Top 5 New Computer Setup Tips

The following new computer setup tips are some of the recommendations we make to users in our forums. If you have any additional advice, be sure to let us know. While we also have more tips, these are our top five must-do recommendations:

1. Uninstall the crapware.  Unless you built the computer yourself and installed a full version of the Windows Operating System, chances are you have a lot of crapware on your system. Crapware is trial software that will continuously nag you for the next year and beyond. Even worse, crapware is software that automatically launches on boot and eats both memory and CPU cycles. This type of software can be Antivirus programs like Symantec or McAffee, game trials, and online backup software. Remove it all from the Programs section of the Control Panel. If you’re removing trial antivirus programs, be sure to use antivirus removal tools.

2. Install Windows Updates. Visit the Windows Update section in your Start menu or visit the site directly from here. Out of the box, your computer is lacking important security updates that put your system at risk of virus infection. Do not visit any websites until all patches are downloaded and installed.

3. Install essential programs, such as a backup web browser, Flash, Java and Adobe Reader.  A great free website that provides the installers for many of the most popular programs you would normally download one at a time is Ninite.com, you can now get them all in one fail swoop. Note: When installing security software, make sure you only install one antivirus.

4. Setup a local Network Attached Storage (NAS) backup device. A NAS is a quick and easy way to perform backups and share files with others on the network. Most NAS devices will ship with free software to perform the backups, but if your NAS has trial software, use SyncToy to automate the process for free.

5. Now that you have you system exactly the way you want it, make a System Image Disk in Windows 7 using its built-in utility, or if you have a previous version of Windows, try a program like DriveImage XML. Having an image of your setup means you can easily restore the computer back to this state in the future without having to go through most of the steps above. These utilities will have options to create a boot disk, so make sure you do.

New Computer Setup Tips Conclusion

While these new computer setup tips may seem like a lot of work, you’ll only need to do most of these steps once. You’ll then have an image of your computer that you can use to restore the whenever you need to (virus infection, new hard drive installation, etc). Unless you have an actual Windows install disk, you simply cannot rely on a system recovery partition or recovery disk to get your computer back to a working state. Taking the time to perform these steps while your computer is free of malware, has the latest updates, and is free of annoying trial software is the best possible advice we can give to users setting up their PCs for the first time. If you have additional new computer setup tips, please share them with us.

Your wet iPhone stands a better chance of  survival if it is exposed to tap water. If the phone is exposed to salt water, soda or juice, you may need rinse if off with distilled water. Remove the battery (if possible) and SIM card and dry any parts of the phone with cotton swabs and a soft towel. Tilt the phone so any water runoff will angle away from the screen and any other critical parts. A blow dryer can cause more harm than good. Instead, look for a water-absorbing product that will draw moisture away from the phone.

Products Used To Remove Moisture From Wet iPhone

The most economical drying agent to remove moisture from a wet iphone is plain white rice. Place the phone in a container filled with rice and let it sit for several days. The rice will gradually absorb the moisture trapped in the cell phone and eventually allow you to charge and boot the device. It is less effective at drying phones than other options, but if it’s all you have rice should be used until you can purchase a better cell phone drying agent.

The next option is to remove moisture from wet iPhone is  Silica Gel. You will often find this packaged with new electronics when you first open the box. Silica gel can absorb 15% of its weight in water vapor within a couple of hours. You can buy larger quantities of silica gel for relatively cheap.

A better option for drying cell phones is a product called the BHEESTIE Bag. Place your wet phone, iPod, headsets and other affected devices into the Bheestie bag, zip it up, and then let it sit for three days. The phone should boot after that time, but may need longer depending on the extent of the water damage. You can reuse the bag to remove moisture from wet phone or other electronic devices in the future.

The key to saving your wet iPhone from moisture is acting quickly. Dry the phone as best you can and place it in a product that will harmlessly absorb the moisture from your phone.

The simplest way to accomplish this would be to create a fast “full reset” process for your system. The moment your computer starts to show signs of trouble, you can just wipe it clean instead of spending hours trying to fix malware, viruses or other obscure bugs.

This post is intended for people who’ve either:

• just bought a new computer,
• or who have just recovered from a major crash.

In order to do this properly, you’ll need to set up 2 different tools:

A fresh, fully-functional system image

The first thing that you’ll want to do is set up a fresh copy of Windows, with all of the latest updates. Next, you’ll want to install all of the programs that you might need. This may in include Firefox, MS Office, Adobe Suite, or any other applications you’ll use on a daily basis.

Once you’ve installed all of your applications, you’ll want to create a snapshot or “system image”. Backing up a system snapshot with pre-installed applications will allow you quickly reset your computer in one easy step, without having to spend hours manually loading these programs again.

Next, you’ll need to make several copies of this system state image. Keep one on-site, and one off-site.

This can be as simple as burning 2 DVDs and mailing one to a friend. Or, you can also try keeping one copy backed up with an online storage provider for easy download… or on another computer via FTP.*

A recent and up-to-date file backup

Of course, a good system image is just a time-saving tool. It isn’t enough to keep you protected. For that, you’ll need an automated backup process.

Automated backups are especially important because manual backups just don’t cut it. Just like starting a diet, backing up data is a habit that gets neglected and eventually dropped over time.

Another disadvantage of manual backups is that they leave a large “data-loss window”. Most home users will back up once per week or once per month. This leaves 7 to 30 days worth of your most important data at risk at all times. (Your most recent files are usually the most critical)

Compare this to an automated backup system that can copy files over every few minutes… and never forgets. It’s almost impossible to lose any data with these types of applications.

An off-site NAS box is good for remote backups. But the best solution would be an online backup service, since it’s much more resilient, secure and maintenance-free.

Once you’ve got a good system image and backup process in place, you now have a fast and convenient solution for 90% of your computer problems. If you start to notice your machine acting strangely, just reinstall your system image, then download your latest file backups on top of it.

This will help ensure that your machine is always fresh, clean and running smoothly.

* I’d strongly advise against storing any backup data with your web host, since it may be against their “Terms of Service”. Violating this agreement could get your web site shut down without notice.

About The Author: Storagepipe’s archiving and online backup are designed to help keep your system well-protected and ready for restoration on a moment’s notice.

Weekly Computer Maintenance Schedule

Backup Files – You should start by making a backup of your data. We recommend backing up to an external hard drive.

Disk Cleanup – Go to Start, Programs>Accessories>System Tools and select Disk Cleanup. Windows will look at your Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin and other files that are safe to delete from your computer.

Disk Defragmenter – Disk Defragmenter re-organizes data strewn about your hard drive so your computer can access files faster.

Virus Scan – While we recommend a virus scanner that updates daily and provides real-time protection, you should also run a full scan once a week.

Monthly Computer Maintenance Schedule

Clean Computer - Depending on the location of your computer, you should vacuum the area around your desk and inspect the internal and external fans to make sure they are free of hair, dust, and other debris that can cause heat-buildup in your PC.

Software Update – Most software will automatically tell you when an update is ready to be downloaded. These updates are usually security fixes and should be installed immediately. Java, Flash and Windows Updates will usually appear by your system clock in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

Hard Drive Diagnostics – Run Check Disk monthly to check for impending computer hard drive failure. Right-click the C: drive and click Properties, click the Tools tab, and then the Check now button within the Error-checking section. Have Windows Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Yearly Computer Maintenance schedule

System Recovery – Despite all of your efforts, your PC will gradually slow down. If you do not have a Windows installation disk, you should burn the recovery disks for your major brand name computer and put them in a safe place. Your Dell, HP, Sony VAIO or Acer computer will have a utility to create these disk. Use them to wipe and restore your computer to factory settings once a year. Your computer will run like brand new. Backup your data first.

Schedule Weekly Computer Maintenance Tasks To Run Automatically

It’s not feasible to ask the average computer user to manually keep up on weekly computer maintenance. So it would benefit you to setup a schedule so Windows performs these chores automatically.

Antivirus – Check in your antivirus preferences for instructions on how to setup a weekly full scan.

Backup – In Windows 7, go to the Control Panel>System and Security>Backup and Restore to enable and configure a backup schedule. You should backup to an external hard drive such as the Western Digital WD Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive.

Disk Cleanup – To schedule a Disk Cleanup, Click Start, Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Task Scheduler. Click Action, then Create Basic Task. Type in a name and click Next. Select weekly for and set a time for the Disk Cleanup to run and then click Next. Click Start a Program and then click Next. Click Browse and then type in cleanmgr.exe in the File Name box and click Open>Next, then Finish.

For this weekly computer maintenance schedule to work, leave your computer on 24/7. Most computers can be configured to go into a low-power mode and wake up in the middle of the night to perform these tasks while you are not using the computer.

If you have weekly computer maintenance questions, read other computer maintenance schedule tips to help keep your PC running fast.

We’ve listed the keys how to access the BIOS for all of the major manufacturers below. Why might you need to get into the BIOS? You might find it necessary to change the boot order, disable ports or check the BIOS version.

How To Access The BIOS Setup On Your Computer

When attempting to access the BIOS setup, you need to do so when the computer is first booting up and you see the white letters on a black screen or when you see your computer manufacturer’s logo appear. If the Windows logo appears, you did not succeed and you’ll need to power the PC down and try again. If you have a laptop, it may be necessary to hit the function key (fn) on your keyboard in addition to the keys below.

To access the BIOS on a Dell computer press F2 or Del keys.

To access the BIOS on an HP computer press F1 or F10.

To access the BIOS on a Compaq computer press F1 or F10.

To access the BIOS on a Sony VAIO computer press F1, F2 or F3.

To access the BIOS on an Acer computer press Del, F1 or F2.

To access the BIOS on a Toshiba computer press F1, ESC or F12.

To access the BIOS on a Gateway computer press F1 or F2.

You’ll notice there are a couple of options for some of the manufacturers above. This is due to the changes over the years and the different models of computers they have manufactured. One of those should work for the model you have.

Access The BIOS On Other Motherboards

If you do not have a major brand name PC, you can still try any of the following keys when booting your PC: ESC, F1, F2, F3, F10, F11, F12 or Delete. It might take you a few attempts, but you should be able to get in, eventually. If you need more tips on how to access the bios on your computer, please let us know.

Tips To Improve Computer Performance

Speed is a relative thing. Your computer might be extremely fast, but its performance could be hindered by other factors. Try these tips to improve your computer and its performance:

Updrade your network – Chances are your computer is still running on the old wireless spec 802.11g. A new spec has emerged and updating your wireless router and WiFi adapters to 802.11n can drastically improve both the speed and range of your wireless network. Read more about Wireless N Routers here.

Add RAM – One of the easiest ways to improve a computer’s performance is to upgrade the RAM. RAM is the active memory of the computer (not the hard drive). The more active memory you have, the faster your computer will run, as it will not have to rely on the slower hard drive to access data. Visit a site like Crucial.com to see what your computer currently has and what it’s capable of running.

Do some computer maintenance – Run a backup, purge your old temp files and defrag the hard drive. You’ll be surprised how much performance you’ll gain by doing routine computer maintenance. Go through our computer maintenance checklist here.

Updates – Visit Microsoft Updates to make sure you have the latest security patches installed. In addition, if you haven’t already enabled automatic updates, be sure to do so via the control panel.

Install or Update Your Antivirus – If you haven’t been running an anti-virus, or if your program has expired, you should uninstall your old anti-virus and install one of our free antivirus alternatives from our computer software downloads site. Malware is a prime suspect in any slow computer.

Buy your computer something nice – A new keyboard and mouse can help rejuvenate your old computer  and make it seem new again. The Microsoft Wireless Keyboard and Mouse is one of our favorites.

Clean up your workspace – You’d be surprised how much clutter you can get rid of around your desk. Old CDs, old papers, cables and devices should be removed and discarded to make room for new purchases. A clean workspace can also help inspire creativity.

If you follow these suggestions, you can help extend the life of your computer, as well as make computing safer and more enjoyable for you and your family. If you have New Years computing resolutions of your own, let us know!

• Rebates, warranties and serial numbers – Before you throw the box away or the receipt goes missing, be sure to fill out and send in any promotional rebates. You will often need both the receipt and the UPC code from the box to claim your rebate–which could be substantial and heartbreaking to lose. In addition, take a moment to write down the model number, serial number and service tag number (if it’s a Dell) from the back of the computer. Once you get the computer installed in the computer desk it’s going to be a major inconvenience to get to that information later–and you will need it, eventually. We took the time to create a serial number document for you. Feel free to download it and use it to record your computer information.
• Create Your Recovery Disks – Your new Dell or HP computer probably did not ship with recovery disks. Instead, your computer might contain a recovery partition and a utility that allows you to create a set of recovery DVDs. Be sure to create these disks right away and store them in a safe place. It’s been our experience that people that do not create them right away, never do and do not have them when a problem arises.
• Uninstall Norton or McAfee Anti-virus – Unless you specifically ordered it to be installed on your computer, your PC probably shipped with trial anti-virus software that will nag you daily until you break down and buy the software. Do yourself a favor and uninstall it right away through the Programs section of the control panel. Once it has been removed, download a free anti-virus like Microsoft Security Essentials.
• Run Windows Update – You computer has probably been sitting on the shelf for a few weeks. Be sure to visit Microsoft Update as soon as possible to make sure your computer has all of the necessary security patches. It would not be good if your new PC instantly became infected through an exploit a patch fixed the week before.
• Create User Accounts – It’s not a bad idea to create a second Administrator account and a Standard User account. You will want to run as a Standard User, as it’s harder for malware to make changes to your computer. In addition, if you have children you’ll want them running on a Standard account so they can’t unintentionally do harm to the system. By creating a second admin account and password protecting it, you will always have a pristine account you can access if something goes wrong with the first administrator’s account.
• Download A Second Web Browser – Even if you never plan on using it, you should download a second web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome. If something goes wrong with Internet Explorer, you’ll always have a web browser to access the Internet.
• Have a Backup Plan – If you do not already have an external hard drive, buy one and set up Windows to backup automatically so you never need to worry about it. Read how to schedule a backup here. Buy an external hard drive here.

Getting a new computer is a fun experience. If you follow these essential new computer tips when you first get your PC, you will avoid some of the pitfalls and grief others face as the days and weeks go by.