Getting a new computer is exciting. But the out-of-box experience hides a number of important setup steps that Microsoft and manufacturers skip. Work through this checklist to do it properly.
Day 1: Initial Setup
Create a local account, not a Microsoft account — if you want to avoid syncing your desktop and settings to Microsoft's servers, you can use a local account. During Windows 11 setup, disconnect from the internet before the account setup screen to see the local account option.
Choose your privacy settings carefully — Windows asks you about location, diagnostic data, targeted advertising and other settings. Read each one and disable what you don't want.
Run Windows Update fully — a new PC may have months of updates waiting. Let it update completely before doing anything else. This can take 1–2 hours and multiple restarts.
Security Setup
Confirm Windows Defender is enabled and up to date. Enable Windows Firewall. If you want third-party antivirus, Malwarebytes Premium is excellent. Install a password manager immediately.
Install Your Essential Software
Microsoft 365 or free alternatives (LibreOffice). Browser of your choice (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). PDF reader. VLC for media. These are all free. Avoid the bloatware the manufacturer pre-installed — it runs in the background and rarely provides value.
Remove Manufacturer Bloatware
Settings → Apps → sort by publisher. Remove anything from the manufacturer (HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS) that you don't need. Common offenders: "HP Support Assistant", manufacturer-branded browsers, trial antivirus subscriptions that expire in 30 days.
Set Up Backup Before Anything Else
Set up cloud backup (OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud) before you store a single important file. Set up Windows File History to an external hard drive. Do this on day one, not "later."
Transfer Data from Old Computer
The easiest method: sign into the same cloud storage account on both computers and let your files sync. For larger data transfers, an external hard drive works well. We do same-day data migrations across Melbourne if you'd rather not do it yourself.
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