First time Vista User - Essential Tips & must do things please?

nutmegman

Hi all,

My new laptop arrived last night so i am a Vista virgin.......!!

Everything loaded up very easily indeed and connected to my WiFi router first time i was really impressed.

The Vista performance rating is 4.5 is that good / bad?

The advice i would really like is what are the most important / recommended things to setup / install / download etc etc.

Thanks in advance

Aliktren

it's good

Antivirus is pretty much all you need

Edit:

Download firefox

add noscript and adblock addons to firefox, stop using internet explorer

make sure you've patched everything

download spybot search and destroy and run it once in a while


For general health of the PC I use Tuneup2007, which is worth the 20 quid I paid for it

if you were more specific about what you think you need to do, let us know and we can suggest more

BillScarab

The highest performance rating is 5.9 so 4.5 isn't bad. Personally I'd downlaod a decent free Anti Virus, decent free Anti Spyware adn a decent free firewall.

I prefer Firefox and Thunderbird to Internet Explorere and Windows Mail but which you use is up to you.

Aliktren

interesting you installed a firewall, Bill, any special reason ?

Teacher2301

Aliktren wrote: »

it's good

Antivirus is pretty much all you need

Edit:

Download firefox

add noscript and adblock addons to firefox, stop using internet explorer

make sure you've patched everything

download spybot search and destroy and run it once in a while


For general health of the PC I use Tuneup2007, which is worth the 20 quid I paid for it

if you were more specific about what you think you need to do, let us know and we can suggest more

All good advice - I did exactly the same but totally independently when I got Vista...I would also set up a regular back up program as well - Vista has an automatic one. Do it as soon as your happy with all programs that have been installed.

nutmegman

Thanks for the response so far, i think i am looking for the following, can any one suggest the best software.....(i have already removed norton...!!!)

I should add this is the first time i have ever used wireless

Things i am looking for

• Anti Virus software
• Anti Spy ware
• Firewall
• I think i will go with firefox i like the add ons (i am missing out by not using IE)
• What is the best way to play & sort MP3's I want to upload all my CD's
• Any tips / software for viewing & sorting out photos i have heaps to sort out.

Once again thanks.......

nutmegman

Aliktren wrote: »

it's good


make sure you've patched everything

Thank you how do i check / ensure everything is patched

Aliktren

well vista will do this for you for patches if autoupdate is turned on, which it is by default iirc

AV - I use Norton 360 at the moment but may not renew next year, it's been quite good but lacks a bit of control and can be intrusive. AVG would be good as a free alternative and thats what we use on the family laptop

Antispyware - spybot, adaware and vista didnt mix, for me at least, spybot works fine and doesnt hog the processor

Firewall, I believe there is a post about that at the top of the forum, though I'm relying on the built in firewall and the hardware firewall in my router

Media Player is perfectly fine for MP3s and it's already included with Vista

Picture sorting built into vista is already pretty sweet I think, not sure you really need to add much there.

Ice_2

http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/UK/

all you need to know about vista here...:)

nutmegman

Thanks i now think vista is great i was tempted to stick with XP glad i moved on