Starting up a new HP computer recommendations?

[dk_]

Suggestions wanted for setting up a new HP PC with Windows XP Home....

What is best order for setting up the computer?

What not to do?

Should I download all the updates from Microsoft first?

Then what?

Some kind of backup?

Must have utilities/applications?

Thanks.

-Dennis

 

[cmdr of lost souls]

Always do updates first... I made that mistake, now it wont let me install
them.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Should I download all the updates from Microsoft first?

In case that there is WinXP RTM (Gold) or WinXP SP1 installed,
enable the WinXP firewall before going online. When there is
WinXP SP2 installed, the firewall should be enabled by default.

Must have utilities/applications?

Nope.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Turn on a firewall.

Install antivirus software.

Internet Storm Center: "If you know of someone who is about to receive a
new computer, or if you have received one yourself, please, please read our
new Windows XP survival guide, 'Windows XP: Surviving the First Day. (PDF)'"
http://isc.sans.org/presentations/xpsurvivalguide.pdf

[[Since its release, a number of severe security vulnerabilities have
been discovered in Windows XP. These vulnerabilities are used by
worms and viruses, making it impossible to connect an unsecured,
unpatched system to the Internet for any amount of time without
risking exposure and infection. Users of new computers are faced
with the dilemma of being infected by these worms before being able
to download the necessary patches.

This guide will show how to install Windows XP securely, without
being infected by these worms during the patching process.]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[CWatters]

Image the drive
Turn on Firewall
Install Antivirus
Connect to internet
Update Antivirus
Run Windows Update
Image the drive

 

[pjp]

My advice would be to simply return the HP pc while it's still possible.
Then go to a clone dealer and buy from them. Competent dealer will do it all
for you as part of the sale. Then you'll get a real XP cd not tied to just
the one machine (so it's usuable if you decide to upgrade) and avoid any and
all the extra HP crap they also seem to want to install.

 

[dk_]

Always do updates first... I made that mistake, now it wont let me install
them.
OK.

-Dennis

 

[dk_]

Is enabling the the firewall necessary if the machine will be connected
to a Dlink router?

-Dennis

 

[dk_]

Turn on a firewall.

Even if going through a Dlink router?

Install antivirus software.

Internet Storm Center: "If you know of someone who is about to receive a
new computer, or if you have received one yourself, please, please read our
new Windows XP survival guide, 'Windows XP: Surviving the First Day. (PDF)'"
http://isc.sans.org/presentations/xpsurvivalguide.pdf

Should abe 'required reading'. Thank you.


-Dennis

[[Since its release, a number of severe security vulnerabilities have
been discovered in Windows XP. These vulnerabilities are used by
worms and viruses, making it impossible to connect an unsecured,
unpatched system to the Internet for any amount of time without
risking exposure and infection. Users of new computers are faced
with the dilemma of being infected by these worms before being able
to download the necessary patches.

This guide will show how to install Windows XP securely, without
being infected by these worms during the patching process.]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[dk_]

I kind of thought that the drive should be imaged right away.

I have no experience with imaging programs. ...recommendations?

Since the machine has a DVD burner, would there be something already
installed on the HP pc already?

Firewall: even if connected through a router?

Thanks.

-Dennis

 

[dk_]

I hear your advice below. I looked at PcClub's web site and they did not
come anywhere near as low as what I paid at Circuit City. $399.00

Celeron D 340
Windows XP home
512 MB RAM
Combo DVD and CD burner
CD player
100 GB HD 7200rpm
Firewire
Flash card reader
USB
Modem
10/100 port
keyboard and mouse
1 year hardware warranty

-Dennis

My advice would be to simply return the HP pc while it's still possible.
Then go to a clone dealer and buy from them. Competent dealer will do it all
for you as part of the sale. Then you'll get a real XP cd not tied to just
the one machine (so it's usuable if you decide to upgrade) and avoid any and
all the extra HP crap they also seem to want to install.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Is enabling the the firewall necessary if the machine will be connected
to a Dlink router?

Read the manual (RTFM) if there is a built-in firewall. Example:
http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1329&question=FIREWALL

 

[Ken Blake]

I hear your advice below. I looked at PcClub's web site and they
did not
come anywhere near as low as what I paid at Circuit City.
$399.00

Your machine may be wonderful, and you may have gotten a great
price. I don't know, and I can't tell from the information you've
provided. But it's very important when you evaluate and compare
prices that you may sure you are comparing apples with apples,
not oranges. Look not only at what they tell you, but at
*specifically* what each component is--brand and model.

In your list below, the only thing I see that's specific is the
processor. Everything else can vary greatly in quality,
usability, and longevity. Not all 100GB 7200rpm hard drives are
equal to each other, not all CD players are equal to each other,
one brand of RAM can be less reliable than another, and so on.

If computer B costs more than computer A, even though they have
the same specs, there may be a good reason for it and it may be
worth the extra money. Shop carefully, and not just on price.

You probably wouldn't buy a car if all you know you were getting
is "four door sedan, automatic transmission, 200HP engine." Don't
buy a computer that way either.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Celeron D 340
Windows XP home
512 MB RAM
Combo DVD and CD burner
CD player
100 GB HD 7200rpm
Firewire
Flash card reader
USB
Modem
10/100 port
keyboard and mouse
1 year hardware warranty

-Dennis

 

[dk_]

Read the manual (RTFM) if there is a built-in firewall. Example:

Since I have not started the machine, and I am asking for help in what
to do first, I can't RTFM. And I do like to RTFMs.

http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1329&question=FIREWALL

I wasn't asking about Dlink's firewall.

Thanks.

-Dennis

 

[dk_]

Ken,

I understand and appreciate exactly what you say just below for sure.
This machine however, doesn't have to be high end, nor perfect. ...It's
a basic machine to use at the office. And given that, it looks hard to
come close to the features on a custom built machine to use in place of
my recently purchased and still in the box machine.

Thanks.

-Dennis

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Dennis,

You didn't mention that in your first post. ;-)

Does your D- Link router watch outgoing ports?

[[Hardware firewalls are built into networking devices such as routers and
wireless access points. Most consumer hardware firewalls only watch traffic
between the network device and the Internet—they don't block traffic between
computers inside your network.]]
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/atkin_firewall.mspx

[[If you have more than one computer on your network, it's a good idea to
run Windows Firewall even if you have a hardware firewall in place. The
hardware firewall typically manages traffic between your network and the
Internet, and doesn't block traffic between individual computers on the
network. If a malicious program makes it on to one of your networked
computers, it could potentially spread to the other computers on your
network. ]]
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/atkin_firewall.mspx

[[Q. Should I use the Internet Connection Firewall on a computer that is
also behind a hardware firewall?
A. Yes. You should turn on the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall for
all computers in your home network. This helps prevent the spread of viruses
or worms across your network if a computer is infected. A computer on the
network could become infected through a separate Internet connection, such
as one on a laptop that is used on your home network and on public networks.
Or a virus could be introduced to a computer on your network by way of
e-mail or software installed from a CD or floppy disk.]]
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/firewall.mspx


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Turn on a firewall.

Even if going through a Dlink router?

Install antivirus software.

Internet Storm Center: "If you know of someone who is about to receive a
new computer, or if you have received one yourself, please, please read
our new Windows XP survival guide, 'Windows XP: Surviving the First Day.
(PDF)'" http://isc.sans.org/presentations/xpsurvivalguide.pdf

Should abe 'required reading'. Thank you.


-Dennis

[[Since its release, a number of severe security vulnerabilities have
been discovered in Windows XP. These vulnerabilities are used by
worms and viruses, making it impossible to connect an unsecured,
unpatched system to the Internet for any amount of time without
risking exposure and infection. Users of new computers are faced
with the dilemma of being infected by these worms before being able
to download the necessary patches.

This guide will show how to install Windows XP securely, without
being infected by these worms during the patching process.]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Suggestions wanted for setting up a new HP PC with Windows XP Home....

What is best order for setting up the computer?

What not to do?

Should I download all the updates from Microsoft first?

Then what?

Some kind of backup?

Must have utilities/applications?

Thanks.

-Dennis

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Since I have not started the machine, and I am asking for help in what
to do first, I can't RTFM.

No idea what your problem is. There should be a manual coming along with
your new system. Either printed or as local file on your computer. As
long as you don't connect to the internet or to other systems (LAN/
WLAN), you are safe enough and you *can* RTFM.

I wasn't asking about Dlink's firewall.

But the answer to your question depends on that. If you are not sure if
there is a built-in firewall (router), just make sure that the Windows
firewall is enabled before going online. That doesn't harm even if not
necessary.

Thanks.

You're welcome, good luck.

 

[CWatters]

I kind of thought that the drive should be imaged right away.

Ghost is good.

 

[CWatters]

I kind of thought that the drive should be imaged right away.

I have no experience with imaging programs. ...recommendations?

Ghost is good.

Since the machine has a DVD burner, would there be something already
installed on the HP pc already?

Probably not. The programs supplied to write files to DVD can't normally
handle system files that are in use by the operating system. Ghost and
similar programs copy sectors from the drive so thay can also backup file
that are in use.

Firewall: even if connected through a router?

It is possible to rely on the firewall in the router but not all firewalls
are good.

 

[Brian C]

Are you talking about recovery discs? Make them before connecting to the
internet.