Discussion on:

10 things you should do to every Windows PC

The downloadable version of this article is available here:
http://techrepublic.com.com/5138-10877-5906752.html

This download lists 10 things to do to a new PC, but there are plenty more. What do you do to a new PC that we've forgotten? What mandatory, at least in your mind, applications do you install on every new PC?

Create user accounts.
Remove all that unnecessary stuff the hardware vendor got paid to include.
Change the time zone.
Check Device Manager and be sure all the hardware is happy.
Disable the Offline Files.
Turn off that !@#$ dog in the Search box.
Defragment the drives.
Set the virtual memory to twice the installed RAM.

The first thing is to decide what the main function of that particular machine will be, and decide on a loading sequence. First should be
the OS, and then any NIC drivers so that you can next get all the updates for the OS online.
Yhen brgin loading the software to support
the other devices in the unit. Video, Audio,
device drivers for hard drives and DVD/CD
devices. After each device driver, check for
proper operation of that device and the others you may ahve installed up to that point.
Sometimes one driver will interfere with others and a loading sequence may have to be adjusted.
In short, there is no hard and fast rule unless
all units are the same hardware wise.

Under Windows NT4, and 2000, I would have set the VM to a static level of the physical memory installed, but with XP I prefer to set the Virtual Memory to 3x the physical memory installed, (up to a max of 4092Mb), this also helps to reduce fragmentation.
Arthur

do you have the memory set up on a seperate partion

It used to be a rule - set up a separate hard drive on the other ide connection as a swap file. Now xp uses a new algorithm, so you can have two swap files on each ide channel, and the os decides which one to use.

It's generally a bad idea to set pagefile (virtual memory) to a partition on the same drive as the OS. What happens is the heads have to swing there when it's called and then swing back to wherever they were in the app.

Far better to have it on a second drive

I often do that too. That is a good one to add to the list. Thank you.

You can do that?? Ok I sound thick now :S but how?? lol

Open the search on My computer. On the sidebar select 'Change Preferences' and click 'Without an animated character' whilst shouting GO AWAY YOU ANNOYING WASTE OF PIXELS or whatever suits your environment (it takes a few seconds so you have time)!

Neil

There will be foul language, and something along the lines of for 5 years you have annoyed me be gone annoying dog thing, or something like that anyway.
Thanks for freeing me from the annoyance of the dog

I liked the dog

So you can toggle the dog on and off... but can you change it? Maybe make it "Bob" himself, instead of his dog?

Find the registry key "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState\Use Search Asst" and change it to "no". This will get rid of the bloated XP "Search Assistant" entirely and use the Windows 2000 style search dialog.

Install all drivers
Set virtual settings
Install antivirus (I prefer Avast)
Install office programs, browser (Firefox), player (Winamp), messengers etceteras.
Install Acronis True Image and backup whole system to DVDs.

The first thing you should definitely do (after turning it on >. .. So anyways ditch IE and get IE tabs so that every time some moron webmaster doesnt know what browser-idependent means you don't have to touch IE.

it's going to stain.

Can you get windows updates if Firefox is your only browser?

http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

pretty certain you still need a valid windows key and can pass WGA.

I have tried at my company, but so far no joy, does anyone else know.

It is an Add-on Extension for Firefox that allows FireFox to open IE within a firefox tab. This way you can set sites that need to always use IE (Like Windows Update) to always open in IE within a firefox tab when you go to that site. You can also click on the little icon that it puts in the status bar to quickly change from one browser rendering to the other within the same tab.

I use it and it works GREAT!! I love it.

Oh never mind I can't be bothered....

Suffice to say

The most popular browsers on the web are:

1. Microsoft IE 85.45 %
2. Mozilla Firefox 11.51 %
3. Apple Safari 1.75 %
4. Netscape 0.26 %
5. Opera 0.77 %


See original article at:-
http://www.onestat.com/html/aboutus_pressbox40_browser_market_firefox_growing.html

Of course being the most used does not automatically make it the "best".

But most of that 85% just want to browser and ie does that....!!!???

I went to an MS conference a few years back and I was talking to the FrontPage guy. I asked him how using all the "cool features" he showed in his presentation would affect users coming in with mozilla or even AOL. He just kind of snickered and said AOL is just a beast of it's own.

If I am making a web site to generate revenue, why on earth would I ever limit who could give me money? And as AOL users historically have more money than brains, that sounds EXACTLY who I want as a customer.

Had a vendor ask what package I use primarily to edit my web pages and I told him "vi".

Hi ~ I really don't care for being called an idiot. I use IE because I prefer it. It's really not polite to call names of everyone who has a differing opinion. IE works for me. I like the security I'm able to add and tabbed browsing. I also prefer to stay with MS apps on Windows. Much simpler and good tech support is valuable. Please, exercise a little restraint. I enjoy reading others opinions and the reasons for them.

Right Click My Computer, Select Properties...Advanced..Performance - Settings..Adjust for best performance..Enable Use Visual Styles on Windows and buttons, Drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop, Smoothe Edges of Screen Fonts.

You retain all your pretty XP bla bla, but its a dozen times faster. You can't even see the difference.

that the first 111 posts dont mention
1. turning unneeded servies to manual or disabled.
2. run msconfig and remove unwanted startup programs.
3. keep it clean. make the start menu\programs\startup folder read-only to all users. manually add the few programs you might actually want to start every single time you run the computer.
Do the same (make read only by deny to everyone "set value")to the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and the same for users hives.
Set temporary internet files to a reasonable size, 5 to 10 megs should hold plenty of web dribble.

want to better your chance to stay virus/spyware free? besides the above registry keys, deny to everyone "creat subkeys" for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify,

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects

and others that are common to malware.

Also set the permissions of the root of the boot drive to deny to everyone to "write data/create files" (but do not let that permission inherit to subfolders).

---
Thanks for all the useful posts, thanks but no thanks to all those below who post off topic and dilute the useful information with the tired old rant of why eveyone else's OS sucks. Isnt there a forum somewhere to argue Windows v Mac v Linux? In my view people are just narrowminded and must insult one another lest they reveal they are scared to try to learn something new or different. I enjoy the challenges of windows, macos, linux, and think they all help each other in the long run. diversity is our only saving grace.

What people on the different sides just can't understand is having the other side of the coin is the only thing that keeps their own side getting better. It is called competition, and it is what makes people keep their prices lower and working to improve the quality of their own product.

And yes, there is money in linux, before people start talking about "free".

So do you uncheck all of the boxes other than "Enable Use Visual Styles on Windows and buttons, Drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop, Smoothe Edges of Screen Fonts"

Thanks

I just tick 'Adjust for Best Performance' which clears all the tick marks

Cool thank you

Sorry! I dropped the ball on this thread. YES. You want to UN-Check them all, either one at a time, or adjust for best performance...then re-eable the three I mentioned.

I recheck the same 3, and the users who like fluff are none the wiser

First of all, besides stetting a strong password on the built-in Administrator account, I create an account with admin priviledges, then accounts for the users. WinXP insists on one other admin level account besides the built-in, which is handy to switch to quickly in the middle of something a user is doing to change a setting or even install something. I leave them all with admin priviledges at first. I log in to each one, set file system almost as the article suggests - for most users, I keep system files hidden, but display file extensions - and I uncheck "Automatically search for network files and printers" and "Use Simple Filesharing", disable Hibernate and set Stand By to Never. Before I log off each one, I change it to a Limited User (except the built-in and my second admin acct). I also turn off that damn Desktop Cleanup wizard.
Before all that of course, as Admininstrator, I install all Windows Updates, MS Office and its updates, anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, Adobe reader (or Acrobat, depending on the user). I also Uninstall File and Print Sharing unless absolutely needed. Then I set the Virtual Memory minimum and maximum to the same number (twice the installed memory) before I defrag - got that tip from Tech Republic years ago - love that tweak.

1. Reinstall the OS(es):delete all partitins and implement my own partitioning scheme
2. Format, assign letters and labels to the new partitions
3.Install various additional hardware
4.Customize folder settings (view all files and extensions, disable friendly trees, choose which categories to show in Explorer and how to group them, make "explore" the default doubble-click option)
5.Adjust power settings
6.Move the paging file on another disk if possible
7.Configure mouse and keyboard buttons and hotkeys
8.Calibrate monitor and all view settings (theme, effects...)
9.Adjust language and regional options
10. Install and configure my "can't do without" 20 apps (all from internet connection, Office, games, debugging tools, firewall, anti-malware.....)
11.Adjust services and start-up entries
12.Schedule tasks like backup, virus scans, defrags.....
13.Clean-up, defrag, image the new installation to an external drive.
14.Start testing performance and tweaking BIOS, clock speeds....

No disrespect intended, in fact I do a lot of these things myself... But, this article was aimed at the general population who would completely invalidate their manufacturers warranty by changing a lot of these settings, especially as they'd have no idea how to do them! In addition, many products (like Office / Windows are pre-installed as OEM versions which won't install from the CD's that come with the computer.

What say we start a posting to explain the jargon and exactly what to do in step format? (For example, changing the virtual memory, disabling offline files, partitioning, tweaking BIOS...)

This site is geared to the IT Pro/ Lets keep it that way. No need to dumb down anything posted so far. Home users have no business folling around with 90% of these tweaks anyway. When they start trying to do a tech's job, tech's start working extra trying to fix it.

Keep the Tech in Tech republic.

The level of 'Pro' as in Professional is known to vary widely. The true 'professional' will enhance his/her particular area of expertise through efforts and attitude aimed at helping others exhibiting interest in learning from the 'pro'. Your 'Pro' in this venue Sir is not exclusive as in a club. Arrogance does not enhance your professionalism.

This site was not intended for end users. Personally, I'd rather they NOT know how to do any of this stuff, that would just make my job harder.

Ralph

The steps mentioned in the article are very good but I go a step further and install the LaunchIt NOW! Plus program from GemiScorp, which really is a huge time saver when using my computer. I don't know in your case, but I hate going all day to the Start menu to access all my programs or opening IE to visit a favorite URL, not to mention opening the My Documents folder to look for an important document.

You can find this fantastic tool at: http://www.gemiscorp.com/english/launchitnowplus/info.html

Also, see what others say about this program at:
http://www.gemiscorp.com/english/launchitnowplus/testimonials.html

IMPORTANT: I want to clarify that I don't have any direct or indirect relation with the company that owns the product I'm suggesting, so my posts shouldn't be considered SPAM.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319974

Setup one user and then copy the profile to make the settings the default for each new account created.

The folowwing are not necessarily in order not just listed as a mention to a few choices.
One of the things I like to do for each of my clients after a little quid pro quo question and answer session, is set up Security Policies for Administering the systems Security Protocols designed for each users Group Assignment.
I also Remove Programs as well as perform a Regedit to rid the system of applications that the seller or manufacturer had previously installed. And then permanently delete those programs from the programs files.
I create a shared programs folder so certain applications installed are able to be used across each user profile. Some Programs such as Webshots will not ask if it is too be used for all users and has to be installed as a shared program in order for each user to use it as a Wallpaper manager for their seperate favorite wallpapers and pictures in thier own Windows profiles.
I check to see what Windows Services are running and are enabled to make sure those services that can become an issue later are turned off or set to diabled and or manual. Such as Telnet or Windows Firewall (if a seperate firewall is going to be used).
I then load applications and Utilities the majority of my clients have come to learn and love to use to keep their systems cleaned out of temp files, zero length files, Pre fetch files, etc, Applications such as System Mechanic Professional, Registry Mechanic Professional, Ad-Aware SE, Ram Idle, etc. Then configure each to perform the tasks I know work best, such as dumping page files on restart, forcing windows to unload .dll files, force Windows to keep system.ini files in memory ( for a speedier start-up), protect against dead gateway detection, net bios attacks, and so on.
I also like to customize the IE browser to make it where favorite links are set visable on the IE toolbar for fast navigating. Set up IE tool bar with the customizing features I know are the most useful.
Create a files and folders default perimeters for easy searching and viewing.
Make sure the most current OS updates are installed, as well as their choice of Antivirus/ firewall is up to date.
I then also like to make sure they have an off-line default file saving location set up for each user or group, but one that would allow the system Administartor free access at all times. Then I set up a hidden profile with Administrator Priveleges and password protect it to allow me a way in if something goes wrong for in the future. Of course always with their permission is this done.

You let them run Webshots?????

I cannot believe that any resonable IT techie will allow their user to run "webshots" ... this is one of the first things that I killed ...
Arthur

I've seen this site once....what are the major issues with it? My son installed it on his machine but sometime later is slowed to a crawl and had annoying popups, so I removed it...seemed to take care of the problem. What are other issues?
John

John,
Without providing too much information, I consider webshots to be a major vulnerability, (my own opinion), that allows users to download "uncertified" pictures, whilst also providing an open port for possible abuse.

When I first joined a company back in 1999 this is one of the first things that I managed to eradicate by user education; in that once we had displayed that this nice ***** screen saver which was prefered by almost 40% over the boring corporate could be used to transport a virus, they quickly lined-up for it's removal .... download process explorer from Sysinternals and load webshots onto a machine that you don't mind wiping and then take a look at the open ports ... anything above 1024 is vulnerable
Arthur

You say it opens several ports and that is not true. It opens one port for daily notificaions of daily pictures that are prescreened and checked for virus's etc. The option to close that port is within the application itself. And if you are half the Technical Savy person you say you are you should of known that any antivirus and or firewall configuration can disallow the application from accessing the internet automatically. As well as scan for those little pests you mentioned prior to the downloading of it.
You put the scare in people yet it's ok to download a file or a security update form a trusted source when you do not realize who may have down what to that file before it gets to you. And with the ability to re-direct a connection you think that security or software application update is secure? NOT EVEN!! You run more of a chance to get a bug while online shopping at at your favorite Web Mall. Or better yet, from an archived research file from another worker within the network.
You might as well just keep all systems within your network form using the internet at all and remove all of the IDE, firewire and USB drives and ports as well so they can not upload anything at the same time.
Corporations do not want you to personalize your work stations because they want to maintain a professional appearance at all times. Like back in the days of Ebineezer Scrooge. You are there to work, not decorate. If an important client walks by they want to them to see like minded people and working enviroments, not pictures of your kids and or some Bikini Babe on your work station desktop. All that decor just tells the manangement you have more free time and not enough work to keep you occupied. And the most valueable reason they do not want you to download Webshots, is because if everyone does it in an office, they woould have to have one storage server just to mass store all of those .jpeg images for their employee's. Money, is the bottom line here folks. Get real, tell the truth, and see what the reality of it all means to your kid's futures.
You must be a robot and do all you are programed and asked to do. Well, it's cool. I like it when your clients call me and ask for help after you rob them of what they want to be able to do. Stick to your programing, be their robot, your making me a living while your at it.

unnecessary girly fluff that doesn't belong in the workplace, regardless. Just recently, I was "busy" trying to get some dip's Webshots working when my resources were needed elsewhere. Same with Internet radio. I don't mind people having their fluff if it gets them through the day, but don't expect your IT staff to support it

I agree that the current version of WebShots seems to be a problem on many computers (SpyWare, Vulnerability, etc.) The older version worked good as a simple Wall-Paper manager. The older version did not have spyware.

I would normally want to take away WebShots from everybody, but you would be surprised how many people will do just about anything to get the equivalent functionality from a worse program!

People bring in disks from home and download all kinds of garbage just to change the background image.

As an administrator you can force everybody to have the same corporate background image, but then you get all kinds of complaints.

Note: The older (cleaner) version of WebShots does not allow you to download newer images from the website. However, I have about 500 nature images that I usually dump in and explain to the user how to create new "collections" from personal photos.

The old versions of webshots installs gator/gain spyware on your computer, I have had no issues with the new version of webshots, I scanned with adaware, spybot, a2 and spyware blaster and all came up clean. I set the daily notification of new picture off and disabled the system tray startup part. Sure on a company computer or network the IT department can dissallow use of webshots to keep up their security levels, but on a personal/home computer the use of webshots if set up right is not a problem.