My first WinXP computer: set up for WiFi Internet?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks to all.

Yes, it is a DELL OEM.

Then it's a specific OEM copy rather than a generic one. Be prepared
for the possibility that it may not install on your computer. Brand
name OEM copies are usually BIOS-locked to the specific brand, and
sometimes even the specific model of the motherboard they are shipped
with. If your copy is locked to a specific motherboard different from
what you have, even though they are both Dell, you'll be out of luck.

This is part of the reason why I always recommend against buying
Windows XP or Vista on eBay. It's a crap shoot. You may find that it
installs and if it does, you may find that you can activate it. But
you are at risk in both those areas.

 

[Ed from AZ]

It's point number 1 above that makes me always recommend against OEM

versions. Instead I recommend retail Upgrade copies instead of
OEM ones. They usually cost only slightly more than OEM versions, and
come without the OEM version's restrictions. Moreover, despite what
many people think, Upgrade versions *can* do clean installations as
long as you own a CD of a previous qualifying version to show it when
prompted. Most people have such CDs, but worst case, if you don't,
they can be bought used inexpensively someplace like eBay.

Would an XP Upgrade install clean over my 98SE? So I could install
the 98SE first, and then install the upgrade to XP Pro over that? Or
would that cause more problems than simply trying to use the OEM?

Ed

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Would an XP Upgrade install clean over my 98SE?

The words "clean" and "over" contradict each other. It's one or the
other. You can do an upgrade *over* 98SE, but it's not clean. Or you
can do a clean installation, by inserting the 98 CD when prompted to
do so.

So I could install
the 98SE first, and then install the upgrade to XP Pro over that?

Although you can do that, it's extra work and accomplishes nothing.
Instead, do a clean installation and insert the 98 CD as proof of
ownership when prompted.

Or
would that cause more problems than simply trying to use the OEM?

If you already bought the OEM copy, that's what you should use--or at
least try. I don't mean to say that it definitely won't work, just
that there's a risk of its not working. And regarding moving it to
another computer, again if you've already bought it, it's too late to
worry about it now. You may never have to move it, but if you do,
you'll have to buy another copy then--no need to buy another copy
until you know you need it.

 

[Gerry]

Alias

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. You are asked to accept or
decline the terms of the EULA. Not reading the EULA before accepting is
not a valid defence. Any one who signs a blank cheque is a fool.


~~~~


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Alias]

Alias

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. You are asked to accept or
decline the terms of the EULA. Not reading the EULA before accepting is
not a valid defence. Any one who signs a blank cheque is a fool.


~~~~


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute

You're wrong. Hint: shrink wrap and EULA cannot be agreed to until it's
too late to get your money back and just because you hit F8 doesn't mean
you agreed with it or, in many cases, even read it. Another hint: an
EULA is NOT the law and violating it, at most, is a civil offense and
usually inconsequential for personal use where no profit is involved.

Alias

 

[Kayman]

I'm finally getting to come out of the stone age and into the 90's!!
<g> I'm moving up from 98SE to XP Pro. Not the same computer - the
"new" one is a Dell laptop with a P4 1.6GHz - a large step up from my
867 MHz desktop!

I've used XP Pro before at work, where's it's always been totally set
up for me. The is the first time I'm trying to configure it on my
own. I even have to load it myself (the computer is coming with a
wiped drive; I bought an OEM CD from eBay.)

How do I set this up for WiFi? The computer has WiFi included. Also,
I know there are free firewall and virus programs available. Are
these recommended, or are there inexpensive ones that are better?

If anyone can advise or point me to some good resources for setting
this up, I would be very appreciative.

The most dependable defenses are:
1. Do not work as 'Administrator'; For day-to-day work routinely use a
Limited User Account (LUA).
2. Secure (Harden) your operating system.
3. Keep your operating (OS) system (and all software on it)
updated/patched.
4. Reconsider the usage of IE and OE.
5. Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities;
Remove clutter.
6. Don't expose services to public networks.
7. Activate the build-in firewall and configure Windows not to use TCP/IP
as transport protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP
ports 135,137-139 and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak
point) closed.
7a.If on high-speed internet use a router as well.
8. Routinely practice safe-hex.
9. Regularly back-up data/files.
10.Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and re-installing your
operating system (OS).
11.Utilize a real-time anti-virus application and vital system
monitoring utilities/applications.
12.Keep abreast of the latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.
The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever applications and staying ignorant.

 

[Kayman]

I'm finally getting to come out of the stone age and into the 90's!!
<g> I'm moving up from 98SE to XP Pro. Not the same computer - the
"new" one is a Dell laptop with a P4 1.6GHz - a large step up from my
867 MHz desktop!

I've used XP Pro before at work, where's it's always been totally set
up for me. The is the first time I'm trying to configure it on my
own. I even have to load it myself (the computer is coming with a
wiped drive; I bought an OEM CD from eBay.)

How do I set this up for WiFi? The computer has WiFi included. Also,
I know there are free firewall and virus programs available. Are
these recommended, or are there inexpensive ones that are better?

If anyone can advise or point me to some good resources for setting
this up, I would be very appreciative.

The most dependable defenses are:
1. Do not work as 'Administrator'; For day-to-day work routinely use a
Limited User Account (LUA).
2. Secure (Harden) your operating system (OS).
3. Keep your OS and all software on it updated/patched.
4. Reconsider the usage of MSIE and MSOE.
5. Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities;
Remove clutter.
6. Don't expose services to public networks.
7. Activate the in-build firewall and configure Windows not to use
TCP/IP as transport protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving
TCP/UDP ports 135,137-139 and 445 (the most exploited Windows
networking weak point) closed.
7a. If on high-speed internet use a router as well.
8. Routinely practice safe-hex.
9. Regularly back-up data/files.
10. Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and re-installing
your OS.
11. Utilize a real-time anti-virus (AV) application and vital system
monitoring utilities/applications.
12. Keep abreast of latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.
The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever things and staying ignorant.

 

[Alias]

The most dependable defenses are:
1. Do not work as 'Administrator'; For day-to-day work routinely use a
Limited User Account (LUA).
2. Secure (Harden) your operating system (OS).
3. Keep your OS and all software on it updated/patched.
4. Reconsider the usage of MSIE and MSOE.
5. Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities;
Remove clutter.
6. Don't expose services to public networks.
7. Activate the in-build firewall and configure Windows not to use
TCP/IP as transport protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving
TCP/UDP ports 135,137-139 and 445 (the most exploited Windows
networking weak point) closed.
7a. If on high-speed internet use a router as well.
8. Routinely practice safe-hex.
9. Regularly back-up data/files.
10. Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and re-installing
your OS.
11. Utilize a real-time anti-virus (AV) application and vital system
monitoring utilities/applications.
12. Keep abreast of latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.
The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever things and staying ignorant.

Doing the above while using Windows is a good idea and good advice. With
Linux Ubuntu, however, all the above is NOT necessary except having a
router with a hard firewall. Check it out a http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

 

[Ed from AZ]

The most dependable defenses are:
1.  Do not work as 'Administrator'; For day-to-day work routinely use a
    Limited User Account (LUA).
2.  Secure (Harden) your operating system (OS).
3.  Keep your OS and all software on it updated/patched.
4.  Reconsider the usage of MSIE and MSOE.
5.  Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities;
    Remove clutter.
6.  Don't expose services to public networks.
7.  Activate the in-build firewall and configure Windows not to use
    TCP/IP as transport protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving
    TCP/UDP ports 135,137-139 and 445 (the most exploited Windows
    networking weak point) closed.
7a. If on high-speed internet use a router as well.
8.  Routinely practice safe-hex.
9.  Regularly back-up data/files.
10. Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and re-installing
    your OS.
11. Utilize a real-time anti-virus (AV) application and vital system
    monitoring utilities/applications.
12. Keep abreast of latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.
The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever things and staying ignorant.- Hide quotedtext -

Kayman -

That looks like quite an impressive list! Also a bit daunting for
someone like me who's never ventured very far into this arena.
I imagine a good basic book on Win XP Pro could guide me through 1, 7,
9, and 10 (although 7 sounds like a foreign language! <g>). Number 6
I don't understand at all, not knowing what "services" are or how they
get exposed.

Can you recommend some good good study material?

Ed