How to Set Up a Windows Xp Computer After a Fresh Install
- With all Free Software -

Hello, My name is Rain and I'm a computer technician from Victoria, B.C. Canada. I have performed many reformats working at: www.electricbrains.com and I often found myself searching for the best software to install on the nice clean slate windows offers after a reformat. There are many great free programs to install on a computer so the user is ready for all their basic needs. Here, I am going to outline how to use these programs to set up your computer after a reformat. I am doing this on a computer running Windows Xp Professional as this is still my favourite operating system. Many of the programs and instructions here apply in a similar fashion to the Windows Vista OS.

I am writing these instructions for an intermediate computer user. I am assuming you have some knowledge of the windows system and how to install and uninstall software programs. If you are unable to reformat your computer and have difficulty understanding what I am teaching here, I recommend you contact a computer expert first before attempting to install any of this software. More information on the initial reformat of your computer and microsoft specific details can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/default.mspx

Overview of This Tutorial
Page 1. Setting Up Windows
Restore the Desktop Icons Adjust System Restore Settings Install Mozilla Firefox Set Up Windows for the Best Performance Install the Windows Xp Service Pack 3 Configure Automatic Updates Set Up the Internet Cache
Page 2. Important Programs for a Windows Install
Install an Antivirus Software Install Programs to Play Internet Media Files Install Programs to Handle Music and Videos Install Software for CD and DVD Burning Install Software for Word Processing Install Software to Compress and Extract Files Install Software for Registry and Start-Up Configuration
Page 3. Optional Programs for a Windows Install
Install Google Software Install Itunes and Quicktime Install Software to Chat and Make Phone Calls Install Software to Use for Torrents Install Direct X and a Game

By the end of this tutorial you should be able to set up: A Fully Functional Windows Xp Computer using only Free Software.

This is great information to share with friends and help them when they need a specific piece of software for their computers. Please email me with questions or concerns: rain(at)electricbrains.com. Let us commence our Windows Xp Set Up. The computer is ready to go, but has next to nothing on it.

This is what your desktop looks like:

pc_windows_xp_default_desktop_screen

First, Restore the Desktop Icons

Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose "Properties".
When the "Display Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "Desktop" tab.
Click the "Customize Desktop" button.
A "Desktop Items" dialog box will appear. Make sure the "General" tab is selected.
Choose the "My Computer" and "My Documents" icons to get them back on your desktop.
Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them.

Next, Adjust System Restore Settings

Right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties." Choose the "System Restore" tab.
To reduce the size of system restore highlight your main drive (probably C:) and click "Settings"
Now you want to reduce the size. I recommend setting it to 2%. This will allow you a couple of restore points but still save you lots of disk space. Move the arrow to 2% and click ok twice.

windows_setup_system_restore_fresh_install

Next, Let's Install Mozilla Firefox.

I am going to explain all of the downloads as if you are using the web browser: Mozilla Firefox. So you will need to download Firefox and open my website again in the Firefox web browser. Here is the link to download Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html
Click the link to download and select "Run" from the menu.
Once the install is under way agree to the license and accept the suggested default options.
At one stage in the Firefox installation you will be asked whether you want to make Firefox your default browser. I suggest you initially answer "Yes."
After installation, the Firefox Import Setting Wizard will run asking whether you want to import your favorites, internet options, cookies, saved passwords and a variety of other data settings from Internet Explorer. Answer "No to all" unless you have links in Internet Explorer you would like to keep.
In the start menu and on the desktop delete links to Internet Explorer to keep your computers users on Firefox as it is more secure. Note: Do not uninstall Internet Explorer. It is tied into the Microsoft Windows Xp Operating System.
Open up Firefox!
I suggest setting up your homepage in Firefox to a site that you like. If you don't have a favorite yet, try http://blackle.com. Below is a video showing how to set your homepage in Firefox.

Set Up Windows for the Best Performance

Right click on the "My Computer" icon and select properties.
Click on the "Advanced" tab.
Under Performance select settings.
Here you can adjust the Visual Effects that Windows uses.
I recommend using a custom setting to maintain the shadows and rounded edges but remove some of the bells and whistles so the system is also significantly quicker. Select "Custom" Then only select the following options
- Show shadows under menus .
- Show shadows under mouse pointers
- Show translucent selection rectangle
- Smooth edges of screen fonts
- Use common tasks in folders
- Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
- Use visual styles on windows and buttons
Select "Ok" twice

adjust_computer_for_best_performance_windows_xp

Next, Let's Install the Windows Xp Service Pack 3

Note* you can only do this step on a validated microsoft windows xp computer. If windows Xp isn't a valid copy then I don't recommend you do this step.
Here is the link to Windows Xp Service Pack 3: http://download.windowsupdate.com
Click the link to download and install the software
Reboot after this install. Make sure to bookmark this page to come back here.

How to Configure Automatic Updates to Run Once a Week

Left click the start menu icon in the corner of the screen and select "Control Panel" from the menu.
Here a lot of the system options can be configured. One important configuration I would do is to set up automatic updates to run once a week.
Double click on Security Center. On the left of this window left click on "Change the way Security Center alerts me"
This opens the Alert Settings box. Here uncheck the box for "Virus Protection" as this will not be needed if you use the AVG virus protection program I will be suggesting. *optionally also uncheck the box for "Automatic Updates" I personally find these annoying although removing this warning is a security risk if you don't check once in awhile that your updates are working properly.
Click ok to close the "Alert Settings" and then select "Automatic Updates" at the bottom of the Security Center Window
Here make sure "Automatic (recommended)" is selected. Directly below this click "Every Day" and select "Every Sunday" or whichever day of the week you'd like the computer to run updates. Click Ok, but leave the Security Center open to now set up the internet cache.

How to Set Up the Internet Cache to the Right Size

I'm assuming you are staring at the Windows Security Center window. If you aren't, instructions on how to get to this window are above.
Left click on "Internet Options" and select the "General" tab.
Here you can set up your home address for Internet Explorer. I suggest trying http://Blackle.com It's the power saving version of Google!
Select "Settings" half way down the window. Here you can set the internet cache to 200 MB. This will help save you disk space. Select "Ok".
Select "Ok" again to exit the internet options and close the Windows Security Center window. Also, close the Control Panel window.