|
New System Setup Tips |
Then see what Scot Finnie has to say on this matter:
5 Steps For you new PC
Setting Up A New System
1. Open the cover: You’d be amazed at what can come loose during shipping! Ensure that all cards are seated, all cables connected, all socketed chips are firmly plugged in; nothing should be loose or flopping around, except perhaps some unused power connectors, and they should be tucked out of the way of fans or other moving parts. (Use care to prevent damage to the PC components either through excessive force or static discharge.)
2a. First boot. If the system won’t boot, contact tech support. Don’t waste time trying to fix a problem that shouldn’t be there -- that’s what your new-system warranty is for.
2b. If it boots fine, right click on "My Computer," select properties, then the Device Manager tab. There should be no problems indicated (by yellow exclamation marks or red Xs). If there are, see 2a.
2c. If Device Manager shows no errors, exercise the system and try everything -- ensure the sound card and speakers work, the printer prints, etc. Poke around the system and make notes of things like the BIOS settings, the network properties, and so forth but make no changes to the system setup yet. Simply ensure that everything works, and make note of any special settings. If you uncover problems, see 2a.
3. If everything works, make a full backup of the system, even if the manufacturer has included a "Recovery CD" or similar tool. Often, those vendor kludge CDs will restore the system to a working state, but not to the same state it was in when it arrived on your door. I use PartitionMagic to safely create a large new partition on the systems’ hard drive, and then use Drive Image to copy the original factory setup to the new, empty partition. (A firm believer in overkill, I’ll also eventually burn that factory setup image to CD for long-term safekeeping.) But in any case, having a full backup by whatever means you choose means you can get back to your PC’s factory-fresh state when you need to.
4. Install any non-original-equipment peripherals you want to use on the system. Visit the OEM’s and peripheral vendors’ sites; download (but don’t install) updated drivers, patches, etc. Place these new drivers, patches, etc. on the new partition you created in step 3.
5. Using the Win9x CD that came with your PC, copy the CAB files to the new partition. Some OEMs don’t send you a Win98 CD; instead they play games with the CAB files and store them in a C:\WINDOWS subdirectory; wherever they are, find them, and copy them.
6. Run a thorough antivirus program, scan using the latest available virus definitions.
7. Make and test a Windows emergency boot floppy disk (Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk). Check to make sure you can restart you system from the disk and access your backup files from that disk. (For example, if you store your backups on a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) make sure the emergency boot disk contains the drivers needed for you to access your CD.)
8. Here’s a step that’s bound to be controversial: Reformat the C drive from the emergency boot disk. Do NOT reformat the partition that contains any backup files, downloaded drivers, Windows CAB files, etc. Just wipe out the original factory install. Why? Because most vendors include branded or customized Windows components, special backgrounds or screen savers and such that are basically just ads. And most have made assumptions about the way the system should be set up -- assumptions that may or may not jibe with your needs. Wiping out the factory installation lets you put back just what you want, in just the way you want it -- not the way some marketing department decided for you. Besides, with a full backup, you always can restore the factory setup, if you need to.
9. Setup Windows afresh using the CAB files in the untouched, non-reformatted partition; and install all new drivers, patches, etc you downloaded earlier so everything is operating properly. Run Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com); get all to-date critical updates.
10. In My Computer/Properties/Performance/File System, choose "network server" (even if it’s not a server); under the Floppy Disk tab, uncheck "search for new floppy." Under My Computer, Properties, Performance, Virtual Memory, set virtual memory the way you want. (In systems with abundant disk space, I place the swap file out of the way on the second partition, and set a minimum size equal to the amount of RAM, with no maximum size set.)
11. In the networking applet, ensure that File and Printer Sharing is not bound to any TCP/IP stack. In Dial-Up Networking, make sure only TCP/IP is active, and that "log on to system" is not checked.
12. Adjust the Recycle Bin (via its properties) to a reasonable size. By default, the Bin will take 10 percent of your hard drive space, and on today’s large drives, that’s an insane waste of space. A mere two or three percent is usually ample.
13. Run ScanDisk in "thorough" mode on all drives, and be warned this could take a while, depending on disk size, file system type, disk speed and CPU speed.
14. Run a fresh antivirus scan.
15. Make another backup, call it "perfect new OS (operating system) setup."
16. Install your applications, plus any software updates and patches for those apps.
17. Make all cosmetic tweaks, tune-ups, and changes -- the icon spacing and arrangements; system sound effects; mouse pointers and movements, etc.
18. Run Defrag on all drives.
19. Run a fresh antivirus scan.
20. Make another backup, call it “perfect new OS+apps setup."
With that you’re done. Not only do you have a fresh setup with everything newly installed and just the way you want, but also you now have three backups. You can, if need be, quickly get back to the original as-delivered-from-the-factory, or to a fresh, new virgin OS setup, or to a fresh, full-blown OS and applications setup.
In my work I find I use that last backup a lot. When -- not if, but when -- I blow up my system, I’ll copy my data files to a safe place, then restore that perfect OS+app setup, copy my data files back, and pick up where I left off.
Of course, running through a 20-step setup process is a hassle and it’s clearly not for everyone. But taking the extra time, one time, up front, to get everything perfect pays off again and again over the years when a system goes belly-up and needs to be redone. With Drive Image and a CD-R of the perfect setup in hand, I can restore a system in its entirety -- OS, apps, everything -- in just minutes.
This way gets the awful, messy, grunt-work out of the way right away, and lets you reap the rewards of a stable, easy-to-restore system for as long as you own it. Of course, the same techniques can be used on older systems too -- it’s never too late to start!
When trouble hits your new PC.
1. Troubleshooting 101: Eliminate the Variables
Eliminate the variables. Uninstall apps you installed recently, and then uninstall all the apps you never use. This is something you should do periodically even when you don't have problems. If you installed a piece of hardware recently, and problems commenced, remove it or replace it if its required.
A. Never install a piece of software that you don't own and retain in your possession. Whether you installed from a CD, or from a downloadable file, hang onto that installer.
B. Get rid of unwanted "Auto-Launching Programs"
Many, MANY, Windows crashes, hangs at system start, freezing, and Windows Shutdown glitches derive from automatically launching programs that initiate at Windows startup. You may not even know these programs, which often run in background and may or may not appear as icons in the system tray on the task bar (next to the clock). New PCs are sometimes the worst offenders. PC makers seem to think that loading Windows down with a lot of so-so software is a good way for them to differentiate themselves and add value. Frankly, I think we should all tell PC makers we don't want this stuff on our PCs. But that's another tirade.
The biggest problem with auto-launching programs is that you may not even know they're there. The second biggest problem is finding out how to get rid of them. In three parts, here's everything you need to know to take care of both aspects of this problem.
Part I, Startup Folder and WIN.INI
Windows launch times bog down the more programs queue themselves to be run automatically on system startup. You may even be unaware that this is happening as you install programs and drivers. The first place to check for these unbidden programs is in your StartUp folder. Move them out of StartUp into a new folder named "StartUp (Disabled)." Another way to prevent programs from auto-launching is to remove entries you may find on the LOAD= or RUN= line in the WIN.INI file. Open WIN.INI from your Windows folder using Notepad and delete unwanted program names from these lines. You can also place a semicolon at the head of either line to prevent Windows from reading it--a good way to test your changes while preserving previous settings.
Part II, System Configuration Utility
With Windows 98, you have an excellent resource at your disposal for handling all types of auto-launching programs. To access the System Configuration Utility (SCU), run the System Information utility in Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools. Open SysInfo's Tools menu, and choose the System Configuration Utility menu item. (Or choose Start, Run, and enter C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSCONFIG.EXE in the Open field.) Once in SCU, which is actually a separate, standalone utility, click the Startup tab. At the very least, you'll see a short list of auto- launching programs and services. Remove the check mark beside any one to disable it. Because SCU keeps track of the programs and services you disable, you can also reinstate them at any time just by putting a check back in the box. So your strategy is to remove all suspect check marks, and reboot. Some things you might want may stop working, and problems will also hopefully disappear. Make changes and reboot, and continue that process until you get it right.
Part III, Manually Edit Registry (The Only Option for Win95)
There are four locations in Registry where programs append themselves, and these are the same location that System Configuration Utility tracks and lets you change. Here are four separate subkeys in Registry you can check for unwanted program entries and weed them out:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\RUN
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\RUN
Any changes you make to the Registry will be permanent, so back up your Registry files first. Use the System Registry Editor to check each key, and when you find AB entries in the right pane that you're sure don't belong, just delete them. Note: Some entries, including SystemTray, may be required for Windows to run properly, so when in doubt, leave it. Be careful in there.
2. Never Upgrade over a Beta
To some people this is obvious, but to a lot of people it isn't. Never, ever, upgrade over beta software. This includes installing a later beta version over an earlier beta version. And it applies especially to installing the final version of a program over a beta version. Some software makers will tell you it's OK to do this. Qualcomm has sometimes said in past that it was OK to install Eudora Pro over its betas. I still wouldn't do that. It's easy enough to uninstall first.
3. Never Upgrade over a Problem
If you have this problem on your PC, NEVER try and fix it with an upgrade. You'll only create more levels of troubleshooting for yourself.
4. Always Uninstall Something before you Reinstall It
With most Windows programs, uninstalling is a fast and easy process. Virtually all programs leave behind your personal data so that you can pick up exactly where you left off if you reinstall over the leftover program folder. Make it a habit to uninstall first. Sometimes it won't matter much, but other times it can make a huge difference.
A. The only exception to this rule is that it is acceptable to install the exact same version of Windows you're currently running over itself, from Start, Run, in an attempt to solve a system problem.
5. Never Install a Windows Upgrade over a Windows Upgrade
There's no such thing as a perfect Windows upgrade, and two upgrades is one too many. And when you're counting this, the last two versions of Internet Explorer (if you downloaded them and installed them) count as an upgrade. That means that upgrading from Win95 to Win98 and then installing IE 5.0 is a no-no. I can almost guarantee that people who have done that are having problems that others aren't.
A. Clean installing Windows always saves you time in the long run. Always. http://www.winmag.com/library/1998/0701/cov0076.htm
B. The Recovery Disc that came with your PC can be an absolutely lifesaver, or an absolute nightmare, depending on how good a job your PC maker did. Don't trust it before you've tested it. And don't try to test it on another PC.
6. Reboot Win9x At Least Once a Day
The first is a piece of advice I myself practice every day with Windows 98 (and Windows 95). Reboot Windows once a day to keep trouble at bay. No matter what any one tells you, the Windows 9x line of operating systems has built-in design compromises whose sole purpose is to make it backwardly compatible with real-mode devices and hardware calls, as well as legacy 16-bit applications. That may not sound like much, but it's a big deal. To workaround those and other issues, Microsoft had to make Windows 9.x less bullet proof than it would have liked to. The upshot is, you can't expect Win9x to run forever without eventually choking on its own lack of system resources and the clutter left in memory by exiting applications. Reboot at least once a day. If you turn off your computer(s) at night, as I do, maybe you'll help save a few earth resources over the years to boot.
7. Don't Install Bios Patches Haphazardly
If you're one of those people who never saw a BIOS patch you didn't
install, I'm surprised you're still one of those people. Treat BIOS patches
with serious skepticism. Never install one unless you have a specific need
for it. And only install a BIOS patch that's distributed by your PC maker,
a representative of your PC maker, or the same BIOS maker whose BIOS came
with your PC. Don't install a BIOS patch if you're not 100% sure it's for
your specific PC model. When in any doubt, don't install it. Call your
PC maker for hard advice on this topic.