pick up my new laptop tomorrow..

asparagus1968

beginners guide needed please..
someone has told me it will probably come with loads of programs etc pre- loaded,which I won't need.
how do I know what they all are (besides googling the individual names!!)
what else shall I do to it? it will only be used for browsing /shopping/ email/banking/ downloading from work and school.
want to keep it as simple as possible. it's coming with Microsoft office to put on it, and I can transfer the Norton security product from my current laptop I believe.


so, any tips, keeping it all simple (yes I really am this useless)


thanks in advance

tom15387202

What is the model and brand?

bsod

make a recovery disc, you may need it if you start uninstalling random pieces of software on the basis of someone told me's. No-one can guess what is going to be installed.

W10 is out soon, bad time to buy really, but you should be able to upgrade it for free.

agrinnall

bsod wrote: »

W10 is out soon, bad time to buy really, but you should be able to upgrade it for free.

Free upgrade to W7 and W8 users for 1 year according to this (it actually says 8.1 so perhaps it will enforce an update for W8 users to 8.1 first).

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-10-release-date-price-news-and-features-1029245

grumpycrab

In theory W8 users will be able to upgrade to 10 via ISO (rather than Windows Update).

Jivesinger

bsod wrote: »

make a recovery disc, you may need it if you start uninstalling random pieces of software on the basis of someone told me's. No-one can guess what is going to be installed.

Also, use something like Macrium Reflect Free to take a full image of the disk in its 'new' state, in case you need to go back to it.

grumpycrab wrote: »

In theory W8 users will be able to upgrade to 10 via ISO (rather than Windows Update).

If so, then it has the side-effect that an ISO install could be used to only install Windows without any other clutter that came with the PC. However if there was something useful on there, I'm guessing you'd still be able to do an install which keeps software and user settings.

asparagus1968

back on topic- it's an Acer Aspire es1-512.


these are the programs it has come with-some are Microsoft programs, which is fine.
it says it's got a Microsoft office program, but I bought one separately along with the laptop so a bit confused.
I don't know what the following are for? any help would be MUCH appreciated.


pokki start menu
qualcom Atheros wlan and Bluetooth client
realtek card reader
realtek Ethernet controller driver
realtek high definition audio driver
Spotify
wildtangent games


then, on the side of the start screen there are ?apps-
abFiles ,
foxit phantom pdf
cyberlink photodirect
abDocs
abPhoto
abMedia
cyberlink power DVD
cyberlink PowerDirect




sorry I am such a dunce

grumpycrab

http://www.decrap.org/ (I haven't used it so I cannot provide support;)
The existing Office may be a trial. Zap it.

20aday

My Mum has the same laptop and I removed the following programs: abFiles, Foxit, Cyberlink Photodirect and PowerDirect, abDocs/Media/Photo and Wild Tagent games. I left Spotify on there if she ever decides to want to start streaming music and I'm sure PowerDVD is so she can watch DVDs on the laptop seeing as Windows Media Centre is now a paid-for add on. You can also uninstall the Pokki Start Menu. The Realtek and Qualcom drivers are for your Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc. There is no need to remove these.

asparagus1968

20aday, tht's a massive help, thanks so much.

tyllwyd

On the other hand, keeping it even easier you could just start using it and see if it is fast enough for what you want and whether you get any annoying messages from the pre-installed programs. If they aren't getting in your way, you could just leave them there.