The Computer Corner
By Charles Miller, Jan 12, 2007

Thinking outside the box

I am sure several people got new computers for Christmas last month. Most of these were systems preloaded with a lot of software.

Unfortunately, the software loaded at the factory on a new computer is not always the right software for the user, and by the time the computer arrives at the user’s desk some of the software might be out of date.

Few buyers of a new computer are going to find their new PC really ready to use as it came out of the box. Here is a suggested checklist to follow when setting up your new computer for the first time.

Be sure to record your new equipment’s model and serial numbers.

Before connecting the new computer to the internet, check the status of the antivirus software. Most brand-name computers come out of the box with some kind of antivirus software installed. Sometimes the installed program is only a trial version, so you should check to see whether your program is going to stop working in 90 days.

If your antivirus software is a trial version, you have the option of trying it for awhile before buying. You also have the option to uninstall and to replace it with one of the free antivirus products, such as AVG.

Check the status of the firewall. Here again, you may only have a trial version good for 60 days. ZoneAlarm is a highly-rated firewall and is available for free.

Go ahead and connect your computer to the internet, and the very first thing you do then should be to download and install the most recent updates for your antivirus program.

Every month, Microsoft releases security updates for Windows XP, and it is certain that your new computer has missed the most recent ones. Download and install all available updates to Windows XP using the Windows Update website.

Next, I suggest downloading and installing anti-spyware software. My recommendation is to install Spybot Search & Destroy as well as Spyware Blaster. Both programs are free for individual use and both provide a measure of protection against adware and other unwanted infections.

I suggest downloading and installing the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, but avoid their trialware and their download manager.

Now is the time to plug in your printer and allow Windows to install the appropriate drivers. Repeat this process one at a time with any additional peripherals such as a scanner, WebCam, and so forth.

Now comes the part that frequently leaves me a little unhappy with the manufacturer. All brand-name computers now come loaded with a lot of trial software you may want to remove. It sometimes takes me an hour to remove all the “free trials” and “special offers” in which I have no interest.

Buyers who failed to read the fine print may find that what they thought was a working copy of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and so on, is only a 60-day trial. Check to be sure your software is not a limited-time trial version.

You will want to enter your email settings and password if you use a client such as Outlook.

In Internet Explorer, click on Tools/Internet Options to change the default home page to the page you want to use as your starting page.

Plan to spend several hours doing all this customization. After all, the “P” in “PC” stands for “personal.” Until you go through the process of personalizing your new computer, it is just a “C” and not your “PC.”

Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-101-8528 or email FAQ@SMAguru.com