Computer Tricks and Secrets

Short answer: before I trust a new Windows PC with real work I do seven things in order: fully update Windows, install my own browser, sort out security, strip the bloatware, install my core apps in one pass, make a full backup image, and only then touch drivers. The backup image is the step almost everyone skips and later regrets, so do not skip it. 1. Update Windows until it stops finding updates Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update. Install, reboot, and repeat until it comes back empty. A PC that sat in a warehouse for months can need several rounds. I never browse the web on an unpatched machine. 2. Install the browser I actually use I do not live in whatever shipped by default. Direct links: Chrome , Firefox , Opera . 3. Sort out security (usually by removing things) Modern Windows ships with Microsoft Defender, which is good enough for most people. The catch is that PC makers often preinstall a trial of Norton or McAfee that disables Defender. So...