new pc - things to do list

sharkie

ih8stress wrote: »

I've made system recovery back-up discs.

Have you tested them so you're able to boot from the DVDs without using the o/s on the disk, and also the DVDs contain all the files, rather than a subset?

Personally, I'd use the free clonezilla, and save the image to at least one usb drive.

For myself I have partitioned my disk into 100G + 400g partitons. Only the system and really important and essential files are stored on the 100gig. The benefits are quicker recovery times, quicker to do a chkdisk, and quicker defrag. Should that partiton get messed (or os upgrade), then usually only that 'small' partition needs to be re-formatted and the data in the other is kept.

alanrowell

Not having a firewall?

Redman30

Windows Firewall does a fine job.

What you really need, rather than all the 'cure infection' tools, is to become more savvy about the kind of sites and things these come from. Don't download pirate music, software or films, or install the programs that enable this. Pay attention to the links you hover over on less reputable forums etc.

If it looks to good to be true, is offering free whatever, and is a site unknown to you, then you're compromising your system by using it.

CJMITSystems

Hallo
I have used Decrapifier (Google it) in the past to decrap NEW PCs, Recently decrapped 20 PCs at a client and it does remove MOST of the crap on the PC. The process is asking you WHAT you want to remove and so it will not remove stuff automatically that you did not ask to be removed.
After it is finished then you can go into Add and Remove Programs to remove any left overs you do not want. AND it provide a System Restore point as an option also.
My list for New PCs is:
0. Install Windows Steady State or Comodo Time Machine, This is software that can make a Local image of your disk and roll back to the known state if anything goes wrong
1. DeCrap the PC
2. Remove any left overs
3. Install AVG free (Anti virus app)
4. Install FireFox web browser perferibly with the NO Script plugin
5. Windows Updates
6. Open office (even though this is free DO think about supporting Free software with a donation, we can not do all of this for free for ever you know)
7. Install Notepadd ++ if you do use Notepad
8. Install Paint . Net (getpaint . net) if you use Windows Paint
9. Slight more advance make use and install VMware player or VMWare server. You could then run Virtual machines inside your PC that would protect your PC even further.

[Deleted User]

CJMITSystems wrote: »

3. Install AVG free (Anti virus app)

Do not install this anti-virus. AVG has a rubbish detection rate for viruses and there are plenty more free AVs which have better i.e. Avira, Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast.

CJMITSystems wrote: »

we can not do all of this for free for ever you know

What's all this we business? Loving the condescending undertones too!

CJMITSystems wrote: »

Slight more advance make use and install VMware player or VMWare server. You could then run Virtual machines inside your PC that would protect your PC even further.

Slightly OTT! If this is something you'd want to try then I'd suggest going with Sandboxie. VMware will require 250 - 500MB to run a VM'd XP box whereas Sandboxie takes 10 - 20 MB.

CJMITSystems

Thanx for that post, Not sure what condescending is but hey if you do not like my advice then do not take it.
And the "we" stuff is all about the people that spend time coding the open source "free" apps, It does take time to do it and even if they do it for the love of it they also need to eat and pay the electricity.

I do agree that Sandboxy is lighter however it will allow the user to save data to the local disk and then you have the Virus problem again. check out "revision3 . com / hak5 / ultrasandboxes" +- 9:40 into the show they do a test on Sandboxy...
An alternative is Comodo Internet Security.

But as I say thanx to davidmt83 for the points.

Richie-from-the-Boro

CJMITSystems

As someone else said to you on a thread on a-n-other board elsewhere [ 30th March ]

"" There are a lot of IT experts on here and good help is always only a thread away.

Sometimes we help, sometimes we hinder but, if you are looking to help and not just jump in and flog your services you will find that there are frequent mishaps that need expert attention. Give bad advice - we will tell you....... above all you should know that when needed, all help is welcome regardless of where it comes from ""

good luck

espresso

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

CJMITSystems

As someone else said to you on a thread on a-n-other board elsewhere [ 30th March ]

"" There are a lot of IT experts on here and good help is always only a thread away.

Sometimes we help, sometimes we hinder but, if you are looking to help and not just jump in and flog your services you will find that there are frequent mishaps that need expert attention. Give bad advice - we will tell you....... above all you should know that when needed, all help is welcome regardless of where it comes from ""

good luck

Not a very welcoming post for a new poster giving their advice for nothing. Nobody is flogging their services and the advice given is good. You are a newbie on here yourself so give the guy a break.

Richie-from-the-Boro

espresso wrote: »

Not a very welcoming post for a new poster giving their advice for nothing. Nobody is flogging their services and the advice given is good. You are a newbie on here yourself so give the guy a break.

- " Nobody is flogging their services and the advice given is good " - Agreed, up this this point !

- Have you read the post I mentioned ? - NO ?

- " You are a newbie on here yourself " - espresso, you are a newbie compared to anyone registered by the same name before the date you were - what is your point ?

- I registered as an individual not my ' trading name ', what is your point ?

- I have never tried to procure business from any board - what is your point ?

espresso

Richie-from-the-Boro

My point is that your post was not necessary and not helpful.