How to Set Up a New Computer

Just ordered a brand new computer? Whether you’re setting up a new Windows desktop/laptop or a new Mac/Macbook, there are a few things to keep in mind before you start surfing the web or playing games. You need to make sure that your hardware is properly connected and that you have all the latest updates installed to make the experience of using your new computer as satisfying as possible.

Table of Contents

With Windows desktop

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Open the parts box. Depending on your choice and place of purchase, you may or may not have the following components:

CPU Case – This could be all you get if you just buy the case. In this case, you will need to purchase an additional monitor, mouse, and keyboard to be able to use the computer.
Monitor – Not all computers come with a monitor. If you’re upgrading your computer, you’ll usually be using your old monitor again.
Mouse and keyboard – Most complete systems come with these two, but you might consider upgrading to a better one with more performance.
Speakers – Sometimes speakers are built into the monitor, but not always.
Printer – Some systems include a printer, but usually it needs to be purchased separately.

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Place the case. Place the CPU enclosure near the intended location with enough space for all exhaust fans. Propellers are usually located on the back of the case, but are sometimes designed on the side, front or top. Avoid placing the case between drawers or in cabinets. If you use the computer as a home theater PC, you need to ensure that the location of the machine when placed in the cabinet is always ventilated from all sides and does not close the cabinet.

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Connect the monitor to the case. Connect a monitor or TV to one of the display ports on the back of the case. Most modern computers have an HDMI port – the easiest way to connect. Monitors usually connect to DVI or HDMI standards, some older models will use VGA ports.

The monitor also needs to be plugged into a power source.
If using a dedicated video card, you need to make sure that the monitor is connected to the graphics card and not the motherboard. You won’t be able to take advantage of the graphics card without connecting a monitor. The display port for the dedicated card will be located at the bottom of the back of the case.

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Connect mouse and keyboard. Most mice and keyboards connect via USB. If you are setting up an old and strange PC, you may have to connect a mouse and keyboard using the PS/2 port. These ports are color-coded to match the keyboard/mouse connector and are usually located on the upper back of the case.

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Connect speakers (if available). Plug the speakers into the computer according to the color codes as directed. You need to make sure that all speaker stations are on the correct side and that the speakers are connected to a power source if necessary.

See also online for how to set up computer speakers.

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Plug in the power to the machine. If possible, plug the case into a surge-proof electrical outlet or a UPS. This will help protect the computer in the event of a voltage spike or power failure.

You may need to turn the power switch to the ON position. This switch is usually located near the power cord.

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Start the computer. Press the power button on the front of the computer to start it up. If you buy a computer with a pre-installed operating system like Windows or Linux, you’ll be guided through the initial setup process. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your location and create a user account. If your computer doesn’t already have an operating system (which is rare), you’ll have to install it yourself.

See also online for how to install Windows.

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Network connections. To download any program or start using the Internet, you need to connect your computer to the network. You can connect to Wi-Fi if your computer has a wireless network card, or connect to a router/modem via an Ethernet cable.

See this guide for how to set up a Wi-Fi network.
If you want to connect via an Ethernet cable, plug in an Ethernet cable to connect the computer to the router/modem. You will not need to take any further action. See also this guide for how to do it.

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Download all updates. Chances are the operating system and pre-existing programs have been updated since the computer was assembled. At this point, the system will ask you to download and install updates (if any), which is very important for the safe and stable operation of the computer.

See also online for how to install the latest Windows updates.
You may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the update process.

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Install the main programs. Now that your computer is connected to the Internet and Windows has finished updating, you can start installing essential programs. If you’re upgrading your computer, don’t just reinstall all the old programs you’ve used. Instead, take the time to determine what you really need. If you only install the essential programs, the computer will operate more smoothly.

Antivirus software – Either way, this should be the first program you should install. An antivirus program will protect your computer against malicious code and malware, which is an indispensable layer of security when your computer is connected to the Internet. You can see more online for how to install anti-virus software.
Favorite browser – Windows often comes with Internet Explorer, but many people prefer other browsers. There are quite a few choices, including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
Word processor/editor – Most people use their computer as a home office with word processing and spreadsheet programs (if needed). Microsoft Office is designed to integrate with Windows, and most likely your computer will have a trial version of the office tools available.
Games – Everyone likes to relax after work, so you might consider installing some games. Windows supports most games of any operating system, and there are countless ways for you to find and download (or buy) games. Some popular featured games include Steam, GOG, Origin, and Desura.

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Personalize your computer. Once the boring process is done, it’s time to make your new computer yours. You can change the desktop, install a new mouse pointer, change the font, or even completely change the way Windows is organized with special software.

See also online for how to fully customize the Windows desktop.

With a Mac or MacBook

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Unpack and assemble components. Most Mac desktops include standalone items built into the display. You just need to plug in the monitor and then connect the mouse and keyboard via the USB cable.

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MacBook only needs to be plugged in to charge the battery. You can start at any time if the machine is plugged in.

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Turn on the Mac computer. You’ll be guided through the Setup Assistant process to configure your Mac for the first time. Follow the instructions on each screen to set up your location, language, and create a new account.

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Migrate old data. If you’ve used a Mac computer before, you can use the Setup Assistant to transfer settings and data to the new machine. You can transfer virtually anything to your new machine via Wi-Fi, USB cable, Ethernet, or FireWire.

In general, you should only transfer important data. Any apps that you used can also be reinstalled. That way, your computer’s performance will be higher because you don’t have to transfer the content that has slowed down the system before.

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Connect to the network. Before you can download any updates or apps, you need an internet connection. Most Macs come with a built-in wireless card, allowing you to connect to your home, school, or work Wi-Fi. Some Macs even have an Ethernet port for you to connect directly to a modem or router via an Ethernet cable

See also this guide for how to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
If you’re connecting via an Ethernet cable, simply plug the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the back of your Mac, then plug the other end into the available port on the router. Mac will take care of the rest.

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Update OS X. Once connected to the network, the first thing you need to do is make sure all the latest updates are installed. It’s likely that Mac OS X and available program updates have already been released at the time your Mac was packaged, so you’ll need to make sure that any available updates are up to date before proceeding.

To check for and install updates, click the Apple menu and select “Software Update”. The system will check for available updates in a few minutes and display a list. Please confirm that you want to install the updates.
You may need to restart your Mac during the update process.

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Install essential apps. Now that your Mac is online and up to date, you can start installing your daily essentials. Installing apps on Mac is pretty straightforward. Just open the DMG file you downloaded, drag the application file and drop it into the Applications folder.

Productivity/Organization – Mac has tons of productivity and organization software available. Everything from daily planner apps to complete office tool packages can be found on the Mac Store. Microsoft has a version of Office for Mac, and Apple itself has its own suite of office tools, Pages and Numbers.
Browser – Mac comes with Safari, but you can install another browser if you want. Chrome allows users to sync browser settings to any device they use, which is useful if you have multiple computers with different operating systems. Firefox is another popular option, and it’s all free.
Multimedia – Mac is known for its multimedia usability, so you might consider installing some good multimedia apps. VLC player is an essential video player, besides there are many photo, video and music editing programs.
Games – More and more games are compatible on OS X. Today, Steam is a simple and popular way to access many different games on Mac, plus there is a wide selection from the Mac Store.
Utilities – Mac gives users a lot of control over their system and makes things easier with support utilities. There are many choices, from memory management to system automation.

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Customize your desktop. You can change the desktop wallpaper to personalize your computer. There are also software that allow you to customize the Dock (such as DockMod) and rearrange the messy icons on the desktop (such as Desktop Groups).

You can use Dashboard to add widgets to OS X. These are tools that give you quick access without having to start the program. To access the Dashboard, click the Dashboard icon in the Dock. You can add widgets by clicking the “+” sign in the bottom left corner of the Dashboard and selecting “More Widgets…”. The Widget download page will open for you to browse through available widgets.

With Windows laptops

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Unpack the components. Laptops usually come with charging cords and batteries. Some computers have a built-in battery, or you may have to install it yourself after unboxing.

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Plug in the laptop and turn it on. Most laptops are not fully charged when they reach consumers, so you may need to fully charge the battery before turning on the device for the first time. However, you can also plug in and start the machine at any time.

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Connect to the network. Before downloading any programs or using the Internet, you need to connect your computer to the network. Most laptops usually use a Wi-Fi network, but some laptops also have an Ethernet port and you can connect via an Ethernet cable.

See also this guide for how to set up a Wi-Fi network.
If the laptop does not have an Ethernet port but you want to connect to a wired network, you can use a USB Ethernet adapter. Plug the USB adapter into a USB port on your computer, the connection will be automatically established.

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Download all updates. Most likely the operating system and pre-existing programs were up to date at the time the computer was assembled. You may be asked to download and install updates, which are important to keeping your computer safe and stable.

See also online for how to install the latest version of Windows.
The system may ask you to restart your computer to complete the update process.

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Install essential programs. Now that your computer is connected to the Internet and Windows has finished updating, you can start installing essential programs. If you’re upgrading your computer, don’t just reinstall all the old programs you’ve used. Instead, take the time to determine what you really need. If you only install essential programs, your computer will run faster.

Antivirus software – Either way, this should be the first program you should install. An antivirus program will protect your computer against malicious code and malware, which is an indispensable layer of security when your computer is connected to the Internet. You can see more online for how to install anti-virus software.
Favorite browser – Windows often comes with Internet Explorer, but many people prefer other browsers. There are quite a few choices, including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
Word processor/editor – Most people use their computer as a home office with word processing and spreadsheet programs (if needed). Microsoft Office is designed to integrate with Windows, and most likely your computer will have a trial version of the office tools available.
Games – Everyone likes to relax after a stressful day at work, so you might consider installing some games. Laptops are often not as powerful as desktop computers, so you may have trouble running beautiful graphics games that require high configuration. However, this case is the exception with some dedicated gaming laptops with configuration equivalent to high-end desktop computers. Some of the top popular titles include Steam, GOG, Origin, and Desura.

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Personalize your computer. Once the boring process is done, it’s time to make your new computer yours. You can change the desktop, install a new mouse pointer, change the font, or even completely change the way Windows is organized with special software.

See more online for how to fully customize your Windows computer.

Steps

With Windows desktop

With a Mac or MacBook

With Windows laptops

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