Will my sons laptop be ready to go on Christmas morning ?

amandathepanda

Not being technical in the slightest, we have bought him a wireless enabled laptop for christmas, will we have to do anything technical to set it up. We already have a PC with a wireless router, and our daughter has a laptop.
Thanks as I want him to be able to use it on christmas morning.

olly300

More or less.

You need to ensure that when he opens it he up dates the anti virus software before using it.

DatabaseError

unpack it and test, you can set up the wireless, update antivirus etc.., make sure it all works and box it back up. Far better than finding out it's DOA on xmas day

olly300

tonyhague wrote: »

unpack it and test, you can set up the wireless, update antivirus etc.., make sure it all works and box it back up. Far better than finding out it's DOA on xmas day

The problem they have is that they admit they are technical novices so it's more likely that the boy will be able to do all this himself as kids are normally more able than adults when it comes to technical things.

penrhyn

If someone had decided to'Set Up' my new laptop I'd be well fed up.
Half the fun is setting it up yourself the last thing you want is a well meaning but incompetent parent messing it up.

[Deleted User]

I guess it really depends on how old your son is and his knowledge of computers and best practices. You could power it on now and check everything's working okay.

The normal steps I take when powering on a new laptop would be:

1. Go through any remaining XP / Vista setup screens e.g. entering a username, setting the time etc.
2. Plug the laptop into the router with a cable
3. Install an anti-virus and firewall e.g. I use Avira AntiVir and ZoneAlarm (both free)
4. Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download all appropriate updates
5. Visit the manufacturers website and download all appropriate updated drivers e.g. I would google the words "acer" and "driver", navigate to their site and select the model of the laptop
6. Finally install FireFox and not use Internet Explorer

amandathepanda

He is 12 and his computer technical knowledge is limited, as soon as it is powered on will it connect to the internet without putting codes and stuff in to it? Sorry but my computer technical ability is just about nonexistent.

zee_2

you say your daughter has laptop, could she not set up? or friendly neighbour?

tinkerbell84

amandathepanda wrote: »

He is 12 and his computer technical knowledge is limited, as soon as it is powered on will it connect to the internet without putting codes and stuff in to it? Sorry but my computer technical ability is just about nonexistent.

of course it won't.

unless your router is totally unsecured and therefore unsafe :eek:

espresso

amandathepanda wrote: »

He is 12 and his computer technical knowledge is limited, as soon as it is powered on will it connect to the internet without putting codes and stuff in to it? Sorry but my computer technical ability is just about nonexistent.

Did your daughters laptop "connect to the internet without putting codes and stuff in to it?"

If it did your wireless network is not encrypted and anyone could connect to your router!

:eek:

Blackpool_Saver

Deleted_User wrote: »

I guess it really depends on how old your son is and his knowledge of computers and best practices. You could power it on now and check everything's working okay.

The normal steps I take when powering on a new laptop would be:

1. Go through any remaining XP / Vista setup screens e.g. entering a username, setting the time etc.
2. Plug the laptop into the router with a cable
3. Install an anti-virus and firewall e.g. I use Avira AntiVir and ZoneAlarm (both free)
4. Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download all appropriate updates
5. Visit the manufacturers website and download all appropriate updated drivers e.g. I would google the words "acer" and "driver", navigate to their site and select the model of the laptop
6. Finally install FireFox and not use Internet Explorer

are you able to follow this tinkerbell ?