What do I do once I get my laptop?

I am getting a MSI GT735 soon but I want to know some things that I will need for it

[example] downloading a nice free virus scan...

Please answer these questions for me please...

What things do I need to download?

What programs do I need to run?

What do I need to check?

What do I need to buy?

 

anyone gonna post I really need to know...I have absolutely no clue...

 

Get ride of bloat ware (if you dont know if it is dont remove it), but most free trials can be removed

Run Glary Utilities
Use Defraggler once and awhile
Avast is a very food free anti Virus
Check for updates
flash players
browser (I like Chrome)
WinZip if you dont already have it (free version)
Any other programs you use.

 

Don't forget CCleaner, another pretty useful utility for keeping your laptop maintained in the long run

 

WinZip? What is this, Windows 2000?
Let's go with 7-zip or WinRar.

 

If the OP has no idea what type of software he should be getting I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he is a bit of a neophyte. Due to this I would recommend Winzip as well. 7-zip and WinRar are both good programs and I use 7-zip instead of Winzip but Winzip's interface, I think, is much more intuitive and would be easier to use from the standpoint of a beginner.

 

And my computer did not come woth winzip

 

I will suggest:
Avira Antivirus Free Version
Safari 4.0 (I prefer this a lot over Chrome)
iTunes if you have an iPod
CCleaner
Any IM system, such as Windows Live Messenger
And I suggest Revo Uninstaller (for getting rid of the crapware pre-loaded)
SuperAntiSpyware is a good way to keep clean the PC
Download all updates and patches

Good luck!

 

I suggest first of all to make back up CDs/DVDs
Then just get an antivirus and you are good to go, then customize your
laptop with programs you use in daily or well used in daily on your previous
laptop / desktop PC.

 

Here is my recommend...

7-Zip = it is freeware and sometimes better compression than WinRAR and WinZip
TuneUp Utilities = Use it to optimize your Laptop
Diskeeper = for defrag your Hard Disk without slowing your Laptop

Hmm... What's more?

Drive Checker = Automatically scan and update your Driver
K-Lite Codec Pack = For playing all video and audio files

Just that I can tell you... Hope useful for all of you...

 

This is what I always install after I reformat.

AVG Free Edition
Mozilla Firefox (w/ AdBlock Plus and oldbar addons)
Adobe Flash Player
Auslogic Disk Defrag
CCleaner
VLC Media Player
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Mail
Microsoft Office 2007
uTorrent
WinRAR

 

My apps after a clean install
-Avira Antivir for antivirus
-Malwarebytes AM and Super antispyware
-Opera web browser
-Teracopy for file copying manager
-VLC
-FFDshow Tryouts
-Office 2007
-Adobe CS3
-Diskeeper 2009 Pro for disk defrag
-Foxit PDF reader
-CDburnerXP / Imgburn

 

Well you could alway's check out jpzsports "Computer Optimization Guide", has all the good stuff ranging from what things should be done daily and annually.
Its a few posts above, but if thats a hassle here is the link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=285280
I think its really good and I would probably use it also, if I had a laptop.

 

You should definitely download these free softwares:
* CCleaner
* AVG Free
* Mozilla FireFox (The most secure browser in my opinion)
If you want to spend a little money I suggest you to download these programs:
* Registry Booster
* NOD32

All of the programs above are really great programs, both the free ones and the ones you have to purchase. You should download CCleaner straight away!

 

LOL, the OP never replied?
Basically, this has become more or less a rough guide for new owners on what to do with the new laptop.

Most of us agree that
CCleaner,
Avira/Avast/AVG Antivirus,
FF, Chrome,
WinRAR/7-Zip,
WLM,
and some registry cleaner.

At Vinyard, AVG and NOD32 cannot be had together. AVs crash when running together...

 

The most protective programs anyone can ever have! This is what I use in Windows 7. I never go wrong with these, they work together.

Avira Antivirus Free
IObit Security 360
Advanced System Care Free
Smart Defrag

AVG doesn't do well in my opinion, and CCleaner gave me BIOS errors in Vista. I will never use either ever again.

For other software:
WinRAR
iTunes 9
VLC
Skype
Digsby (IM Client)
Firefox
Thunderbird
Microsoft Office 07

 

Agreed, AVG is pretty terrible.

Wait... what? BIOS errors? You got BIOS errors from CCleaner? That's not even possible.

 

How can CCleaner give BIOS errors?
What did it say>?

 

New Opera 10 browser with the Turbo function appears interesting, it seems to make difference in WWAN use. Definitely worth trying, I installed it as secondary browser few days ago just to see how it performs.

 

come back with news from it later on and let us know how it works.
thanks!

 

im now getting this hp laptop which is awesome so is their anything special i should do to this not mentioned in the thread?

HP HDX16t Premium Series customizable Notebook PC

* • Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* • Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.2GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* • FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* • 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* • 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
* • FREE Upgrade to 16.0" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
* • LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
* • Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
* • Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
* • No TV Tuner w/remote control
* • Full Size Backlit Keyboard
* • 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* • System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
* • No Productivity Software
* • HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

 

(finally a reply)
good choice there!

 

so nothing to do differently?...and yeah i got like 400$ off it was sweet deal and cheaper than the MSI so

 

I've done some testing using my home dsl (24Mbit). I opened 5 tabs: notebookreview forum, another computer forum, 2 newspaper websites and local tv-station website. I know last 3 sites are quite heavy on graphics so they are good example.

I forced Opera Turbo on so it would compress website graphics at Opera's servers, leaving me less actual data to download. After 15-20mins of casual browsing some news, Opera shows "current speed 3.4x, 12MB saved". If I understood it correctly, that means in average 3x faster website opening because 12MB worth of data from graphics was "lost".

Website images do look noticeably worse but it would be acceptable when I'm using 0,384Mbit 3G modem Unfortunately I borrowed my 3G modem for my friend as I dont need it at home, that's why I cannot do real-world speed test right now.

In conclusion, Opera 10 with Turbo feature seems pretty good for mobile use when every bit counts (not everyone have fixed rate dataplans!) thus saving both time and transfer costs. I'd recommend mobile users at least to test drive Opera 10.

If only Opera had flashblock and adblock... or if Firefox had similar turbo feature as an option

 

I strongly agree with the other post to install the backup on your lappy once received and save those disk in the best place ever, you could needed later on, be advised. There is an option from the hp program to do that.

What i recommend is from free programs to install is:

Avast antivirus
comodo firewall
ccleaner
Advance system care
msn messenger
Get rid of the trials office and programs which you are limited of use.
Firefox
Openoffice.org (free!)

Optionals:
winamp
itunes (if got ipod)

Style your windows:

Wincustomize free programs (to pimp your os free)
*Logonstudio vista (customize your logon screen)
*Object dock (put object icons like a mac, it seems very good)
*There are more customizations programs to personalize your lappy, could find some in google as well or in wincustomize.com but there some involve cost.

you can look always at the download.com programs which are more popular and see which are the most convience to use.

Gratz for your new hp laptop, i got mine like a year now and i'm very happy with my buy yet.

 

Yeah, download.com is a great way to find popular programs as Chris Redfield mentioned. I actually do this from time to time and I find some pretty interesting tools.