You have received your new computer or laptop over Christmas and are excited to start using it, however a new PC isn’t like a new car; you can’t just turn a key and put the pedal to the metal. Okay, maybe you can—but you shouldn’t. We have listed below some of the things you can do to increase the performance and ensure you are adequately protected.
Watch this video on how to do the basic setup
Remember to Run Windows Updates
The first step is by far the most tedious. You shouldn’t muck around on the web unless your copy of Windows is fully patched and up to date, period. Now for the bad news: Depending on how long your PC sat on the retail shelf, this could take minutes—or hours. Either way, it has to get done.

First, make sure your PC’s connected to the internet. In Windows 10, open the Start menu and head to Settings > Update and security > Check for Updates. Your system will search for updates, and find some. Download and install them, then reboot your computer and do it again… and again… and again… until the update check fails to return new entries. Hopefully it won’t take too long, but in worst-case scenarios updating a new computer can take an hour or more.
If your new laptop came with Windows 10 installed, you may see the option to upgrade to Windows 11. We recommend skipping Windows 11 for now. There’s not only a new interface to learn, but the fresh-out-of-the-oven operating system also has multiple rough edges and outright bugs in these early days.
Set up your new PC’s security

Windows ships with Windows Security enabled by default unless your laptop or desktop includes a third-party antivirus trial. Windows Security is a solid, if not overly detailed solution that’s dead-simple to use, great at sniffing out malware, and probably good enough for most people.
Clean your computer’s bloatware
You can skip this step if you built your own Windows PC. Straight Windows installations don’t come with excess junk cluttering up your hard drive. But boxed PCs from big-name PC makers are inevitably brimming with bloatware.

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