5 Tips for Setting up Your New PC

Setting up a new PC is confusing, especially if you’ve never owned or used a PC before. Tindall Tech is here to help! We offer computer setup services, so we know the ins and outs needed to successfully set up a device. 

If you’ve bought a new computer recently or haven’t taken these five steps when setting up your current PC, this blog is for you! After doing these five steps to set up your new PC, you’ll see improvements to your computer’s functionality, performance, and speed.

1. Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes computers can sit for a long time (sometimes up to a year!) at the facility you purchased your device from. It may have been a while since it was connected to the Internet or updated, so it’s important to install any new updates right away. Here are the steps to check for Windows updates:

• Go to your Start menu.
• Type in “Windows Updates”.
• Hit enter for “Windows Updates”.
• Click “Check for Updates”.
• Once it’s finished checking for available updates, you can install the suggested updates. 
• Don’t forget to reboot your computer after installing updates!

2. Install Computer Updates from the Manufacturer’s Website

The manufacturer may have also released updates while your computer was waiting to be purchased. You will need to go to your specific manufacturer’s website to check for updates. Hopefully, you know the manufacturer you purchased from, but if not, here are some popular companies:

• Lenovo
• HP
• Dell
• Acer
• ASUS

I have a Lenovo computer, so in this example, I will go to Lenovo’s site to check for updates. These steps may vary depending on the manufacturer, but it’s important to see what updates are available for you.

• Go to Lenovo’s manufacturer website.
• Navigate to “support”.
• In the footer, go to “drivers & software”.
• Click “change product”.
• There should be an option to auto-detect your device, and I recommend using this feature.
• Once it detects your device, click “start scan”.
• If there is a system update available, click “install”. If not, you’re good to go!

3. Install Antivirus Software

I always recommend having antivirus software installed to protect your information. Let’s prevent malware from affecting the performance of your device and leading to a loss of data or compromised data. 

I use Norton on my devices, but any anti-virus works great. It’s your preference, and there are many out there to choose from that fit your price range and needs. I also like to layer Windows Security with antivirus software. Windows Defender is a great choice; it’s free and comes with Windows. To enable that:

• Go to your Start menu.
• Type in Windows Security.
• Make sure every decal has a green checkmark, indicating it’s turned on and active on your device. 

If you go into Virus and Threat Protection, you can view your preferred antivirus software to ensure it’s working correctly. You can also do a quick scan to check for current threats or ransomware on your computer. Scrolling further down the page, you’ll find Microsoft Defender Antivirus options. Allowing periodic scanning adds a double layer of security on top of your installed antivirus software. You can never be too safe!

4. Remove Bloatware

You never want too much bloatware on your device. Bloatware is applications preinstalled on your device that take up space and slows down your device. You don’t need these apps, so it’s best to delete them. 

• Go to your Start menu.
• Type in “control panel”.
• Click “programs and features”.

Here, you can see all the applications installed on your device. You can decide what you’d like to keep and what you want to delete. Some common bloatware apps are:

• Gamings apps
• Weather apps
• Third-party extensions
• Extra browser extensions

When you’ve found a few you want to delete, right-click the application and click uninstall. It’s a super easy step that will drastically improve the speed of your computer. I notice this step is skipped with many devices that have been used for years. Once the bloatware is removed, the performance increases exponentially.

5. Create Restore Point

A restore point is a point in time you can revert your computer back to when it was working how it was intended. It’s a powerful tool built into Windows, but many people don’t take advantage of it. You can use it if you contract a computer virus or accidentally download something you shouldn’t have. This feature can fix those issues.

• Go to your Start menu.
• Type “create a restore point”.
• In the pop-up, click “create”.
• In the textbox, you can name it. I like to use the date.

It will start to create a restore point by downloading and installing the backup. Don’t worry if it takes some time to complete. Once it does, you have it in your back pocket as insurance if anything were to happen to your device. 

There you have it! These five tips will greatly improve your computer functionality, whether it’s brand new or has been used for years. If you have any questions about setup or PC repair services, contact us today! 

About Tindall Tech

At Tindall Tech, we provide IT consulting, maintenance, and repair to a wide range of clients nationwide. We provide onsite (in-person) support in Kansas City, Raymore, Lees Summit, Belton, Raytown, and surrounding areas. We’re not just here to fix your tech problems – we want to help you solve your tech problems! We have experienced IT professionals with a history of success in Healthcare IT and Corporate America. We now specialize in serving Small Businesses looking for dependable, affordable, effective, and knowledgeable IT services. You can expect to receive quality service from our dedicated and talented team of IT experts.