new computer. what to do first?

[boyse7en]

Bought a new laptop yesterday (Lenovo) which should arrive today.

It's running Windows 8.1, of which I have absolutely zero experience (been running WinXP until now)

What are the first steps I should take when the computer arrives? ie. Setting up user accounts, creating back-up discs (is it likely to come with a Disc for Windows? I doubt it, so how do you do restores etc?), deleting 'bloatware', partioning drives?

What is 'best practice' for setting up a new computer optimally?

I'm going to be installing Sage and OpenOffice initially.

[LordGrover]

They typically run a wizard at first start so creating users etc shouldn't be an issue.
As you suggest, I'd remove any bloatware and then install start8 to make Windows 8 a little more 'familiar', but that's a personal preference.

[Randomthoughts]

Leave it the way it comes in terms of disk. Windows 8.1 has new recovery options that people delete and then get upset that they've lost.

Uninstall all of the ste you don't need from it, and that's about it. Get it updated with Windows Update and you'll be good to go.

[XJSJohn]

if you dont have a microsoft email account (hotmail, outlook, live etc) register one, you dont need to use it as your email but its handy for syncronising callenders, skydrive etc.

[Far Cough]

First job is to purge all the bloatware they come with.

[zedx19]

http://www.classicshell.net/

If you're used to a traditional Start menu and don't want to pay for Start8 that someone else recommended.

[Jinx]

I'd also get an 8GB USB stick and run the recovery manager - creates a back-up similar to the recovery partition but obviously isn't on the same drive (so you can replace the HD if necessary). Win 8.1 allows you to boot to desktop and as has been mentioned classicshell will let you make Win 8 look and feel like any previous version of windows. I tend to add malwarebytes, ccleaner, defraggler, vlc, spywareblaster, 7-zip and foxit pdf reader to all my machines asap (also speccy to see if the machine has everything it was supposed to come with).
Using tools in Ccleaner I'd then uninstall any of the bloatware including a lot of the OEM crap.

[gaz1234]

format c: /q
boot win xp cd

[Morningside]

Get a GOOD quality antivirus installed before anything else.

[LordGrover]

^^ Oops! Forgot that one.

[grumbledoak]

I don't think most of the above is necessary these days; Windows has come a long way but users never want change! Personally I would just set yourself up with a Microsoft ID (just an email address and a password), get on the app store, and have a play with Win8.1. It takes a while to 'get' the Start Screen, but I wouldn't go back now.

[toerag]

gaz1234 said:

format c: /q
boot win xp cd

^ this.

[boyse7en]

gaz1234 said:

format c: /q
boot win xp cd

Nice idea, but since XP isn't supported any more it is a bit of a no-no.

Still running XP on my desktop, but that isn't for work-related stuff

[Zod]

gaz1234 said:

format c: /q
boot win xp cd

Do not do this!

XP is slower, 32 bit only (unless you use the half-arsed 64 bit version) and is no longer supported. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Windows 8.1. You don't even have to see the new start menu, unless you want to (and you realise it is just a full screen start menu).

Edited by Zod on Tuesday 29th July 11:46

[ManFromDelmonte]

Instead of fighting against Windows 8 by trying to "do things the old way" just accept it, use it as it was designed and get on with it. No-one likes change but if you spend your life fighting against it you won't get anywhere.

I was also under the impression that standalone AV software is not needed for Win 8. I certainly haven't installed any.

http://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/windows...

[LordGrover]

ManFromDelmonte said:

Instead of fighting against Windows 8 by trying to "do things the old way" just accept it, use it as it was designed and get on with it. No-one likes change but if you spend your life fighting against it you won't get anywhere.

I was also under the impression that standalone AV software is not needed for Win 8. I certainly haven't installed any.

http://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/windows...

From that 18 month old article; "If you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 8, Microsoft Security Essentials is a good bet and happens to be free too."
Suggests to me this source is maybe not the most reliable.

[Zod]

There's no need for it, unless you have a high risk approach to internet use and open links in emails from untrusted sources. I've never had a virus infection. I use malwarebytes though. The PC my kids use would fall over without it.

[cobra kid]

Antivirus??

[Randomthoughts]

LordGrover said:

From that 18 month old article; "If you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 8, Microsoft Security Essentials is a good bet and happens to be free too."
Suggests to me this source is maybe not the most reliable.

You have to be doing stupid things to catch something that MSE doesn't stop. Don't let me stop the AV-company-sponsored AV reviews from clouding your judgement though!

[lestag]

Backup!
I use Acronis true image and have an external drive I set up scheduled backups of incrementals to and after a set period (that you set) it does a full backup again. its set and forget