A new computer may have been manufactured months ago and been sitting on a shelf somewhere until it got to you. The bootable USB software may have been made months ago and it will need to be updated once it is on your new drive.

 

Microsoft makes updates, creates patches, fixes bugs and implements security improvements every day. They frequently implement a required update online, sometimes weekly.

 

When you first turn on a newly built computer you need to provide your name, email address, date of birth, and cell phone number in addition to your wi-fi password if necessary. The whole process takes about a half hour before you finally launch Windows for the first time.

 

Once you log on for the first time, you need to go to settings then click on “Windows Update” then click on “Check for updates”.

 

This will start a lengthy process of downloading updates in waves. After each wave Is finished it requires a restart that installs the update. You must repeat these processes several times until you get the “You’re up to date” message.

 

It is normal for a new computer to need 4 or 5 restarts and could take more than an hour or two. Factors like computer configuration and your internet speed will determine how much time these processes take.

 

I have experienced this process, taking over an hour alone just to get your Windows 10 or 11 up to date and ready for years of use.

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When a computer is new there are many popular and often needed applications that need to be installed.

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Most new computers come with a pre-installed copy of Microsoft Office 365 which will allow you to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook Email, Power Point, Publisher and Teams.

 

The pre-installed version is free to use for the first year but requires an annual $99 subscription fee if you want to continue using it for years to come.

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Most people are not aware that there is a “One Time Purchase” option to purchase Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus (their Most complete and most up to date version available). Microsoft does not make it easy to find.

 

Microsoft would prefer everyone to pay annually. Microsoft charges $440 on their website for this one time purchase option, I can provide it for $100. If you purchase the one-time payment option of Microsoft Office 2021, you will need to un-install the pre-installed version of Microsoft Office 365.

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https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-professional-2021/cfq7ttc0hhj9?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

 

In addition to a new computer not having Microsoft Office, many of the most popular applications need to be downloaded and installed onto the new computer to make it usable in 2023.

 

Applications such as…

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Remove Windows 11 from Safe Mode (to allow installation of 3rd party applications.)  

One Drive Cloud Storage / Backup

Microsoft Office 

Google Chrome

Email Applications

PDF Adobe Acrobat

Zoom – Skype

iCloud – iTunes

Accounting Applications

Team Viewer etc.

 

Final Steps

 

Transfer data from your old PC to an external drive

Transfer data from the external drive to the new computer

Update Windows to most up to date version

Install printer drivers for all printers.

Install scanner drivers for all scanners. 

Sync the new PC to your cell Phone.

 

Confirm everything works!

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In Summary: The whole process of setting up  a newly purchased or upgraded Windows 10 or 11 computer along with updating the new build to get to the most current version of Windows, installing all needed applications, setting up email systems, connecting the new computer to the internet / WiFi and installing & setting up printers and scanners could take between 2 and 6 hours depending on your computer speed i3, i5, i7, i9 etc., RAM installed, internet speed 25, 50, 100 mbps and the amount of data needing to be transferred from the old PC to the new PC.