New Machine = a chance to set it up right

Abba San

Abba San

Legacy of Elijah [LoE] - Proud Grandfather
I just got word that my new computer has shipped. I'm looking for any advice about setting it up properly from the git-go.

What do I need to uninstall immediately - before loading any software? (I intend to uninstall McAfee and load Avira and Malwarebytes)

What system tools do you recommend I load up - before programs and games? (RegCure is on the top of my list)

Any other advice?

The new machine is a Dell Studio XPS 16 - as loaded as I could afford.

Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
6GB, DDR3, 1333MHz 2 Dimm
15.6 inch Wide Screen 16:9 1080p Full HD WLED LCD, W/2.0 MP, XPS 1645
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 4670 1GB
500GB 7200RPM Free Fall SensorSeagate Hard Drive
Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio Software Enabled
Intel WiFi Link 5300 802.11AGN Half Mini Card
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)
BluRay Combo Drive
9-cell Battery

Any advice appreciated.
 
Well, and there's no biased whatsoever, but after you get your internet security up you should download the GW client and run the -image function so its all loaded up over night ;)
 
Depending on how much pre-installed software comes with the machine, you might consider backing up the drivers, formatting the drive, and re-installing your OS (provided you have or can obtain the OS install discs).

When I received my Studio 1737 (a replacement for an Inspiron E1705 that Dell was never quite able to fully fix), there were few enough programs that I just uninstalled a few and decided not to wipe and reload.

I'd install whatever anti-virus software came pre-installed and go with Microsoft Security Essentials instead. I know it sounds crazy to recommend a Microsoft software package, but it's the least intrusive free anti-virus package I've used so far.
 
see if you have clean operating system dvd's. if not uninstall everything except drivers...reboot..get all updates(from behind a router hopefully) reboot...install whatever you want. If you get clean operating system disks don't even turn on the mahcine without booting to the disks and wiping hte box to get rid of the crapware.
 
Stc - what is the image function? Do I have to track down my original discs or can I just download Guild Wars?

Tek - it comes with McAfee - but I hate dealing with it and Norton. You really found the Microsoft Security sufficient?

Bomber - what do you mean by 'clean' system dvd? I hope I get windows 7 on dvd - how would I know if it is 'clean'?
 
Abba San said:
Stc - what is the image function? Do I have to track down my original discs or can I just download Guild Wars?
Click to expand...

You can go to the Guild Wars web site and you can download the game/client (one and the same). Once that installs, shouldn't take too long, you'll have to update everything, as well as download all the maps. However, if you go to the shortcut > properties > and to the "target" section or command line, where it has the location of the file you add -image after that string, it'll try and play the game, but instead download everything, should take several hours. Once it finishes the game will close, so be sure to remove -image when its done so you can actually play the game. But if you -image it, you won't have to download anything when you load into a zone. It might be healthy to do it on your main computer anyways ;)

Here is a link with all sorts of command line arguments to add, but for now -image is what you need.
 
One website: http://ninite.com/

From Ninite my main recommendations:

Chrome or Firefox
Pidgin or Digsby
Itunes; VLC; K-Lite Codecs
GIMP or Paint.NET
OpenOffice; Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader
MS Security Essentials
Flash; Java; .NET
uTorrent; Earth; Steam
ImgBurn; CCleaner; TeraCopy
7-Zip
FileZilla; Notepad++

If you have any questions about why I picked these or what they do, feel free to ask...


Also, McAfee is FTL...MS Security Essentials is tested and proved to be one of the best anti-virus out there and barely uses any resources...

Enjoy :)
 
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I would uninstall needless programs before I connected to the internet (although this may not be possible with whatever activation they are using). Then I would connect and if Windows 7 is anything like XP I suggest updating/patching Windows right after you install your anti-virus/anti-spyware and before you do anything else. My next step would be to download and install Firefox, but that is more of a personal preference than anything. That finished I would start checking that I have the most up-to-date drivers. Then games and various utilities.

I tend to run through the registry to see what is loading as well as check the services that load with the machine. My home system has a total of about 10 processes running when the system is idling (something I work hard to maintain) and takes about 20-30 seconds to boot up, my work laptop with all the corporate junk on it has over 100 processes(about 4-5 of which are something I loaded myself) and takes around 3-4 minutes to boot up.
 
Xion - thanks for the edit where you added your recommendations - that is helpful and I do have a few questions:

1) What is uTorrent? What does it do? Why would I need it?

2) Do you have a preference between Pidgin and Digsby? I'll do anything to keep from downloading Yahoo.

3) Have you tried 7-Zip and TerraCopy against Windows 7's tools? I was hoping that Windows 7 did a better job than Vista.

4) What does K-Lite do? Why would I need it?

5) Are you like Tek - MS Essentials is doing the trick for you? I generally steer away from MS options. I have been using Malwarebyte and Avira for a year or so and been pretty pleased.

6) How does ImgBurn interact with iTunes? That is most of the disc burning that I do.

7) What do you think of KeePass? Or do you have something better for password managing?

That's enough for now - I guess.

They have upped the delivery time for my new machine to TOMORROW!

Still - any advice is appreciated. Anyone - feel free to answer these same questions.
 
Abba San said:
Bomber - what do you mean by 'clean' system dvd? I hope I get windows 7 on dvd - how would I know if it is 'clean'?
Click to expand...

He means a OS DVD with just an OS on it... nothing else from Dell.

The last time I bought a laptop (was actually my netbook) I just uninstalled everything I didn't need, got Defraggler (which I love, it does a better job of defragging than the one MS gives you) and ran it.

I would not ever get rid of the system restore partition! I know its crazy and rather obvious as to why... but some of my friends did and when they had issues they wish they hadn't.

Edit: I also use the MS Security Essentials and it works fine for me as well.
 
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Abba San said:
Tek - it comes with McAfee - but I hate dealing with it and Norton. You really found the Microsoft Security sufficient?
Click to expand...
I have, but I use Firefox with NoScript installed and I use safe browsing and e-mail practices (e.g. don't open attachments from people you don't know, don't visit unsavory web sites, etc.).

I also scan any questionable files using Jotti's malware scan.
 
A really good anti-virus and defense program that usually goes overlooked is Comodo. It has a really beefy defense program, and the whole program is unobtrusive and doesn't take a lot of system resources. My hacker friend uses it and says it's the best.

I second the CCleaner recommendation.
 
Abba San said:
5) Are you like Tek - MS Essentials is doing the trick for you? I generally steer away from MS options. I have been using Malwarebyte and Avira for a year or so and been pretty pleased.
Click to expand...
A quick note: I'd still recommend using Malwarebytes Anti-malware even after installing Microsoft Security Essentials. There's so much malware out there that I wouldn't trust my system's security to only one software package.
 
Keero said:
Ooh, get the MS Office 2010 beta from Microsoft.
Click to expand...
I use Microsoft 2007 and like it, but I'd recommend staying away from Microsoft Office betas on a "main" computer. MS tends to install a fair amount of cruft with Office, though it seems they're not as bad about it as they used to be (at least, not in Office 2007).

Unless you need Outlook or Microsoft Office-specific features, I'd recommend OpenOffice.org.
 
Um... 'kay. The speed and features with MS 2010 though make it a much better experience that my '07 suite and I haven't noticed any extra software to speak of. :p It's like going from Vista to Win 7... except with word processing. >_>
 
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