Must read if you are going to buy a computer

Posted on November 5th, 2006 in General by daya

 

you have decided to buy a new computer whatever the brand may be and what ever the operation system may, you must read this article.

Many people experience problems with their Personal Computers sooner or later. Properly setting up and configuring a new Windows XP computer gets you off on the right foot and goes a long way towards insuring a trouble-free experience with it.

95% of the class applies to any Windows computer, not just new ones.

The first time you turn on a new Windows XP computer you are asked a whole host of setup questions. The class helps you understand these questions and offers advice on answering them. 

Next we inventory the computer to make sure that it is exactly what you were expecting. For example, your computer was supposed to have a 40 gigabyte hard disk but Windows says the hard disk is only 34 gigabytes. Or, the machine came with 512 megabytes of RAM memory but Windows says there is only 484 megabytes. Understand why this is and whether it is a problem. 

Then we cover adjusting the monitor. Considering that your eyes are more important than any computer, this may be the most important topic. This is followed by demonstrations of running the hardware through its paces; testing the ram, hard disk and other hardware with free diagnostic programs. If anything is wrong, you want to know while the warranty is still in effect. 

All too often, Windows gets fouled up to the point that you have to start over. The class covers the various schemes available for returning your computer to a like-new state and some up-front preparation that may be necessary before trouble strikes. 

To prevent problems, the class covers the usual defensive armor needed by any Windows PC: setting up and choosing a firewall program, installing bug fixes (a.k.a patches) and configuring your anti-virus program to provide the best defense (and testing it). 

Then we cover customizing both Windows and Internet Explorer. Many default settings were poorly chosen by Microsoft and should be changed. This topic helps make the computer yours (by, for example, changing the desktop background image). We also discuss setting up email, your Internet connection and my suggestions on free software needed on every Windows computer that is never pre-installed. This includes Firefox, anti-Spyware software and more.

Technical support from computer manufacturers is often poor. The class includes a number of questions that you can ask your vendor to both learn useful information about your computer and also test the quality of their support. 

Underlying Windows is the BIOS. I briefly explain what the BIOS does, why you might care and how to modify it. 

No computer should be directly plugged into an AC outlet. At the least, it should be plugged into a surge protector. The class tells you the features to look for when choosing a surge protector (there is more to it than simply Joules). Computers used for important purposes should instead be plugged into a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and suggestions are offered on choosing a particular model.

For students that have an old computer, the class handout covers transferring files and settings to the new computer, securely deleting files from the old computer and recycling or donating the old computer rather than throwing it in the trash. Time usually does not allow these topics to make it into the classroom discussion. Many links about recycling an old computer are further down this page.

There is an 85 page handout, so students can learn without having to take notes. The class runs about four hours. 

Pre-requisite: The only pre-requisite is experience using a Windows computer (the class is not for Apple Macintosh users). Note that this is not a class on how to use Windows.   

Class Topics

  • Preparation for a new computer
  • Initial computer setup
    • Starting a Computer For The First Time
    • Determining the specs of your computer
    • Device Manager 
    • Check Disk and Defrag
  • Testing Hardware
    • Testing RAM, Monitor and Hard Disk
    • Test sound, video, optical discs
  • Adjusting the Monitor
    • Refresh rate, changing the text size
  • Getting Started With Software
    • Get familiar with the BIOS setup
  • Recovery CDs and Windows CDs 
  • Firewall Setup
  • Configuring Your Network Connection 
  • Bug Fixes, Windows Update, Office Update
  • Anti-Virus Programs
  • Customizing and Securing Internet Explorer
  • Customizing the Windows Desktop
    • Power Options, Quick Launch and much more  
  • Many Other Windows Tweaks
    • Customizing Windows Explorer
    • Mouse and Task Manager
    • Controlling Services
    • Controlling Auto-Started Programs
    • System Restore
    • Windows XP Security 
    • and more . . .
  • Suggested Software To Install

 If time permits

  • Surge Protectors
    • How to tell a good one from a bad one
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies
    • Different types of UPSs
    • Advanced UPS features
    • UPS Usage Notes and recommendations
  • Migrating files, programs and settings from an old
    computer to a new one
  • Setting Up Email 
  • Re-cycling an old computer
    • Securely removing sensitive files
    • Recycling or donating an old computer 
    • How much does recycling cost? 
  • How to evaluate broadband services
  • Testing the speed of your Internet connection
  • Connecting a printer

Links

Programs Used in Class

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Hard Disk Diagnostics

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Customizing Internet Explorer

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Suggested Programs to Install
  • Startup Control Panel by Mike Lin is a free, simple and excellent program for controlling the programs that run automatically when Windows starts up. 
  • Process Explorer from sysinternals.com is a much improved version of Task Manager. And it’s free. 
  • Firefox from Mozilla is a web browser that everyone should install 
  • DropMyRights lets you run programs with restricted access to Windows, even though you are logged on as an Administrative class user. Windows Users: Drop Your Rights by Brian Krebs in the Washington Post April 18, 2006 provides some background to Drop My Rights. 
  • IrfanView is a picture viewer, with some editing features and some picture management options too. 
  • Alternatives to the Google Pack LINK BROKEN. by Lou Dolinar in Newsday. January 22, 2006. Recommended software, mostly free, for a new computer. He likes the free anti-virus program, AVAST.  
  • The stand-alone version of QuickTime for Windows (without iTunes) www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html
  • Much more to come . . .  
Moving files from an old computer to a new one

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Totally erasing a hard disk before getting rid of an old computer

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Re-cycling or donating an old computer

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

Other

Note: links have been purposely suppressed for printing.

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