new machine, first steps

Just un-boxed my 150-1126 Windows XP 160g machine.

I am looking for suggestions as to what I should do to prep it for home and travel usage.


Things like loading antivirus apps, cycling the battery for longest life, etc.

OK, what tips do you have?!?

 

1) Get Avast Anti Virus or similar FREE virus software (AVG works as well)
2) Remove the crap-ware
-remove the trial of office and install openoffice OR buy a key for office
-search the forum for other space wasting apps (
3) Charge your battery?
(Can't think of anything else at the moment)

 

Good ideas.

I am now downloading 'Advance Windows Care' from Majorgeek.com
and will get some more free programs there.


Question, my download (connection speed) seems much slower then
my Dell laptop on the same wireless router.

How come?

Any ideas how to improve this?

 

Go into control panel and devices and check the wireless. For some reason, when the unit ships, it is set to some kind of "power saver" which throttles download speeds. Turn it off, and you will see proper speeds.

 

Check Windows Update - you may get downloads of new Atheros wi-fi driver, which solved problems - as well as a new Realtek audio driver and other XP updates. If you're installing free AV, be sure to uninstall the McAfee - don't run two AVs at once. When you're done with installs, get CCleaner and its sister program Defraggler and run them to get rid of all the temp files and dead registry entries. Should run like spit.

 

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Thanks. I went into 'control panel' but did not find a folder named 'devices'.

Looked around in 'wireless network setup wizard' and 'internet options'
but have yet to find any mention of 'power saver'. Maybe I am blind!

Any place else I might be able to adjust that setting?

 

For that updated driver: rt-click My Computer/Properties/Hardware/Device Manager/Network Adapters/rt-click the Atheros/Properties/Advanced/Power Save Mode: Off