New pc update guide

Are you a computer wizz? Do you know the feeling, when people around you f*** up their computers - and it ends up costing you, the complete hours of your well deserved weekend?

I know this feeling. Maybe it is because I have too many friends, but it always seems to become my problem, when other people get an attack from a virus or a worm. When they bust their graphics card, when the computer becomes slow for unexplainable reasons (usually filled with dust), When their printer og digital camera wont work, when they can't play an audio or video file, when they cant seem to save an attachment from an email, when they cant open a *.doc or *xls file, when their bookmarks have gone missing from their browser.

I think I have saved well over 100 computers from dangerous virus attacks, wormplay or malware, since I got my first computer, and now I am getting really sick and tired of spending my time helping others. If it was my job I would charge them 50$ an hour and I can easily spend 12-18 hours fixing their computer. They ought to pay at least 200$ + taxes, but all I receive is a six-pack and a thank you.

With hope of helping people help themselves I was inspired to write this small guide, on what I do to when I "start fresh with a computer". If your are a computer builder or just help friends build a custom computer from scratch you might find the steps below useful.

The guide starts after you have build the computer, formatted the Hard Disk Drives and installed Windows, in whatever version you use...

Download an AntiVirus software, to get the computer safe from Virus immediately.

I have used the Avast AntiVirus programme for about 6 years now, and haven't had a Virus since. I have been attacked by virus, but Avast strikes back at once.

If you use the computer for personal use only, you can enjoy the Free edition of the programme called avast! Home Edition - Free Antivirus. It can be downloaded in almost any language you like. Register for a license and you will be protected for free - for a year. When a year has gone by without any infections, you can require a new license for a year more. The avast! program reminds you when it is time to re-new the license. It also updates the Virus Database once everyday. Nice! If you use AntiVirus on your workstation computer, you should by the Proffesional edition.

Download here: http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html

Tip! You should download the AntiVirus software from another computer and load it into the new installation with an USB stick for example - before you connect the computer with the Internet. I read somewhere that an unprotected computer can only be online for about 15 minutes before some kind of virus, worm or malware will hit and infect.

Assuming you are using Windows as an operating system, you should go online to the Windows Update page and choose all the updates available.

Use this link: http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/

This step will give you the latest updates available. This means you will get the newest edition of the Internet Explorer Brower. You will get the Service Packs for your Windows Version. For older computers and operating systems this often means that you will be able to use the full capacity of your harddisks over 250GB and use USB 2.0 for example. If you dont update the service packs, this can be some of the problems you will receive. This also updates your hardware drivers, meaning your network card, soundcard and graphics card will be fully functional.

Tip! If you have hardware problems after you have dowloaded all the updates, you can try to put in CD-ROMs that came along with you computer. Usually you get a CD-ROM for your motherboard, your graphics card and your sound card, unless they are onboard cards - meaning attached directly to your motherboard. Install drivers from your CD-ROMs and avoid typical problems.

After running Windows Updates for a couple of hours and you are finally finished you should go to Sun's Java.com to get the newest edition of Java.

Get it here: http://www.java.com/en/download/inc/windows_upgrade_ie.jsp

What is Java? Can I drink it or what?

Java is a small program that allows your computer to do stuff. I really dont want to explain it further. Just install it. If you don't - you might get trouble when you buy stuff online in webshops and maybe you won't be able to login to your online banking account. 

While visiting Java.com you will receive the offer to download the OpenOffice Suite as well. This is a good idea - unless you have invested in another Office Suite - like Microsoft Office.

Download here for free! http://www.openoffice.org/product/

This office suite can do almost everything and it is Open Source software, which means it is free to download and free to use. You can get it in your local language and once installed you can write stories, make presentations, make a budget and so on... Genious!

After installing your Office Suite you should pay Downloads.com a visit. Here you should use the search engine to downloads to cool programmes.

The first is WinRar. It is a compressing program like winzip. Nowadays most new computers come with Winzip built in, but I like WinRar better.

Get it here: http://download.cnet.com/WinRAR-32-bit/3000-2250_4-10007677.html?tag=mncol

The next search should be for "VLC". Download the VideoLanPlayer VLC. It is one of the best outthere and have been a true companion of mine for many years now. VLC can play anything from AVI files to MP3 and WMA files. If Windows Media Player wont play, just right-click on your file and select "play with VLC player"

Get it here: http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-13632_4-10267151.html?tag=mncol

Now it is time to pay http://www.adobe.com/ a visit. At Adobe there are three things you should do. First install the latest edition of the Adobe Reader program. This makes reading PDF files possible for you.

Download here: http://get.adobe.com/en/reader/?promoid=BUIGO

Next you should update the Flash Player. This will make you able to se different types of animations when you surf around the Internet.

Install here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP

A last but not least you should install the Shockwave Player as well for same reasons as the Flash Player.

Install here: http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/

That's it folks!

If you aren't tired yet or have passed out in you chair you could be a nice fella' and visit Google.com. Google provides Internet users with a lot of cool programmes.

You should set up an google email account for the computer at first. It is free and can be done here: http://www.gmail.com

If you don't like the Internet Explorer webbrowser program then Google offers an alternative for you. Google Chrome. It is really fast and cool and makes searching much easier, since you can type in your search in the webpage adresse bar. I use it a work and Internet Explorer at home. Get Chrome here: http://www.google.com/chrome

Once you have installed your new browser you can choose to add the Google Toolbar which offers a lot of cool things for you, like pagerank which indicates the importance of the websites you are visiting. The toolbar can also be used with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and so on. Get it here: http://toolbar.google.com/

Once you have you browser installed you can join iGoogle to personalise your Google Start page. You can add all you favorite websites RSS feeds, and be updated on news in a blink of an eye: Join here: http://www.igoogle.com/

If you often have the use for translation you can visit Googles translator and add it to your favorites. It is a lot easier than browsing through your old translation school books: Visit here: http://translate.google.com/

Finally if you aren't keen on installing OpenOffice Suite or don't want to get the Microsoft Office Suite you can become friends with google instead. Google has made Google Docs for you instead. This is truly smart. Once you have a Gmail account - you can free and easily use Google Docs. Upload you budgets or textfiles from you computer to your account. You can access your documents from anywhere. Are you in a meeting with your bank, you can login and download your budget in seconds. You can also share documents with friends and family. Try it here: http://docs.google.com/