Setting up a new PC Setting up a new PC or updating an older one Technology SIG FPCUG – August 1, 2006

Overview ● Initial Steps. – Steps to take before connecting to the Internet. – Steps to take after connecting to the Internet. ● Suggested applications to install.

Initial steps ● Do not connect the computer to the internet ● Do not connect the computer to the internet until all preliminary steps have been completed. ● Make a list of all the steps you need to take and all the software you plan to initially install and print it out so you can check things off as they are completed. ● Partition or repartition the Hard Disc to suit you. You can use Fdisk or use Partition Magic (or similar) or QTPartEd (Linux).

Initial steps 2 ● Install or restore the Operating System if necessary. New systems only come with “Restore” CD's/DVD's or a Restore Partition. A new system will come with the OS pre-installed but will also include a lot of junk you will want to remove. ● Setup your Admin & User Accounts with good passwords. ● Create directories (folders) as needed.

Before connecting to the Internet ● Setting up a desktop takes quite a bit of time and effort. Setting up Windows and updating it is just the start. ● Although most devices ship with their software on a CD, it is often out of date. The manufacturer's websites have the most up to date drivers. ● The following suggestions will be useful for do-it-yourself builds, as well as preassembled desktops and notebooks.

Before Internet Steps 1 ● Update the motherboard bios directly from the manufacturer's website. ● Load the latest graphics drivers for your video card (Nvidia, ATI, etc) ● Windows patches will be out of date. Use Autopatcher to update Windows with the latest service packs and patches. ● Update audio drivers for sound boards, or integrated audio. ● Update drivers for mouse and keyboard (Logitech, etc)

Before Internet Steps 2 ● Install Antivirus software: It's important to go with one that stays up to date. AV Grisoft is free for individuals and updates automatically a few times a week. Most new machines come with a day trial of Norton Security Suite. ● Install Antispyware. See PC World for some affordable and free choices. – LavaSoft AdAwareSE – Spybot Search & Destroy – MS Malicious Software tool will be installed by MS Update. ● Install ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

Connect to the Internet ● Set up your Internet connection. – Router – Dialup ● It's always best to use a NAT router for the connection, even with dialup access and even if you only have one computer. The problem is that routers that support a dialup connection are getting very hard to find.

After connecting to the Internet ● Update your Antivirus software database definitions. ● Update Windows with the latest “Critical Updates”. Do it at least twice to be sure you got them all. ● Update your AntiSpyWare programs. ● Update ZoneAlarm if needed.

Applications to install ● Browsers – Firefox, Seamonkey ● Extensions – Opera – Flash & Shockwave Plugins ● Client – Thunderbird – Eudora – Outlook Express? ● Office Suite – OpenOffice.Org 2 + Jre – MS Office?/Office viewers?

Applications to install 2 ● Windows Power Toys – TweakUI, etc ● Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader – Pdf Viewer ● IrfanView – Image Viewer ● Audacity – Audio file editor ● VLC – Media Player ● CD/DVD burning software – Nero, Roxio, etc ● DVD Playing Software – CyberDVD, WinDVD ● Zip file manager – Winzip, 7-Zip, etc

Links ● Autopatcher - ● ZoneAlarm - ● Spybot - ● AdAware - ● Firefox, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey - ● Opera - ● Eudora - ● 7-Zip -

Links 2 ● Jre - ● OpenOffice.Org - ● IrfanView - ● VLC - ● Audacity -

Links 3 ● ATI - 4&task=knowledge&folderID=27 ● Nvidia - ● Adobe Acrobat - ● Flash - oad.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

Links 4 ● Shockwave - d.cgi? ● AVG -

Final thoughts ● Spending a few hours (or days with a slow Internet connection) up front can set your computer up for years of trouble free service. Having a high speed connection definitely speeds up the larger downloads. Perhaps one day Microsoft can sell us an operating system that doesn't require a weeks worth of patching before you can actually use it!

Setting up a new PC ● Presented by: – Josh Cockey – ● FPCUG ● August 1, 2006