setting up a new netbook

[Jo-Anne]

I finally ordered a netbook with WinXP (and I'm assuming SP3, although the
description didn't say). I'm now worrying about the best approach to setting
it up when it arrives. Here's what I think I should do--in this order:

1. Install an antivirus program from a flash drive to which I've copied the
installation program. (I'm using Avira AntiVir on my two other computers.)
2. Remove the crapware, which will include Norton Internet Security 2009.
(I'm hoping I can download the Norton Removal Tool to a flash drive to get
it to the new computer without using the internet at this point.)
3. Enable the Windows Firewall.
4. Connect to the internet and get the updated definitions for the antivirus
program.
5. Run a full scan with the antivirus program.
6. Download the High-Priority Windows updates and install them. (I've
configured my two other computers to tell me when Automatic Updates are
available but not to download them. I plan to do the same with the new
computer.)
7. Configure the machine the way I want it, and add the programs and files I
want.

Does this approach sound reasonable? If not, any suggestions? Any additions?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I finally ordered a netbook with WinXP (and I'm assuming SP3,
although the description didn't say). I'm now worrying about the
best approach to setting it up when it arrives. Here's what I think
I should do--in this order:
1. Install an antivirus program from a flash drive to which I've
copied the installation program. (I'm using Avira AntiVir on my two
other computers.) 2. Remove the crapware, which will include Norton
Internet Security
2009. (I'm hoping I can download the Norton Removal Tool to a flash
drive to get it to the new computer without using the internet at
this point.) 3. Enable the Windows Firewall.
4. Connect to the internet and get the updated definitions for the
antivirus program.
5. Run a full scan with the antivirus program.
6. Download the High-Priority Windows updates and install them.
(I've configured my two other computers to tell me when Automatic
Updates are available but not to download them. I plan to do the
same with the new computer.)
7. Configure the machine the way I want it, and add the programs
and files I want.

Does this approach sound reasonable? If not, any suggestions? Any
additions?

Uninstall Norton *first* through Control Panel --> Add or Remove Programs.
This should enable the Windows Firewall, but verify.
Reboot and then use the Norton Removal Tool to make sure it's all gone.
Install the new AV next.
Uninstall any other software you won't need.
Connect to the Internet and update Windows XP (High Priority at least.)

The rest is just normal use.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Uninstall Norton *first* through Control Panel --> Add or Remove Programs.
This should enable the Windows Firewall, but verify.
Reboot and then use the Norton Removal Tool to make sure it's all gone.
Install the new AV next.
Uninstall any other software you won't need.
Connect to the Internet and update Windows XP (High Priority at least.)

The rest is just normal use.

Thank you, Shenan! That sounds good to me.

Jo-Anne

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Just for you!...

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

TIP: Don't insert anything other than a brand-new or freshly-formatted flash
drive until you've gotten the computer fully patched and your AV app
installed & its definitions updated. (Yes, this would mean downloading the
Norton Removal Tool in the computer itself...or save it to a CD or DVD on
another computer...but NOT a flash drive.)

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you, Robear! I'll put the necessary installation programs on a CD
rather than a flash drive. I've printed off the Microsoft
directions--although I notice that, despite a 2009 copyright date, they
refer to WinXP SP2 rather than SP3.

Jo-Anne

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I finally ordered a netbook with WinXP (and I'm assuming SP3, although the
description didn't say). I'm now worrying about the best approach to setting
it up when it arrives. Here's what I think I should do--in this order:

1. Install an antivirus program from a flash drive to which I've copied the
installation program. (I'm using Avira AntiVir on my two other computers.)
2. Remove the crapware, which will include Norton Internet Security 2009.
(I'm hoping I can download the Norton Removal Tool to a flash drive to get
it to the new computer without using the internet at this point.)
3. Enable the Windows Firewall.
4. Connect to the internet and get the updated definitions for the antivirus
program.
5. Run a full scan with the antivirus program.
6. Download the High-Priority Windows updates and install them. (I've
configured my two other computers to tell me when Automatic Updates are
available but not to download them. I plan to do the same with the new
computer.)
7. Configure the machine the way I want it, and add the programs and files I
want.

Does this approach sound reasonable? If not, any suggestions? Any additions?

Yes, an important addition. You also need to install anti-spyware
software. I recommend that you install at least two. The two best
ones, and I recommend them, are MalwareBytes AntiMalware and
SuperAntiSpyware. Freeware versions of both can be downloaded.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Yes, an important addition. You also need to install anti-spyware
software. I recommend that you install at least two. The two best
ones, and I recommend them, are MalwareBytes AntiMalware and
SuperAntiSpyware. Freeware versions of both can be downloaded.

Thank you, Ken! I forgot to mention that I would be installing both of these
programs. Thanks to this newsgroup, I use both on my other computers and
planned to install them on this one as well.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

Not a smart move.
I, too, disliked Norton in the days that it was a resource hog.
Read the current reviews. Everything has changed.
It gets high marks on security and has _very_ low resource usage.

Oh, and:
0. Buy an external DVD drive. They're dirt cheap and very handy to have
around. Amazon has some good ones.

Thank you, "who." I definitely will get an external DVD drive. I haven't
seen anything super-cheap, though. The ones I've looked at run from $50 on
up. Or is that considered cheap? Any recommendations?

My experience with Norton hasn't been very good. I know it's getting better
marks these days, but I had it for a long time on one of my computers (just
got rid of it in April of this year, so my last NIS was 2008), and it caused
Internet Explorer to run so slowly that I was ready to buy a new computer,
thinking mine was just old and slow. Once I got rid of Norton, however, IE
has been speeding along.

Jo-Anne

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you, Ken! I forgot to mention that I would be installing both of these
programs. Thanks to this newsgroup, I use both on my other computers and
planned to install them on this one as well.

You're welcome, and glad to hear that you were ahead of me.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you, "who." I definitely will get an external DVD drive. I haven't
seen anything super-cheap, though. The ones I've looked at run from $50 on
up. Or is that considered cheap? Any recommendations?

My experience with Norton hasn't been very good. I know it's getting
better marks these days, but I had it for a long time on one of my
computers (just got rid of it in April of this year, so my last NIS was
2008), and it caused Internet Explorer to run so slowly that I was ready
to buy a new computer, thinking mine was just old and slow. Once I got rid
of Norton, however, IE has been speeding along.

Jo-Anne

Addendum re Norton: I forgot to mention the worst thing about Norton. If you
don't buy each new year's update from a third party, you WILL be put on
automatic renewal, no matter what you say or they say at the time of the
order. I ordered NIS 2008 from Symantec by phone, stating at the time that I
did not want automatic renewal. I was assured that my account was marked
that way--although there was no way I could be sent an email to confirm (a
bad sign already). A year later they tried to automatically renew. I had to
call to cancel the renewal. At that point, I removed Norton and vowed I
wouldn't use it again.