Tips for new laptop owners

You must have spent quite some time before deciding the model and budget for your laptop. Now that you are a proud owner of a new laptop, take some time in safe-guarding it. I have given some basic steps below followed by the details. You can skip the details, if you already are familiar with the steps. And if you have anything to else to add, please feel free to let me know.

1. Every original laptop comes with a valid Windows license. This is called OEM license. Note down the Windows Product Key. In case, if for some reason, you need it at a later point, you don't want to go running around for it. Good news is that the Windows Product Key is embedded in the BIOS these days.

2. Check the laptop serial number. The laptop serial number on the invoice, on the laptop box and on your laptop should match.

3. Check on the company web site for the warranty details. The warranty should be valid from the date of invoice to 1 - 3 years based on your warranty terms.

4. You would also need to know the serial number of the laptop components. These include
   1. Planner board
   2. Battery
   3. Memory
   4. Hard Disk
   5. Adapter

5. Partition your hard disk. Save all data on the non-windows (OS) drive. If for some reason, you need to format the OS drive, your data would be safe.

6. Most new laptops come with trial version of a anti-virus. If you want, you can purchase and continue to use it. If you don't, Windows comes with its own version of anti-virus called Windows Defender. Make sure you update it and schedule the scan.

7. Verify the Windows update and set what suits you the best. I have come across quite a few instances where after repair or maintenance, the laptop owner was advised to switch off Windows Update. This should tell you that the Windows OS on your laptop is not authentic any longer. Make sure you read the Windows Activation section below.
   
   1. Windows License
   2. Laptop Serial Number
   3/4. Warranty Details & Components Serial Number
   5. Partition Hard Disk
   6. Anti Virus
   7. Windows Update
   
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Setting up of Windows Updates

Like all software, Windows also gets regular updates. They can range from routine bug fixes to security fixes. Click on Action Center (in control panel) and click on “Windows Update”.

Click on “Change Settings”.

Make changes as per your wish. I have opted to “Download the updates but let me choose when to install them”

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Setting up Windows Defender

New laptops are generally loaded with a trial version of a commercial anti-virus. If you do not plan to purchase it, you can use Windows built-in anti-virus software, “Windows Defender”. Unlike earlier version, Windows Defender doesn't come with a easy scheduler. You need to use Task Scheduler.

Open up Task Scheduler (Control Panel/Administrative Tools)

Open Task Scheduler Library/Microsoft/Windows. Scroll down to find “Windows Defender”. Right Click on “Windows Defender Scheduled Scan” and export it to a temporary folder. (I prefer to work on copies, just in case something goes wrong and I need to refer to the original configuration”.)

Make 3 copies and call them “Daily Scan”, “Weekly Scan” and “Daily Update”. Click on Import Task and import all three files.

These tasks will now be listed as shown below (Trigger will be blank, since we have not set it up.

Double click on “Daily Scan”. This will open properties dialog box. Click on the trigger tab.

Click New and set up a time, when the laptop would be least used. I have set mine to 1:30 AM.

Select on “Action” tab and than click on “Edit” button.

In Add Arguments, add “scan -scantype 1”. This sets up a daily quick scan of the system.

Now modify “Weekly Scan”. In trigger, select once in a week and in the “Action” tab/Add Arguments, add “scan -scantype 2”. This sets up a full scan once in a week.

Finally modify “Daily Update”. In trigger, select daily and in Action/Add Arguments, add “SignatureUpdate”. This would ensure the signatures are updated on a daily basis. Make sure your updates precede scans by at least 30 minutes.

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