<p>Are there maintainence things I ought to do with my new laptop? Like partitioning, defragmenting, backing up things, changing power options, etc.</p>
<p>Also, what’s a good tutorial site for such tasks, especially partitioning.</p>
<p>get a firewall (ie zone-alarm), virus scanner, and anti-spyware software. :)</p>
<p>
You will most likely be able to get all that from your school for free. Just ask.</p>
<p>The following is written with the assumption that you are using Windows XP.
You don’t need to start worrying about maintenance yet. First get all your programs installed and your files moved. Once you have done that, run Disk Cleanup from the System Tools menu (Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools). This will get rid of all unnecessary files that may have been installed by programs earlier, but are not needed any longer. Once that’s done, then I’d defragment the drive using Disk Defragmenter, also in the System Tools menu. Defrag the drive maybe say once a month, although I do it once a week. If you’re not an expert in computers, then don’t dare mess with your partitions. That can be a risky thing to do, even for those who are very computer literate.</p>
<p>I don’t know any tutorial sites, but maybe Google might help there. Also, Windows Help has step-by-step directions on using programs like Disk Defragmenter, Disk Cleanup, etc.</p>
<p>Enjoy your new laptop! :)</p>
<p>pfft…screw the firewall as long as you are behind a nat box.</p>
<p>Use AVG for anti virus (its free and less of a hog than norton or mcaffe)</p>
<p>screw the anti-spyware and use firefox/thunderbird instead of IE/OE (well you can still install spybot just to be safe).</p>
<p>Download a copy of diskeeper somewhere and use that for the occasional defrag.</p>
<p>Personally, I would just keep one partition, its easier.</p>
<p>No offense intended Otto, but I would never screw a firewall and anti-spyware software. Spyware can still be installed by innocent-looking programs that one can download, like p2p clients, plus they can get in through Firefox; I speak from experience. Definitely have a program (Spybot or even the new Microsoft Anti-Spyware) installed for that. Although schools try to protect their networks from outsiders, they can still be vulnerable. (My school just had a recent hack into the admissions office’s network). A good firewall software, in addition to the standard Windows XP one, is a necessary second line of defense.</p>
<p>back up everything!!!</p>
<p>get a flashdrive. save your papers. save your digital pics. burn your music library onto cds if you have downloaded anything. it may seem like a waste of time and space, but if anything happens, you’ll love yourself for it.</p>
<p>GET A WIFI CARD IF THE LAPTOP DIDN’T COME WITH IT INTERNALLY.</p>
<p>Please excuse the caps, but I think anyone now who doesn’t live on a farm full time and doesn’t have the ability to pick up free internet on their laptop is a moron. FREE INTERNET. FREE INTERNET. Right now, I’m at the beach (shut up, I’m with family, otherwise I wouldn’t be a loser and posting here but be out partying) with nothing but an outlet with no cable or DSL connection, yet somehow I can get free broadband from THIN AIR. Is it a trick? Is this several decades in the FUTURE? NO!!! I have WI-****ING-FI!!!</p>
<p>Again, I apologize, but my point is valid.</p>
<p>look at boobies…all day everyday</p>
<p>Hate to press the point (well not really its kinda my job) but for those who would rather not deal with this… get a mac and hook up an airport in your room and lock it down with a password. The already nonexistent spyware and viruses out there for macs wont get thru the airport firewall. Oh yeah and it defrags itself… Ok seriously back to the point… I second the wi fi card if it doesnt come with one tho most will or at least as an option, its great to just walk in a random place and look and you have a connection, plus a lot of campuses are getting wired, which makes portability even easier. Flashdrives are great cause their fast and makes moving a simple file to a friend really easy. Ive talked to a few people who say some professors prefer big papers on flashdrives instead of carrying 30+ peoples 20 page papers around… Go to costco or sams or walmart or whatever is in your area and buy one of those huge drums of like 200 cd-r’s. Get a cable lock, they wont help against a set of bolt cutters, but certainly make it difficult without em. Always make sure your room mate locks the door if they leave with your computer there and youre not as well. But in general, just take good care of it theyre significantly more finnicky than their deskbound counterparts.</p>
<p>There’s no need for a special firewall – Windows has one built in. There’s also no need for an anti-spyware program – you won’t get programs unless you download them in something like Kazaa.</p>
<p>I say get AVG for anti-virus (better than Norton and free) and get all the security-based Windows updates.</p>
<p>Windows defrag is nice. You should use it fairly often (every few weeks at least) for good performance and to keep your laptop happy. (start\programs\accessories\system tools)</p>
<p>Power options will vary between laptops as different companies have different system software.</p>
<p>With regards to partitioning, do you want partitions? When I got my laptop (dell i6000), I reformatted windows right away and, in doing so, deleted all the partitions.</p>
<p>
Again, the Windows Firewall is still very weak. Sure it’s a firewall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it works well. Certainly have the Windows one on, but also have another one for a 2nd line of defense. As for spyware, there are many websites that are rigged with it, so beware. (but then that’s why you should use Firefox as well, since it seems to be only Internet Explorer that picks up the spyware)</p>
<p>You might have to de-partition if your computer comes with the back up stuff on your computer instead of on disks. I know that Sony’s have a huge chunk (10GB at least) that is partitioned off. Once you burn that stuff to back it up, you can delete the partition and free up a lot of space. PartitionMagic is a program you might try if you have such a case.</p>
<p>If you have windows go to microsoft.com and run windows update to get any new security patches and stuff.</p>