New computer installation procedure

Creating a system image AFTER all of your applications and data are installed will allow you to avoid having to install everything again after re-installing Windows. Click here for instructions for creating a System Image Backup in Windows Your new PC is now completely installed, configured, backed up and ready to use!

Method 2. Verify your region and keyboard input. When Windows restarts, it will ask you to verify your region and keyboard input. If these are correct, click Yes in the lower-right corner. Otherwise, select the correct region and keyboard input. You will also have the option to select another keyboard input. If you want to select another keyboard input, click Add Input and select another input. Otherwise, click Skip. Connect to your Wireless network. Select your wireless network and click Connect.

Then enter your wireless password and click Next. If you have a wired internet connection, make sure you are connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable.

Windows will automatically detect your wired connection. Select Set up for personal use and click Next. This option allows you to sign in with a Microsoft account and use your computer for personal use. If you are setting your computer for a business or organization, select Set up for an organization and click Next.

You may need the aide of your IT department in order to set up Windows with a company email. Sign in to Windows. If you already have a Microsoft account, you can sign in with your Microsoft account to import the digital license from a previous Windows computer. Enter the email address, phone number, or Skype number and password to sign in to your Microsoft account. If you do not have a Microsoft account, click Create account and follow the instructions to create a new Microsoft account.

Alternatively, you can click Offline account in the lower-right corner to create a new local user account for Windows that doesn't have a Microsoft account associated with it. Click Accept to set up Cortana.

Cortana is the built-in voice assistant for Windows. If you want to set up Cortana, click Accept and follow the instructions. If you don't want to do it right now, click Decline. Click Yes and follow the instructions to set up the Windows timeline. This feature allows you to continue what you are doing on other Windows devices. If you want to set up this feature click Yes and follow the instructions. If you don't want to set this feature up, click No to move on to the next step.

Choose your privacy settings and click Accept. By default, Windows turn on GPS location tracking, Speech recognition, diagnostics, find my device, inking and typing to help Microsoft improve language recognition, and relevant ads. Click the toggle switch to turn off any of these features you don't want to use.

Then click Accept. Windows will do a little more set up and then open your desktop. Method 3. Back up your files. It's recommended that you back up all files and data you want to keep before installing or reinstalling macOS on a Mac. Restart your Mac. To restart your Mac, click the Apple icon in the upper-right corner and click Restart. If your Mac is already off, just press the Power button to turn it on. You will need Internet access to reinstall macOS on your Mac. You'll need to start doing this before the Mac start-up sound plays.

Continue to hold these buttons until the Mac recovery screen appears. Reformat the hard drive optional. Depending on what your needs are, you may want to completely erase the hard drive with macOS on it and start with a new fresh install.

Once your hard drive is erased, you cannot recover the data on it. Make sure you back up any data you want to keep before erasing your hard drive. If you don't want to erase your hard drive, skip this step to reinstall macOS with all your data present on the drive. Use the following steps to reformat the hard drive: Click Disk Utility and click Continue.

Click the hard drive you want to erase in the panel to the right. Make sure it is the correct drive. Click Erase at the top. Type a new name for the drive optional. Click Erase. Close the Disk Utility window. Select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.

This will start the process of reinstalling macOS. Click Continue. It's the icon with the arrow at the bottom center of the screen. Agree to the terms and license agreement. To agree to the terms and license agreement, read the text and click Agree at the bottom. Then click Agree again in the pop-up alert. Select the hard drive you want to install macOS on and click Install.

You just have to get over this initial hump! If your new laptop came with Windows 10 installed, you may see the option to upgrade to Windows We recommend skipping Windows 11 for now. If your tastes lean more exotic, you could always dabble with one of these 10 obscure, highly specialized browsers , too. Windows ships with Windows Security enabled by default unless your laptop or desktop includes a third-party antivirus trial. We also have a guide to building a solid free security suite , but it takes more legwork and hassle than premium antivirus options.

You can skip this step if you built your own Windows PC. But boxed PCs from big-name PC makers are inevitably brimming with bloatware. Go through the list and uninstall any unwanted programs. It will also remove most pre-installed apps, including manufacturer apps, support apps, and drivers. Why would you scrap all that junk and clutter? Ensuring that your hardware is properly connected and that you have all the latest updates installed will help make your new computer experience the best it possibly can be.

Connect the components if it's a desktop. Plug into a power source. Press the power button. Turn on the monitor if it's a desktop. Connect to the internet. Sign in or create an account.

Install updates if prompted. Customize your desktop. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow.

Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Unpack your components. Depending on where you purchased your computer and what options you selected, you may or may not have the following items: CPU tower - This may be all you have if you just purchased a tower. If that's the case, you will need to obtain a monitor, mouse, and keyboard before you can use the computer.

Monitor - Not all computers come with a monitor. If you're upgrading your computer, you can usually use your old monitor. Mouse and keyboard - Most complete systems come packed with both of these, though you may want to consider upgrading for higher-quality peripherals with better ergonomics Speakers - These are sometimes built into monitor, and are not always included. Printer - Some systems come packaged with a printer, though typically this is purchased separately.

Place the tower. Place your CPU tower near its intended location with enough room for all of the fans to move air. Towers typically have fans on the rear of the case, and sometimes have fans on the sides, front, and top. Avoid placing the tower between sets of drawers or inside of a cabinet.

If you are using your computer as a home theater PC, make sure that its spot in the home theater cabinet has plenty of air on all sides, and that the cabinet is not enclosed. Connect the monitor to the tower. Plug the monitor or TV into one of the monitor ports on the back of the tower. Most modern computers have an HDMI port, which is the easiest to connect. The monitor will also need to be plugged into a power outlet.

If you have a dedicated graphics card, ensure that your monitor is connected to the graphics card and not the motherboard. You will not be able to take advantage of the graphics card unless the monitor is attached to it. The monitor ports for your dedicated card will be located lower on the back of the tower. Plug in the mouse and keyboard. Virtually all mice and keyboards plug in via USB. These are typically located at the top of the back of the tower, and are color coded to match the keyboard and mouse plugs.

Connect any speakers. Plug your speakers into the back of the computer using the color codes as guides. Ensure that all the channels are placed on the correct sides, and that the speakers are plugged into an outlet if necessary.

See this guide for more details on setting up computer speakers. Plug the tower into an outlet. If you can, plug it into a surge protector or uninterruptible power supply UPS. This will help protect the computer in the event of a power surge or power loss. You may need to flip the switch on the power supply to ON. The switch is usually located near the power cable. Turn on the computer.