The first 5 things to do with your new laptop

1. Connect to the Internet and keep it up-to-date

At a time when even medical prescriptions can be checked and downloaded from your PC, you must be connected at least in part to an Internet network for all your operations in front of the computer. The initial configuration of Windows will help you by guiding you through the necessary steps to connect to the Wi-Fi network, but I strongly recommend that you start with a wired connection to the modem via an Ethernet cable.

The cable connection eliminates all problems due to the distance from the wireless network or its slow speed. This allows the new laptop to update the system and all drivers during the first few minutes of the device's power up. With some strange flashes of the screen, a few reboots and that's it!

2. Protect yourself from criminals

This sounds stupid to repeat, but proper protection against online attacks is essential. Typically, a new laptop arrives at your home with two antivirus systems already installed, the first is Windows Defender (unobtrusive and invisible because built into the system) and an antivirus chosen and pre-installed by the manufacturer.

The first one can not be deleted and the second is usually only available for a few days as a free trial. After deleting the evaluation program, download and install your favorite antivirus software.

This article brings together the best antivirus software for Android, but most of the programs described have a counterpart that can also be installed on desktops. It is possible to purchase packages that include in some cases licenses for PCs and smartphones.

3. Give Microsoft applications a chance

Yes, I know, I should be the last person to give this kind of advice. I think this point is really important for most people, although I am a little hypocritical with this recommendation.

But to get back to the basics, you'll want to give pre-installed Microsoft programs a chance. For example, Mail and Calendar are two of my favorite Windows 10 applications. They are not perfect for busy business people who receive 100 emails a day and with several calendars full of commitments, but for ordinary users they are very good and are already integrated into the system, this is which saves you from having to do it. install them.

OneDrive and OneNote can be very useful for cloud synchronization of important files on all your PCs, while Microsoft Edge has evolved and improved with updates and now has many advanced features. You can also download Microsoft applications to your smartphone so that your online life is perfectly synchronized.

4. Install your favorite programs

It's time to install your favorite programs. I recommend that you do this before copying all your personal files so that you can check that your laptop is working properly before losing time in the event of a malfunction.

Once you've installed your main programs such as the Adobe suite, Chrome, Steam, Spotify, CAD programs or whatever, open them and make sure everything works properly. Once everything is verified and working, it's time to go to Step 5.

5. Copy only essential files and protect them

Do you really want to fill your new PC with all your files that you never use? Why copy the download folder and the huge folder with the unpronounceable name that you kept on your desktop and is full of useless files? My advice is to take a little time and select only really essential files.

Documents, photos, music and videos can be safely left on an external device that you can carry in your PC bag, which will allow you to use the available space in your laptop's memory for more information. other programs or games.

Once you have made a copy of the files you have decided to always bring to you, I recommend that you keep everything safe. Antivirus is not enough to protect you against ransomware attacks, and for this reason, we advise you to rely on software such as Acronis Ransomware Protection.

So what do you think? What are the first things you usually do with a new PC?