Great input here guys!
with a little help from me, I'm sure we can keep it running smoothly .
in all honesty i don't think Lois will be moving many files around much so i think we defrag monthly.
Lois will be using ms office so student office package is a good idea.
I would do this in a slightly different order. Remove the bloatware and pre-installed AV, add MSE and other must have software (such as her office suite) and then make an image of the drive. That way if you need to restore from the image you won't have to repeat the initial setup.
Personally, I think defragging and running ccleaner is highly overrated but make sure backups are scheduled often enough so that if her HDD crashed she wouldn't lose too much of her schoolwork!
I would make the Recovery disks, wipe the HD and clean reinstall a clean copy of Premium to get rid of the bloatware and useless factory utilities which have better built-in versions in Win7. This makes it better than new.
Until that happy day, you can tame the bloat a bit with these steps in addition to the ones mentioned:
Uncheck everything in msconfig>Startup except AV and gadgets/stickies if you use them. All others are freeloaders on startup/RAM/CPU and can spy on you - especially factory utilities like Wireless Manager which have better built-in versions in Win7.
Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials with the WIndows Firewall. Watch optional Updates for newer drivers.
Using Revo Uninstaller in Advanced mode, gradually remove programs you decide you don't need starting with the bloated AV. After Revo runs uninstaller, don't restart when prompted but click Next to delete cued Registry keys and files in bold.
After uninstalls run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker to check system file integrity. Irreparable system files due to bloatware damage may require a Repair Install if there are performance problems.
Check for repeat errors in Event Viewer>Admin View to google text and ID# to find how others have resolved the issues.
Clean and order the HD perfectly with state-of-the-art CCleaner and Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers monthly.
Piriform - Download
Disk Defrag
Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware
Defrag the Registry
Last edited by Airbot; 24 Sep 2010 at 17:11. Reason: replaced direct links
When it comes to laptops, make sure it all physically works before investing too much time in setting it up. Burn a DVD, play a DVD check all USB ports work, try every key, try web cam, card reader, etc. Use it for a day or two to make sure everything functions correctly before she does too much homework on it or you do a clean install. I had a new laptop that had fan issues and it was replaced. I had spent an entire afternoon doing a clean install and customizing it only to send it back when my new one arrived.
Someone said to drain the battery. The newer lithium-ion batteries do not need to be drained. There are many points of view regarding laptop batteries. Google it and decide for yourself.
Join a notebook forum for her specific model number for latest info, tips, issues and suggestions. The busiest forum for laptops is notebookreview.com
You can look here for her model number:
Lenovo Laptop Forums - IBM Laptop Forums and Notebook Computer Discussions
Then look for example, for Lenovo G550, to find that specific forum.
This article is a good place to start:
Wireless Security - WiFi Wireless Home Network Security Tips
Boohbah is a SevenForums Guru, hardly a novice.
CCleaner may be the single most acclaimed state-of-the-art utility software in existence, used by almost all pro's and knowing novices alike. Many of us have watched it polished to perfection over 10+ years to where it really never makes mistakes.
If you're wary about it's truly ingenious Registry Cleaner, which is completely unlike the other phony Reg Cleaner sales operations, then back up the changes when offered so you only need to click on them to Merge back in if necessary. I've never known anyone to have to do so before though.
I am not exactly sure how one would "foul it up." Maybe you can tell us.
To follow up on the rocker's righteous recommendation you might consider downloading and using CCleaner Enhancer which updates the popular CCleaner system utility with support for cleaning up after up to 270 more applications depending on which applications you are running on your computer, so you can keep your system even more crap free!
The highlighted applications are the ones which CCleaner Enhancer added to CCleaner's already extensive file cleaning roster on my computer effectively doubling the number of applications that CCleaner can now check for unneeded file accumulation.
CCleaner Enhancer is a portable application and does not need to be installed on your computer in order to download new updates into the CCleaner winapp2 configuration settings file...
~Maxx~
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well said, i use ccleaner and am Lois's personal tech guy by default.
some of the tips here are general pc security and tips . what we are looking for is tips from laptop users who have learned by experience,
the little tricks they pick up as to get the best from their lappy .
cooling ,wifi, wifi security ,and other stuff im not aware of yet.
thanks guys
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