Things you should do in new laptop
If you bought your new laptop just now things you should do in a new laptop are first, switch it on and start using it, you`ll be leaving open to online security risks. Once if you activated Windows and started creating a system restore DVD if it is necessary but this is not offered to every new laptop. Before doing anything else, you should follow these simple six-point checklist.
As it is difficult to buy a new laptop with any other operating system, we assumed that you are using Windows 8 on your new laptop and is connected to your home network already. These same steps will apply to all newly installed and just activated Windows versions but the particular actions on each will vary.
Step 1: Run Windows update
When you finally see the Windows 8 Start screen the very first thing you should do is run Windows Update. The new Laptop you bought may come with the older Windows 8.0 installed on concord latest Windows 8.1 update improves it in many ways and its download is also free.
A laptop with Windows 8.1 will be outdated by the time you open its box. However, it’s important to download and install the updates from Microsoft and also the latest security fixes before you do anything.
By moving the mouse pointer to the top right of the screen open the Charms bar at the Windows 8 Start screen, and then tap the Search option.
Enter windows update in the search box and chooses Check for updates from the list of the results on the right of the screen.
Open the Windows Update, Tap the Check now button and at the time Windows checks what updates are available to stay waiting.
When the check is finished, tap View details. Select the box for Select all important updates and tap the Install button. After this first round of updates, you should restart your laptop but you should repeat this update process until there are no more important updates found.
Step 2: Turn on Windows Defender
Windows Defender, Microsoft’s anti-malware application is built into Windows 8 but it might be disabled. Laptop manufacturers frequently disable because they bundle free trials of anti-malware software for the software that you don’t need.
The next step is to verify that Windows Defender is enabled and protecting your computer, instead of that other anti-malware software is installed.
Press the Windows key to return to the Start screen, back on the Start screen, Enter windows defender no longer you need to open the Charms bar that Windows 8.1 is installed. Choose Windows Defender from the list of results on the right side of the screen.
Open Windows Defender on the Windows Desktop, Tap its Settings tab. Tap on Real-time protection that is located on the left side of the window, select the box to turn it on the right side of the window and tap the Save changes button.
Tap the Update tab and to download any Windows Defender updates again tap the Update button.
Finally, click the Home tab, choose the Full option and tap the Scan button to scan your malware. Because your new laptop is fresh from the factory it doesn’t mean it has not picked up malware from somewhere, so ‘just in case’ scan prevents problems later on.
Many BT broadband users can download NetProtect Plus anti-virus software without any charge, to find more check out the box below.
Step 3: Install a different web browser
For the first time, Microsoft is no longer legally required to provide a choice of web browsers at the time you activate Windows. Unless the laptop maker installed something else, then the only browser you will have will be Internet Explorer.
Don’t forget, BT provides an optimized version of Internet Explorer that you can download here.
It may or may not suit on concord there is nothing to stop you downloading and use a different browser although you will still need to use Internet Explorer to get it.
Step 4: Set up user accounts and parental controls
Unless you are the only person who will be using your laptop, we strongly recommend setting up different user accounts for everyone else.
Back on the Start screen, type user accounts and select Add, delete, and manage other user accounts from the list of results on the right of the screen.
Click the Add an account option to create and configure another user account. Windows asks for the email address of other person’s so that it can save their settings and use them on other Windows 8 PCs. This is a choice, however, and you can instead click Sign in without a Microsoft account at the bottom of the screen for the creation of a ‘local’ account as it is unique to your laptop.
You will also see an Add a child’s account option there. Click this and then you can enable the parental controls for any children that will use your laptop. These includes blocking in which websites they can control and the accessing when they are allowed to use the laptop. Follow the guide on how to set up the parental controls in Windows 8 for additional information.
Step 5: Switch to Desktop-first mode
Windows 8 was criticized for starting screen view when you boot your laptop and hiding the Desktop mode in a default view behind a keyboard shortcut.
As Windows 8.1 should be installed after Step 1 modifies this and if you desire this, it lets you boot straight to the Desktop. For doing this, click Windows + D to switch to Desktop mode, right tap the Taskbar and choose Properties.
Tap the Navigation tab on the dialog box that opens and select the box Whenever I sign in or exit all apps on a screen, instead of start you have got the desktop. Tap the OK button and you can now tap on the Start button located on the Desktop, or click the Windows key, to return to the Start screen at any time.
Step 6: Uninstall unwanted software
To install a software laptop manufacturers are paid, how it is useful for third parties. To use a polite term this ‘pre-installed software’ includes anything from free trials of anti-malware applications (see Step 2) that serve no useful purpose to web browser toolbars.
While wasted hard disk space is seldom an issue on most new laptops, the pre-installed software can slow a system down and cause conflicts with more desirable or other applications. So just get rid of those you don’t need or can’t recognize.
On the Start screen, enter uninstall and choose to Uninstall a program from the results on the right of the screen.
When the programs and features dialog box open then select applications from the list in a sequence and tap the Uninstall button to remove them.
If you want to delete the unwanted junk it leaves your laptop without much else installed, Just observe our guide for the best free software for your laptop or PC.
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