One person’s approach
Why
this topic?
Why now?
 Deadline
upgrade
for free Windows 10
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Some people have older machines they would
just as soon replace as upgrade
Some people lack the confidence to do an
upgrade, and figure if they are going to pay
someone to help upgrade, they might as well
pay to replace the machine.
Second half of today’s meeting will focus on
alternatives – Build/Buy, Windows/Mac,
Desktop/Laptop/Tablet
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Decide what to copy off from old machine
Decide the best method to do so, then do it
Configure new machine settings
Install applications
Install printer
Set up email
Copy over data from old machine
Do an initial image backup
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Most branded PCs come fully functional after
configuration. Just install printer and set up
email. Perhaps add productivity suite.
PC = Personal Computer. So personalize it!
Microsoft provides defaults which may not be
the best for you.
Everything suggested here just represents my
choices. Feel free to adjust.
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Before disconnecting old PC:
Assess what needs to be copied over
Determine best transfer method
◦ Usually a high capacity USB 3.0 Flash Drive works
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Pull off data as required:
Contacts/Address book
Favorites, Documents,
Pictures, music, videos (may be large qty)
Emails (can take significant time)
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Windows 10 will walk you through the
initialization
If you do not have a Microsoft account (email
ending in @msn.com, @hotmail.com,
@live.com, @outlook.com) you should
consider setting up one during the
initialization. You will need it if you want to
download from the Microsoft Store.
You can create a Microsoft account using
your existing email address.
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Choose Customize Settings, do NOT Use
Express Settings.
◦ Example screen here:
http://tinyurl.com/nhmxjtn
◦ I only leave 2 items checked: Smart
Screen and Location
◦ NBCUG members can refer back to Jim
Cason’s Jan. 2016 presentation on the
NBCUG.org website (Resources option)
Set up wireless configuration if
required
 Verify selection of correct time zone
 Activate Windows if needed:
◦ Windows Key+X, click System.
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Activation status shown
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Right click 'Start' icon, Left-click Control
Panel.
Once the CP icon is in theTaskbar, right-click
it and choose ‘Pin to taskbar’
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For some inexplicable reason, Microsoft
defaults to hiding file extensions (e.g. .doc,
.jpg, .mp3, .xlsx, etc.) in File Explorer
Control Panel, Appearance & Personalization,
File Explorer Options , View, uncheck 'Hide
extensions for known file types'
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Windows Key + X, click System.
Advanced System Settings
Start-up and Recovery: Settings.
Uncheck 'Automatically Restart'
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Control Panel, User Accounts,
User Accounts (again)
Change User Account Control Settings
Move slider to second from bottom
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Install desktop theme if desired
◦ Right click desktop, left click Personalize, Themes,
Theme Settings
◦ Consider 'Get more themes online‘
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Set Screen Saver to Blank
◦ Control Panel, Appearance & Personalization,
Personalization. I set delay to 20 minutes.
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Put IE icon in taskbar:
◦ Click Start icon, All Apps, Windows Accessories,
Right-click Internet Explorer, Click More, Click Pin
to taskbar
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Modify IE menu display:
◦ Open IE, Right click upper margin until you see
drop down menu
◦ Check Menu Bar, Command Bar, and Status Bar
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Open IE. Go to https://www.duckduckgo.com
Find block that offers to set DDG as your
default search engine. Click the block, then
click on blue 'Here'.
On IE Menu bar, click Tools, Options. Change
home page as desired. Click Apply. Then
click Programs tab, Manage Add-ons.
Click on Search Providers. Highlight DDG,
then Set as Default . Optionally click on Find
More Search Providers to add Google.
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Control Panel,
◦ Under Programs, Uninstall a Program
◦ Select pre-installed 3rd-party anti-virus software,
and uninstall it.
◦ Usually comes as a trial, and renewal is generally
too expensive.
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Make sure it is active and updated
◦ First uninstall any pre-installed AV program, then
reboot.
◦ Click Start icon, All Apps, Windows System,
Windows Defender
◦ Click the update tab and update as necessary.
◦ Run initial scan.
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Uninstall any pre-installed AV program. (OK to
leave Windows Defender installed. It will
deactivate automatically once new AV program is
installed.)
Reboot
Upon reboot, immediately install 3rd-party AV
program.
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Click Start icon
Click on Weather app tile
Enter default location city
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Choices are ‘Quick Access’ (Default) and ‘This
PC’. I prefer ‘This PC’.
Open File Explorer (Manilla folder icon).
◦ Click on View tab.
◦ Click Options.
◦ Click 'Change Folder and Search Options.
Change 'Open File Explorer to'
◦ Select This PC instead of Quick Access
www.7-zip.org
Choose 64 or 32 bit download as appropriate
Install 7-Zip
Install Backup Imaging software
Many options: Macrium Reflect, Easeus Todo,
Acronis, others
Install Ccleaner www.piriform.com
Install CryptoPrevent
https://www.foolishit.com/cryptoprevent-malwareprevention/
Install CutePDF virtual printer www.cutepdf.com
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Install Foxit Reader
◦ https://www.foxitsoftware.com/
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Install Google Chrome
◦ www.google.com/chrome
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Install Image Resizer
◦ https://imageresizer.codeplex.com/
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Install iTunes ?
◦ https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
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Install MalwareBytes
◦ www.malwarebytes.org
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Install Office Suite
◦ www.libreoffice.org (or a version of MSO )
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Install Spyware Blaster
◦ http://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html
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Install Teamviewer
◦ www.teamviewer.com
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Install VLC Media Player
◦ https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
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Microsoft Solitaire Collection (installs by
default)
Microsoft Mahjongg (requires MS Acct)
Search Store for other apps you may like.
All Store apps require use of a Microsoft
Account which is free. If you have a
Hotmail.com, Live.com, or Outlook.com
account, you have a Microsoft account. You
can even establish a Microsoft account using
your favorite email account.
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If using a webmail (browser) based email
account (e.g. @yahoo.com), just log into the
site and sign in.
If using PC-based email ‘client’ (program):
Choose mail app (MSO Outlook, Windows Live
Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Mail App)
Set up your existing email account.
Instructions can be found on the web.
Copy over contacts from old machine. Usually
requires creating a CSV file as transfer
medium.
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Download printer software
Install printer. If USB connection, do not
connect until installer tells you to.
Copy over data files from old machine
Run Windows Updates
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Click on Start icon
Click on Settings
Click on Update & Security
Check for updates. Updates will install and may
require reboot.
If external drive exists, do an initial backup
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Password Manager – Roboform, KeePass,
LastPass, Password_Safe, Ascendo DataVault,
others. See April, 2012 meeting notes on
NBCUG.org website (members only)
Dropbox – some brand name computers offer
bonus space. See April, 2016 meeting notes
on NBCUG.org website (members only)