The easiest way for the best experience is to do a clean install of your OS as soon as you get an HP. I have bought several from them, and was an employee of HP for almost 6 years....and I can't tell you how poor the systems run when left with the OEM install as compared to a clean install.
I'm not saying that as I would be lecturing someone new...I'm saying it because the night and day difference is astounding. I've worked on plenty of other OEMs, most often Dell, and none of their systems run as poor out of the box as HP's.