During the COVID period, most office-goers were working from home. Many students went to college for the first time, or graduated from college, went for further studies or just stepped into the corporate world. The demand for laptop continues to rise, even as more establishments are beginning to reopen. As a student, worker, or both, there are essential steps you should take to fully leverage the capabilities of your laptop. Here are 10 things you must do to set up a new laptop.
Table of Contents
1. Update the Operating System (OS)
Regardless of whether you purchased your brand new laptop from a physical or online store, it probably sat idle for a few months after leaving the factory. To ensure optimal performance, and security, it’s crucial to install any available operating system updates as one of the initial steps when setting up your new laptop. This allows you to take advantage of the latest features and familiarize yourself with any changes in the interface. Doing so early on enables you to configure any new settings as part of the set up process.
You can follow these steps to check for OS updates-
For windows 10- Go to “Settings” and click on “Update and Security”. Press “Windows Update” and select “Check for Updates”.
For Windows 11- Go to “Settings” and “Windows Update”.
In some cases, you may need to restart your laptop to complete the installation of updates. Keep in mind that Windows will automatically download and install updates in the future.
2. Optimize the Battery Power of Laptop
Given that laptops are designed for portability, prioritizing maximum battery life is essential. By making a few simple adjustments, you can extend your laptop’s battery life by several hours. Hence, optimizing power settings is a critical step when setting up a new laptop.
Reducing the brightness of the display is the most significant change you can make. Keeping the screen brightness high consumes a lot of power and setting it too low may cause eye fatigue. Hence, check the brightness level to your liking.
To enhance the battery life on Windows 10, you can adjust the power plans by going to “Settings -> System -> Power & Sleep” On the right sidebar, click “Additional power settings,” and expand the window horizontally if necessary. For Windows 11, navigate to “Settings -> System -> Power & battery”.
3. Minimize the Risk of Heat Damage
Compared to other computer types, laptops are generally more vulnerable to overheating. Unlike desktop that provides ample space for proper ventilation and tablets that face minimal concerns with dust accumulation. Many laptops have inadequate air circulation and various areas prone to dust buildup. Moreover, it’s easier to expose laptops to heat generating conditions.
Over time, a lack of adequate ventilation and the accumulation of dust can cause excessive heat buildup. This can lead to damage, causing the CPU to under-perform to produce less heat, thus affecting system performance. Moreover, excess heat can shorten the lifespan of internal storage drives and lead to the premature loss of battery charging capacity.
Also Read: How to get Android notification on Windows?
4. Customize System Settings
Once you complete all the necessary maintenance task of set up new laptop, it’s time to personalize your computer according to your preference. You can start by adjusting the system theme, desktop wallpaper, taskbar layout, and other customization options.
If you are looking for inspiration, you can check out the following resources-
- Discover ways to modify your appearance of your Windows 10 desktop.
- Learn about customizing your Mac, including changing icons, wallpapers, and the doc.
- Review various ideas to enhance the appearance of the Linux desktop.
5. Install Anti-Virus Software
To set up new laptop, installing anti-virus software is mandatory. In this age of digital welfare, where malevolent entities unleash a barrage of cyber-attacks ranging from malware to ransomware, it’s paramount to fortify your system While Windows defender provides some level of protection out-of-the-box, a third-party anti-virus solution offers of additional security features such as real-time threat detection, ransomware, and spyware protection, and much more. So safeguard your digital fortress with an impenetrable shield and enjoy your peace of mind.
6. Power and Sleep Setting
Behold, the power-saving feature that governs your laptop’s energy consumption. With this setting, you have the power to control the following-
Power button- Here, you can dictate what happens when you press the power button. Would you like to shut down, hibernate, sleep, turn off the display, or do noting? The choice is yours.
Close lid- Similarly, you can customize what happens when you close the laptop’s lid. Would you like to shut down, hibernate, sleep, turn off the display, or do noting? Your wish is its command.
Turn-off display- With the power settings, you can specify the duration of inactivity after which the display shuts off. No more wasted energy when you are away from the keyboard.
Sleep mode- This mode allows you to determine the period after which your computer goes into sleep mode. Moreover, you can configure the settings differently for on-battery or plugged-in mode.
Also Read: Windows 11 Gesture: Easy Guide
7. Enable Clipboard History
Enable clipboard history while you set up a new laptop.
Gone are the days of one-and-done copy-pasting, my friend. While we’ve all grown accustomed to this common practice, it can be a real hassle having to clear out the clipboard after each use. But fear not, for Windows 11 (and 10) have bestowed upon us a solution – clipboard history.
To unlock this feature, simply hit the Windows key + V, and voila – the clipboard history window appears before you. However, by default, it’s disabled. But don’t fret, just click “Turn on,” and voila, it’ll be enabled from that moment onwards. And the next time you want to access your clipboard history, press Windows key + V once again, and choose the item you want to copy. No more clearing the clipboard every time you copy and paste, just seamless and efficient workflow.
8. Uninstall Pre-installed Software
You may find yourself dazzled by the shiny array of pre-installed software that comes with it. Windows 11 itself boasts an impressive lineup of apps right out of the box, from productivity tools to entertainment options. But alongside the useful software lies a hidden danger – bloatware.
The problem with bloatware is that it’s often difficult to identify and remove. Many of these programs run in the background, consuming resources and slowing down your system without you even realizing it. And even if you do manage to find and uninstall them, there’s always the risk of inadvertently removing a critical component of your system.
To clean up your PC and get rid of unnecessary apps, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Start menu and click All apps to see everything that’s installed on your PC.
- Identify any apps that you don’t recognize or don’t use regularly.
- Open each app to determine if it’s worth keeping or if you can uninstall it.
- To uninstall an app, right-click it and select Uninstall.
- If the app is from the Microsoft Store, it will be uninstalled immediately. If it’s a “classic” app from outside the store, you’ll be taken to the Control Panel, where you’ll need to select the app and click Uninstall.
By following these steps, you can easily remove any unwanted apps from your PC and free up valuable space for the software that you actually use and enjoy.
Also Read: Microsoft Power Toys: Download Windows 10 & 11
9. Transfer and Share Files
Once you set up a new laptop, you can transfer and share all your files from mobile to PC in just a few seconds.
By sharing your files across multiple devices, you can access your entire media collection from your laptop, 2 in 1, tablet, and smartphone. No matter where you are or what device you’re using, all your data is always at your fingertips.
But file sharing isn’t just convenient – it’s also fun! You can share your favorite movies, TV shows, and music with friends and family, creating a shared media library that everyone can enjoy. And with the ability to transfer files wirelessly, you don’t even need to be in the same room to share your favorites.
So how do you get started with file sharing? It’s easier than you might think. Just follow our simple instructions to set up your devices and start sharing your files in no time.
10. Relax!
After you’re done with set up new laptop, it’s time to relax and watch a movie, or a TV series, or play some music.
Your laptop is more than just a tool for work and productivity – it’s also a portal to endless entertainment options. With the ability to play DVDs, watch streaming videos, and access popular services like Netflix and Hulu, you can turn your laptop into a personal cinema experience. And with an internet connection, you can stream TV shows and watch your favorite programs from anywhere using websites like Hulu, YouTube, Vimeo, and more.
But that’s not all – your laptop is also a gateway to music and radio. With a new laptop or 2 in 1, streaming music is a breeze. No more waiting for files to buffer or dealing with frustrating hiccups and time-outs. Connect to your favorite internet radio station or your music library at home and enjoy your favorite tunes without interruption.
We hope this article was helpful, if it was then do let us know in the comment section down below. For more such content, keep visiting KAPsNotes.com.