When I open my new laptop what do I do first?

Hey, im gonna be getting my first laptop this weekend and ive never set up a computer before!
I was just wondering what do I do when I turn it on for the first time (straight out of its box)
*Does it need charging first?
*Do I install Vista on it my self? (Which I hope comes with the CD!)
*Then do I install my protection firewall thingy?

Erm is that it or is there anythin else?

Thanks, sorry if im being a pain!

 

usually it comes with a charge... ( so u dont need to charge it, and im thinking your question is going to the cellphone stuff "charge for 24 hours b4 using) the answer is NO, u dont need to do this.

unless its a notebook without a OS, it will come with the os installed (hp, sony, dell, etc) u dont need to install one, unless u want to start fresh (i would format, i have the bloatware and stuff but thats just my opinion)
take in mind that most of new lappys dont come with an OS cd or dvd... they come with a partition with a recovery thing... but that is just hell... (my last dell.... mmm about 04 or 2005, came with xp intall cd, but my new hp didnt)


yes then install ur antivirus and firewall and everything u want.

then... maybe messenger and chat

have fun with ur lappy

 

Hi, you plug it into the mains first, just to make sure you can get through the pre-install, it's all fairly straight forward. There will be a series of questions you'll be asked, language settings, time zone, account name/password you want to use, wallpapers, leave those for now. Once you are into the desktop I strongly suggest you make backups onto DVD R's, again you should be prompted to do that, so as you've backup incase of a disaster.
Chris

 

Wrong advise. Plug the lappie into mains and give it an uninterrupted first charge cycle of at least 18 hours.

 

Omg, dont know if I can do that lol, it will be a nightmare!

 

Really? First time I hear that. I've owned 4 laptops(still own 2 of them) - all different brands - and I've never done that 18 hours uninterrupted charge...

 

You can use the lappie while it is charging. Just make sure you leave it connected to mains for the first 18 Hour charge cycle and don't run it on batteries at all during this first charge.

Cheers

 

That's the procedure I did with my cell phone, but 12 hours.

 

Yeah I have done that with cellphones and other little devices but not Laptops. I thought they are usually ready to go out the box, well at least use it while it's plugged.

 

Hi, they are ready to go, but it will not have a full charge thus it will not complete the setup unless it's on the mains. ...
Chris

 

You have had 4 laptops. Great. The OP was so eager to use the new lappie when she receives it that she came to NBR first for advice.

My advice still stands. Charge the lappie for 18 hours uninterrupted for the first charge.

The first charge is the most important of all. It allows the battery to fully reach it's charged capacity.

It does no harm. The battery in you lappie leaves the factory "partially charged". Charge it fully before you use it. It makes sense doesn't it ?

Please follow my advice.

Enough said.

Cheers

 

Hi, I agree with ATG on this one, although it does no harm there is no need to charge for 18 hours at all, a full charge will do taking probably no more than half an hour. Like the advice for mobile phones, it is un-necessary these days.
I've lost count of the number of laptops I've setup without having to perform this 'initial charge' all of them still have fully working batteries and some of them are now getting on for six years old...
Chris

 

For the love of Gord, make sure you burn your recovery DVDs the first time you boot up your system!
Acers do not come with any discs, so using the Acer eRecovery utility you can burn DVDs that can restore your system to its factory default state, as well as one which contains all of your drivers and utilities.

 

- Charge the battery full, drain it by using it, then charge it and use it normally
- Vista is semi setup. Just enter details and you're ready to go. If you don't want to live with all the crap it comes with reinstall.
- Windows Firewall is already enabled, as is Windows Defender (anti-spyware). Get an anti-virus such as AVG Free. Now you're good to go.
- And TehSuigi, recovery discs is right. I didn't, then erased my recovery partition to save 17 GB of space, and now I paid Future Shop $30 for discs.