How to set up a new laptop or computer
It’s an exciting time. You’ve just bought (or bought) a new computer, replacing the old one you’ve been depending on for a while.
You can start using it as soon as possible, but just a word of caution: it might mean you don’t have access to some of your favorite apps or that you’re vulnerable to viruses and other malware.
As frustrating as it may be, it’s worth taking the time to properly set up your laptop, desktop, or tablet. This will save you more hassle and ensure that all your important data remains safe.
This tutorial focuses on Windows with Windows 10 and Windows 11 methods. On Apple’s macOS, the process is slightly different – see our partner site Macworld for detailed instructions.
Step 1 – Turn on
This seems pretty obvious, but you can’t go anywhere without turning on your device.
The power button is almost universally indicated by a small vertical line in a circle, but its location varies by model. The most common position on laptops is at the top right of the keyboard, while desktop computers vary between the front and back of the monitor or computer case.
Once that’s taken care of, you’ll need to go through the initial setup process.
In Windows 10, you have to choose your region and language, accept the license terms, customize the color scheme, choose a name for your computer, choose a Wi-Fi network, and decide whether to accept the so-called “express”. select or customize settings” and sign in to your Microsoft account.
In Windows 11, the process is simpler with only region, language, Wi-Fi and privacy settings required. Just follow the on-screen instructions and it should be pretty easy. You may be offered an Xbox Game Pass subscription, but it’s easy to decline.
Microsoft
You can technically still install Windows without a Microsoft account on Windows 11 or 10, but it’s not recommended. You’ll miss out on features like OneDrive cloud storage, the Microsoft Store, and the pre-installed Mail app.
But even if you decide not to use OneDrive, it’s definitely worth using a cloud storage service rather than just relying on local files.
Step 2 – Remove Bloatware
Chances are your new machine will come preloaded with all kinds of software you don’t want. Some of them may be useful, but for most people, “bloatware” is a good description, as these trial programs use up space on your hard drive and can slow down your computer.
To see what’s already installed in Windows 10, open the Start menu (Windows logo bottom left), then the gear icon to open Settings. From there, go to System > Apps to find a list of all the apps on your device. The number of them may surprise you if you just set it up.
Click on any app that you’re sure you no longer want, then click Remove. It can delete itself automatically or run a wizard that allows you to do so. Repeat for each app you want to remove.
In Windows 11, the process is a bit simpler. Open or search for Settings via the Start menu, then select Apps > Installed apps. For anything you want to delete, click the three dots next to its listed size and select “Delete.”
Anyron Copeman / Casting
But if you’re not sure about something, the best policy is to leave it while you investigate its true purpose. Uninstalling your antivirus is safe (provided you replace it with another one), but leave a lot to do with your device’s processors or manufacturer.
Step 3 – Install multiple apps
You may have an idea of the first few apps you want to install, but what if you could download most of the major apps at once?
That’s what Ninite offers, and it’s completely free for Windows 10 and 11. Just visit the Ninite website and check the box next to each program you want to install — my picks are Chrome, Dropbox, Zoom, Spotify, Audacity, and Malware Bytes.
Then click the “Get Ninite” button at the bottom of the page and a custom installer will be downloaded for you. If one of these apps is already installed, it will be updated to the latest version. This is an easy way to ensure that core applications are always up to date.
nineteen
No matter how convenient it is, don’t rush to choose items that you won’t be able to use. After all, there’s not much point in cleaning your new PC of bloatware, only to add another load of unwanted software.
Step 4 – Install Custom Apps
Ninite may be good at installing a good selection of free utilities and packages, but if you have expensive software you bought for your old computer and use regularly, you’ll probably want it on your new device.
We are not talking about free programs that are widely available – they can be easily downloaded at any time. Most people these days use Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop via subscription, whether it’s Microsoft 365 or Adobe Creative Cloud.
But new standalone versions of Microsoft Office programs are released every few years, while older Adobe programs can be purchased without a subscription. Your existing licenses will probably allow you to install it on your new computer (provided it’s not limited to one device), but what if you can’t connect or have forgotten your license key.
Anyron Copeman / Casting
It’s worth contacting the customer support teams of the company that created the app in question, but there are other potential solutions. Magical Jellybean and Belarc Advisor are free utilities that can extract the license key for many (but not all) popular packages. Before reinstalling the software on your new device, run the utility on your old device to find the necessary keys.
If all else fails, it’s worth considering free alternatives to popular programs. LibreOffice and Google Docs work well as word processors, while the web-based GIMP or Pixlr E do well for basic photo editing.
Step 5 – Adjust the settings
There are many different customization options, but it’s worth setting them up right away.
Examples include default apps—those that open when you click a link, play music, view photos, or access your email. If you don’t like the default settings for Mail, Media Player, Photos and more, they can all be easily changed.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. For any category, click the currently selected standard, then select one of the alternatives. The example below shows the default Microsoft Edge browser replaced by Google Chrome, a change many users want to make.
Anyron Copeman / Casting
In Windows 11, things work a little differently. Here you select the default for a specific file type or select defaults on a per-application basis. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps to make your selection.
Anyron Copeman / Casting
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customization in Windows. In Windows 10 and 11, go to Settings > Personalization and see what you like.
One of the main areas you may want to customize is the Start menu, and we have separate tutorials for both OS versions:
Step 6 – Transfer files from your old device
You will definitely want to transfer your various documents, music, videos and photos from your old computer. The easiest way to do this is directly through OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage system built into Windows 10 and 11.
Once you’ve backed up everything on your old device to OneDrive, all you have to do is sign in with your account information and upload the data to your new laptop or PC. You can find a complete guide for this on Microsoft’s website.
It might be tempting to move everything to your new device, but it’s not the best approach because there might be some clutter to clear up. Take the opportunity to do a good spring clean by deleting all the files you no longer need. Also, don’t forget the Downloads folder, which contains anything you rarely need to copy.
Step 7 – Sort Backup Strategy
After spending all that time getting your new PC set up just the way you want it, it would be a nightmare to have all that hard work go to waste. The key to avoiding this is to create an image of the disk drive on an external storage device, which you can then use to restore later.
This can be achieved through Control Panel, an old program that is still available in Windows 10 and 11. Open it, then select “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” under the “System and Security” heading.
Click “Backup” and follow the instructions, selecting the storage device you connected as the destination.
Anyron Copeman / Casting
You can also use a third-party tool like AOMEI Backupper. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is better, but costs $49.99/£34.99 a year.
Check out the best portable hard drives you can buy to make sure you’re getting a reliable drive.
However, this should be used in addition to the storage options in settings, not as a replacement. In Windows 10, go to Update & Security > Backup and make sure “Back up files automatically” is enabled. Learn more in our separate guide to backing up Windows 10.
In Windows 11, this is Accounts > Windows Backup and next to “OneDrive folder sync” select “Manage sync settings”.
Anyron Copeman / Casting
This is it! Your laptop or computer is now ready to go. It may seem long, but it’s worth it and only has to be done once.
