Just Bought a 1730, what now???

Ok, so I just bought a 1730 and I want to make sure I do this right. I want this puppy to last a long time and I need to know exactly what to do to make sure I treat it right.

On these steps, assume I am an intelligent person who doesn't know much about computers.

Here's my plan.

1. Open box and take out laptop.
2. Caress it for a while until the wife yells at me!
3. Read manual.
3. Turn it on and uninstall bloatware.
- What specifically should I look for here? Which programs usually come with it?
4. Install AVG, Spybot, Ad-Aware, etc.
5. Should I reformat or back it up here?
6. Any other steps I forgot here.
7. Install games and pwn noobs.

Basically, I need help making sure I do everything I should in terms of setting this beast up right. Do I need to reformat or back up files? If so, please link a guide to doing so.

Any other tips or tricks you want to throw in, please feel free. Thanks so much!

EDIT: Maybe I should scratch that 'intelligent' part, I just used #3 twice!

 

Send your wife away for some time.Format it,install what you need.Start playing games till she's back.

 

I'd say

1. Take the traditional unboxing video for Youtube
2. Look over the laptop and enjoy the new computer smell
3. Reformat
4. install AVG Free 8.0 and Firefox
5. Install your games (and if you have CoH, add n00dl3s (me) as a friend )
6. Proceed to pwn!

 

Firstly, check out my videos (link in sig) to get to know the system a bit better.

Reformat and reinstall the system, and have whichever drivers you wish to install ready - personally I use the Dell Performance Driver 174.31 from the Dell site - runs all games perfectly fine

 

Great guys! Thanks for the info.

COD4 is one of the games I am looking forward to buying as my current Acer can't run it.

On the whole reformatting thing, I'm sure I can find a guide on how to do so my question is more why.

My understanding is that when you reformat in this case, you are really just wiping the machine clean and reinstalling the OS so that its just the OS on there [ie no bloatware]... is that correct?

Thanks.

 

Why is everyone sending their wives away? You guys need to bust out the pimp cane and set down the laws. Then you'll be able to use your M1730 at your leisure!

 

Haha, I do bust out the pimp cane, 3 or 4 times a week!!!

Nah, I just don't want her around to distract me while I'm gaming for a while. A gorgeous wife begging you to come to bed with a seductive smile just isn't good for gaming, my friend. Pwning noobs is important but there are other things to life as well.

Thus, removal of the wife = me happily gaming.

Not too long though, maybe like 3 days. Any longer and biology starts to make me focus on other things!

 

COD4 runs perfectly, all settings maxed

 

NEVER read computer manuals! You'll have more time for gaming