Question What is the thing that must be done on a new PC first?

[smalltech]

Hello,

What is the thing that must be done on a new PC first? I mean those steps that are irreversible (cannot wait) and must be done first before installing programs and normal usage etc.

Are these steps necessary to do first? Create a full macrium backup before doing anything else, use microsoft defender, create a recovery drive.

You guys are very experienced so I would like to hear your opinions.

Thanks
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Some info I saw
Got a New PC? 11 Things to Do Right Away | PCMag
How to set up your new computer | PCWorld

 

[smalltech]

No.

Just download from the manufacturer.

Is there anything wrong with these sentences (copied and pasted below) that the site wrote?
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"Q1. How to backup and restore hardware drivers in Windows 10?
You can copy the Windows 10 driver folders, Drivers and DriverStore folder, to another location like an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc. to back up them. When needed, you can copy them back to your computer to restore drivers in Windows 10. The folder size may be large. You can also only copy the Windows 10 driver cache folder FileRepository under DriverStore to a backup location in case you need to reinstall the driver in the future."

"Q2. How to reinstall drivers in Windows 10?

To reinstall the drivers, you can open Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the target device, select Update Driver, and select the location that contains the driver files to browse and install. You can select one of the two Windows 10 driver location folders, Drivers or DriverStore, or just the System32 folder to tell Device Manager to look for the corresponding driver. Remember to check the “include subfolders” option."

source https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html

 

[zinkles]

Is there anything wrong with these sentences (copied and pasted below) that the site wrote?
-----
"Q1. How to backup and restore hardware drivers in Windows 10?
You can copy the Windows 10 driver folders, Drivers and DriverStore folder, to another location like an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc. to back up them. When needed, you can copy them back to your computer to restore drivers in Windows 10. The folder size may be large. You can also only copy the Windows 10 driver cache folder FileRepository under DriverStore to a backup location in case you need to reinstall the driver in the future."

"Q2. How to reinstall drivers in Windows 10?

To reinstall the drivers, you can open Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the target device, select Update Driver, and select the location that contains the driver files to browse and install. You can select one of the two Windows 10 driver location folders, Drivers or DriverStore, or just the System32 folder to tell Device Manager to look for the corresponding driver. Remember to check the “include subfolders” option."

source https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html

Nothing wrong, although storing the setup files will have a better chance of working and also make it way easier. There might be specific instances where you may not be able to run a setup, then you "could" resort to such methods i guess.

 

[USAFRet]

Is there anything wrong with these sentences (copied and pasted below) that the site wrote?

That is more work and clicks than just having the drivers downloaded on a USB.

 

[iTRiP]

Boot up into the Bios or whatever it is called, and check the power status of all the components, most likely after that set a proper cpu fan curve... that's what I would do before I'd even do anything els with a pc, good thing to know if all that is installed is working before you, get to the utilizing part of such.

Get to know the hardware before trying to do anything software related with it!

 

[USAFRet]

Boot up into the Bios or whatever it is called, and check the power status of all the components, most likely after that set a proper cpu fan curve... that's what I would do before I'd even do anything els with a pc, good thing to know if all that is installed is working before you, get to the utilizing part of such.

How do you know what a "proper cpu fan curve" is, before you even use the system and know what the temps are?

 

[iTRiP]

Hello,

What is the thing that must be done on a new PC first? I mean those steps that are irreversible (cannot wait) and must be done first before installing programs and normal usage etc.

Are these steps necessary to do first? Create a full macrium backup before doing anything else, use microsoft defender, create a recovery drive.

You guys are very experienced so I would like to hear your opinions.

Thanks
-----
Some info I saw
Got a New PC? 11 Things to Do Right Away | PCMag
How to set up your new computer | PCWorld

How do you know what a "proper cpu fan curve" is, before you even use the system and know what the temps are?

In the bios the cpu always spins at max because there is load, mostly all the time and a cpu heats up when left in the bios, best time to determine the load it will face.

Keep in mind I'm not talking about keeping the cpu cool but rather finding a quite fan curve.

 

[USAFRet]

In the bios the cpu always spins at max because there is load, mostly all the time and a cpu heats up when left in the bios, best time to determine the load it will face.

With the system just idling in the BIOS, there is very little load on the CPU.

 

[smalltech]

Nothing wrong, although storing the setup files will have a better chance of working and also make it way easier. There might be specific instances where you may not be able to run a setup, then you "could" resort to such methods i guess.

That is more work and clicks than just having the drivers downloaded on a USB.

I do not know what are all the drivers that are needed for my PC so it would be easier to copy these 2 folders C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder and C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder as a backup. In the future if I need them I will follow Q1 and Q2. Will my steps work?

-----
copied and pasted from https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html
"Windows 10 Driver Location
All Windows versions including Windows 10 store the drivers in the C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder or C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder. You can find all the hardware drivers of your Windows computer in these two folders.

Generally, the Drivers folder contains .sys files that are the device driver files used for various devices on your computer. The DriverStore folder contains .inf files that are used for installing drivers when needed."

"Q1. How to backup and restore hardware drivers in Windows 10?
You can copy the Windows 10 driver folders, Drivers and DriverStore folder, to another location like an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc. to back up them. When needed, you can copy them back to your computer to restore drivers in Windows 10. The folder size may be large. You can also only copy the Windows 10 driver cache folder FileRepository under DriverStore to a backup location in case you need to reinstall the driver in the future."

"Q2. How to reinstall drivers in Windows 10?

To reinstall the drivers, you can open Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the target device, select Update Driver, and select the location that contains the driver files to browse and install. You can select one of the two Windows 10 driver location folders, Drivers or DriverStore, or just the System32 folder to tell Device Manager to look for the corresponding driver. Remember to check the “include subfolders” option."

source https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html

 

[zinkles]

Keep in mind I'm not talking about keeping the cpu cool but rather finding a quite fan curve

Once you do that, its no longer cool. Tests should be run before changing curve, or its just a waste of time.

In the bios the cpu always spins at max because there is load, mostly all the time and a cpu heats up when left in the bios, best time to determine the load it will face.

It is about the same as to the CPU idling within Windows, doing nothing, but its not the "best time" to determine the loads it will be facing. Idling in Windows VS doing something in it is different, and the temperatures vary, so you cant come to a solid conclusion on the temperatures it will be facing and the optimal fan curves.
Stress testing would be a good option, and checking how long it takes for the CPU to throttle can give you a rough idea on how the fan curves should be adjusted.

 

[zinkles]

I do not know what are all the drivers that are needed for my PC so it would be easier to copy these 2 folders C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder and C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder as a backup. In the future if I need them I will follow Q1 and Q2. Will my steps work?

-----
copied and pasted from https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html
"Windows 10 Driver Location
All Windows versions including Windows 10 store the drivers in the C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder or C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder. You can find all the hardware drivers of your Windows computer in these two folders.

Generally, the Drivers folder contains .sys files that are the device driver files used for various devices on your computer. The DriverStore folder contains .inf files that are used for installing drivers when needed."

"Q1. How to backup and restore hardware drivers in Windows 10?
You can copy the Windows 10 driver folders, Drivers and DriverStore folder, to another location like an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc. to back up them. When needed, you can copy them back to your computer to restore drivers in Windows 10. The folder size may be large. You can also only copy the Windows 10 driver cache folder FileRepository under DriverStore to a backup location in case you need to reinstall the driver in the future."

"Q2. How to reinstall drivers in Windows 10?

To reinstall the drivers, you can open Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the target device, select Update Driver, and select the location that contains the driver files to browse and install. You can select one of the two Windows 10 driver location folders, Drivers or DriverStore, or just the System32 folder to tell Device Manager to look for the corresponding driver. Remember to check the “include subfolders” option."

source https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/windows-10-driver-location.html

As I mentioned, the most basic drivers are automatically installed. Extra components you may add to the PC may have trouble, so keeping the setup files for those will only be necessary. (un-necessary devices are PnP devices)

 

[USAFRet]

I do not know what are all the drivers that are needed for my PC so it would be easier to copy these 2 folders C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder and C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder as a backup. In the future if I need them I will follow Q1 and Q2. Will it work?

The only things you really need to save are things for your specific hardware.

Keyboard, GPU, mouse...things like that. LAN, maybe chipset.
All else, let Windows handle it during a new install.

 

[smalltech]

Just curious what is the difference between copy these 2 folders C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder and C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder as a backup vs using DISM and PowerShell (copied and pasted below) as a backup? DISM and PowerShell looks more complicated.

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copied and pasted from https://www.minitool.com/news/backup-drivers-windows-10.html
"Sometimes It’s Necessary to Backup Drivers Windows 10/11
Whether you perform a clean install or reinstall Windows 10, all the device drivers must be installed so that the Windows operating system can work with the peripheral and hardware connected to your PC. But now, this is not a problem anymore.

In Windows 10/11, the system can automatically detect most of the device drivers. Besides, you can go to get the latest drivers from the manufacturers. Nevertheless, sometimes Windows 10 cannot install certain drivers or the supplier stops offering drivers for a particular device.

Luckily, you can backup every driver installed on your PC with the built-in command tool before reinstalling Windows 10 or the clean install. In the following part, we will show you how to backup drivers and restore drivers.

How to Backup Drivers Windows 10/11
There are two methods for you to backup Windows 10 drivers including using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and PowerShell. Now, let’s go to see them." source https://www.minitool.com/news/backup-drivers-windows-10.html

 

[zinkles]

Just curious what is the difference between copy these 2 folders C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder and C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder as a backup vs using DISM and PowerShell (copied and pasted below) as a backup? DISM and PowerShell looks more complicated.

-----
copied and pasted from https://www.minitool.com/news/backup-drivers-windows-10.html
"Sometimes It’s Necessary to Backup Drivers Windows 10/11
Whether you perform a clean install or reinstall Windows 10, all the device drivers must be installed so that the Windows operating system can work with the peripheral and hardware connected to your PC. But now, this is not a problem anymore.

In Windows 10/11, the system can automatically detect most of the device drivers. Besides, you can go to get the latest drivers from the manufacturers. Nevertheless, sometimes Windows 10 cannot install certain drivers or the supplier stops offering drivers for a particular device.

Luckily, you can backup every driver installed on your PC with the built-in command tool before reinstalling Windows 10 or the clean install. In the following part, we will show you how to backup drivers and restore drivers.

How to Backup Drivers Windows 10/11
There are two methods for you to backup Windows 10 drivers including using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and PowerShell. Now, let’s go to see them." source https://www.minitool.com/news/backup-drivers-windows-10.html

I had to try both. There was no difference, except;

• PowerShell & DISM categorized the drivers into folders.
• The PowerShell command only exported the "third-party" drivers.
• The DISM command did the same thing as well, but left out some compared to PS.
• Both did backup the drivers, but its similar to backing up the folder. (except you only get some of the drivers when using these commands)
• From my testing, it only backs up the "DriverStore" folder when using PS and DISM commands.

I'd go with the PowerShell command, as it also made more folders in addition called "SOUND", "WiFi" etc. and gave those drivers as well. It also extracted some ADB drivers (and their setup files too!) as well which the DISM command didn't.

 

[35below0]

Yes. It's annoying [automatic timeout] because Windows makes it a hidden feature which can only be turned off via Registry.

Apologies for the late reply.

In windows settings, under System/Power/Screen and sleep, there are two settings. One for the monitor and one for the PC/device. Using these i can choose how much time the monitor and PC/device should be left idle before shutting off automatically.
Choices range from 5 minutes to 5 hours, or never.

Still in settings, under System/Personalization/Lock screen, there's a few lock screen settings but mainly the screen saver link. In screen saver settings i can decide whether to use the screen saver at all, and set after how many minutes of idling it should activate.
There is a setting here: "On resume, display logon screen". Uncheck that to avoid going through the lock screen every time the screen saver kicks in. Or leave it checked if you want that security.

Sleep and screen saver settings can cover all needs i can think of. There is no need to dig through the registry. I could select exact minute intervals instead of 5 minutes. That's useful maybe.

I'm unsure if this is the same thing we're talking about because it's hard to miss such an obvious setting.
Then again, Win 11 cannot remember default file explorer window size anymore, so who knows.

Microsoft would rather we disable screen savers and use sleep as much as possible. Disabling a screen saver is one of their 5 "green" recommendations, but that's marketing. Nothing to do with ecology or usefulness.
A screen saver isn't as useful as it once was (OLED says hi), but i still prefer it to turning the screen off and on excessively.
A PC left unattended should probably switch off automatically, but there's lots of cases where i wouldn't want that. It also doesn't actually reboot or restart, for what it's worth.


And finally, one other thing that occured to me is to recommend anyone with a new PC invest some money in a quality extension cord with surge protection. It's not hardware or software as such, but it can prevent disaster and really shouldn't be forgotten.
It may set you back $50-100 bucks, but compare that to the cost of the new PC...

 

[HYSTOU]

First, check and install the latest updates for the operating system as well as the drivers for hardware devices to ensure that the system and all devices can function properly. Then, attempt to install the necessary software.

 

[g-unit1111]

And finally, one other thing that occured to me is to recommend anyone with a new PC invest some money in a quality extension cord with surge protection. It's not hardware or software as such, but it can prevent disaster and really shouldn't be forgotten.
It may set you back $50-100 bucks, but compare that to the cost of the new PC...

Yes, absolutely this is a must. A strong, quality surge bar is a very important part of a PC that nobody really thinks about. Ideally you want to get a UPS unit for a desktop, but if that's not feasible or budget friendly, then at least buy a good surge bar and don't skimp on it.

 

[helper800]

A Tripp Lite surge protector like this is IMO the minimum.

 

[35below0]

A Tripp Lite surge protector like this is IMO the minimum.

Now you got me thinking about the one i own. I have to confess i don't actually know much about how these work. And so i don't know if the one i got is good or not. I pretty much went and bought one that wasn't cheap and had the advertised functionality.

It's this thing, though rebranded: https://www.brennenstuhl.com/en-DE/...r-delivery-usb-charger-6-way-3m-h05vv-f-3g1-5

They brag a lot about German quality, which is a bit of a red flag. Usually it's a feature of middling and low tier stuff. Technical data doesn't really tell me much. Also, not sure why i'd want a safety switch but whatever.

Seems like it's just the minimum, but that's ok. I hope i never need it. It's there just in case.