whatever software your vendor included, follow those prompts to set it up for PA3399U-1BRS,. If not, dump it — as with any other program, go to Windows 7’s Control Panel and click its “Uninstall a program” link — and then install Microsoft’s free, offective Microsoft Security Essentials.

On a Mac, you have to do only one thing, but it’s not obvious: Turn on the system firewall that Apple inexplicably left off. Open System Preferences, click its Security icon, click the Firewall tab and click its Start button.At this point, either Windows or Mac OS X should have begun fetching software updates for you (if not, click the Windows Control Panel’s “Check for updates” link or select OS X’s Software Update program from the Apple-icon menu for GK479 ). After they do their job, you’ll have to fill in a few gaps.

Whether on a Mac or a PC, get the latest version of the Adobe Flash plug-in, used to play videos and other interactive content on the Web, . Windows users will also need the latest fixes for Adobe’s Reader , Sun Microsystems’ Java and Apple’s QuickTime .

Your second move has to be setting up a backup routine. In Windows, type “backup” into the Control Panel’s search box — or click the little flag in the bottom right corner of the screen for VGP-BPS8, Win 7’s way of reminding you about pending system-maintenance chores — to have Windows start backing up your data to a CD, DVD, or external flash or hard drive. Apple’s Time Machine software is simpler but pickier, requiring a separate hard drive. If you don’t have one, make that your very next purchase.

With security and backup done, your third move can be de-cluttering the computer. There’s far more of this to do on most PCs, thanks to the inept software bundles that most manufacturers inflict on their customers for Presario 2500 Battery. Drag any unwanted desktop links or shortcuts to the Recycle Bin; hide space-wasting browser toolbars by clicking the “x” at the left end of each; and uninstall trial software and other bundleware you’re sure you don’t want through the Control Panel.

More info: discount-laptop-batteries

  1. obolog.com
  2. beeplog.com/