# New Computer precautions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344 "2002-07-29T07:41:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/1 "2002-07-29T07:41:05Z")
I just ordered a new computer. What sort of things should I make sure to do right from the very beginning? It comes with Norton Antivirus, is that the best or is McAfee better? Is there some sort of maintenance I should do (i.e. maintenance Wizard on windows98-- that’s how long it’s been since I’ve gotten a new computer). The computer I have now has pretty much gone to crap (granted it’s four years old), so I kind of want to make sure I can delay that from happening on my new computer. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/2 "2002-07-29T07:59:01Z")
Ok **gitfiddle** Lots of stuff. First off, you will find that there is a clean break of people that prefer Norton and those that prefer McAfee. I am a former IT Manager and I recommend Norton for a trouble free system. But keep in mind that many swear by McAfee. Incidentally, the founder of McAfee lives here in Colorado on a small ranch like place. So that’s solved with me, Norton. Trouble free and easy to update. You most likely, with a new computer, will have some version of Wondows (yes Wondows, it’s a long time joke with me as I used to sell windows and doors and would type wondows all the time) Anyhow, I recommend you go to websites like [PCMag.com](http://PCMag.com), [cnet.com](http://cnet.com) and [zdnet.com](http://zdnet.com) and learn up about your new operating system. I personally use Windows 2000 which I find a little more suitable for me because of my networking background. In either case, I highly recommend you get some basic knowledge on XP, I gather you will have the “home” version. Basic tasks that I run every week, once a week on off times (my computer is on all the time except when it’s blazing hot in here) Virus update defrag scan disk That’s pretty much it. Those are the single most important (in my opinion) of items to ensure that your computer is running smooth. One thing you might consider is a firewall outside of XP. I know that XP has it’s own but I wouldn’t trust it, that’s just me. [zonelabs.com](http://zonelabs.com) has an excellent and free firewall. Another one is [tinysoftware.com](http://tinysoftware.com) but I have never had good luck with that. Be sure to run the Windows update about once every 6 months. Unfortunately there are a lot of bugs and openings within Microsoft products so run the update at a minimum of every 6 months. I tend to do it more but that’s because I am overly protective of my machine. General maintenence (sp) is important too. Pop the case off every 4-6 months and blow it out with a can of air. This helps keep your system in tip-top shape. Excessive dust can accumulate and you can have components breakdown from over heating. For the most part, that’s my recommendations. Good luck with your new puter and give it a happy home. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/3 "2002-07-29T08:09:55Z")
I would offer similar advice to **Techchick**. **Anti-virus software** : the exact make isn’t really that important. Both McAfee and Norton are decent. The key is to regularly download updates, or at the very least to make sure that they are set to automatically download updates. **Firewall software** : I too would recommend using ZoneAlarm, the freebie firewall program from ZoneLabs. There are other free firewall programs available, but ZoneAlarm is quite easy to set up and to use and hasn’t yet let me down. I would use it in preference to the built-in XP firewall, if that’s the operating system you’re using. **Maintenance** : check every now and then to see if your drive needs defragmenting. If you are using XP it will suggest whether you need to do this when you look at the disk properties. If you don’t use much disk space it’s not something you’d need to do often–maybe once every couple of months. **Software updates** : check for critical or security-related software updates, particularly for the operating system and any program that accesses the internet (not just browsers, but chat clients, messaging programs and even media players). Most of these can be configured to automatically download updates or to notify you. At the very least I would recommend using Windows Update once you’ve set up the machine to check for any patches, hotfixes or other add-ons you might need. Apart from that, I generally just try to keep the PC in a good location (away from strong sunlight, high temperatures, moisture etc) and dust it regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/4 "2002-07-29T14:17:52Z")
What kind of computer did you order? Brand name OEM, such as Gateway or Micron? From a local screwdriver shop? What I prefer is to partition the HDD into two drives, one for the OS and programs, and the other one for data. First I finish installing the OS, patched everything, loaded the most current drivers, and got all the programs I need on C:. Then I run Norton Ghost (or a similar bit image copying program) to back up the whole drive onto a CD-RW. The beauty of this approach is whenever your system crashes beyond repair, simply Ghost the whole thing back. But I am getting ahead of myself. You definitely should go on the Web to search for the latest drivers for your hardware. They either boost performance of hardware or fix bugs. Then you patch Windows. You want to patch all the programs you want to run too. If you can, copy the \i386 directory from the Windows CD to your HDD, then you don’t need to swap discs when install stuff. As for viruses, anti-virus programs can only defend against all known viruses and it’s precisely the new ones that cause most trouble. The only defense against them is caution. Be careful with e-mail attachments even if they came from your friends. Esp. executables and VB scripts. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/5 "2002-07-29T15:53:11Z")
it depends on what computer you get & what operating system. Otherwise, I like to keep the new computer & monitor on for 24 hours straight so I can see that they work right. ---
**Author:** ![Pythagoras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@Pythagoras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagoras)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/6 "2002-07-29T18:07:31Z")
**Here’s the quick and easy answer** If you dont have time to learn everything about computers just do this Get **and continously update** antivirus (its ussually easy to figure out) Perform Windows Update regularly Protect Passwords ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/7 "2002-07-29T18:55:16Z")
Backup your data. Especially the \windows\system32\config\ files, if nothing else. One abrupt shut down can cause those files to be corrupted and thereby cause Windows XP to be unbootable. I had a big scare because I had that problem four days after I had my computer. ---
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/8 "2002-07-30T06:51:29Z")
Sorry, I should have been more specific. Here are the specs on the computer. It’s a dell laptop: Order Detail I8200, 15 IN SXGA+,P4,1.6 GHZ 256MB,DDR,266MHZ (2 DIMM) 32MB DDR 4XAGP NVIDIA GEFORCE2 GO 3D VID 40GB,HD,9.5MM,I8200,FACT FLOPPY DRIVE, INSP, TIED WINDOWS XP PRO,ENG,INSP DELL SUPPORT 1.2,INSPIRON,TIED DELL RESOURCE CD,W/TOOLS I8200 LOGITECH OPTICAL USB MOUSE, INSP INTEGRATED NETWORK CARD I8200 INTERNAL 56K MODEM FIXED 24X INT CD-RW/DVD COMB DR,I8200 IVI SW DVD SOLUTION 802.11,WIRELESS 1150PC,MPCI LC I8200 NORTON ANTIVIRUS 2002 SR1,OEM,ENG,90DAY DELL JUKEBOX POWERED BY MUSICMATCH CLASSIC NYLON CARRYING CASE,INSP 6 MONTHS EARTHLINK, CD AOL 7.0 FI FOR DHS,V2 AOL 7.0 BUDDY ROM DPS IMAGE EXPERT STANDARD, INSP DPS PAINT SHOP TRY AND BUY, INSP OFFICE XP PRO W/EDUCATEU,INSP,TIED MS MONEY 2002 STD,OEM,CDWD,ENG,TIED NO WARRANTY,YRS 2/3(1-1-1RTD+CC) 1YR LIMITED WARRANTY RTD+CC,INSP,SOL,INIT YR,DHS(HIGH-2) And, please forgive me, but what is a firewall? I’ve been told a million times, but all people say is that it’s something their school has so that they can’t download music. Thanks for all the help so far. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/9 "2002-07-30T06:55:47Z")
Basically a hacker gets into your system by looking for open “ports” or like doors into your computer. A **firewall** hides these ports or at least blocks them preventing a hacker from gaining access to your computer. When someone can’t download music due to a firewall, the firewall must be blocking ports that the music download program uses to get files. Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/10 "2002-07-30T07:21:57Z")
Okay, you are getting a Dell. That means a lot of the customisations may not be possible, one of the drawbacks buying brand name boxen. ---
**Author:** ![tourbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@tourbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourbot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/11 "2002-07-30T16:37:16Z")
Um, Dell as well as almost all brand name PC’s come with a system restore CD that makes the whole ghost image building process you mentioned redundant, Urban Ranger. That aside, there is nothing to stop you from fdisking the drive and installing the system any way you like. ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/12 "2002-07-30T18:59:05Z")
I thought that, while pre-made big name PCs/laptops come with system restore disks, they don’t come with Windows disks. I’m not at all sure about that though. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-precautions/121344/13 "2002-07-30T19:23:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ian Fan \* > \*\*I thought that, while pre-made big name PCs/laptops come with system restore disks, they don’t come with Windows disks. I’m not at all sure about that though. \*\* My old, name-brand box was like that: Windows and **all other included software** was on the restore CD–and the CD was somehow protected so that when dear ol’ Portia bit the dust and I built a new computer, I couldn’t use any of those programs and wound up shelling out money for Windows. Sigh…right now I’m having a cooling problem and I’m not sure if I want to just install more case fans or get a new case (I’m not crazy about this one)… but that’s a topic for another thread, methinks.