Windows 8.1 Setup Checklist

by Wren McMains
(5/4/2014)

This page is just a checklist I follow when setting up a new machine. It assumes you've purchased a machine that was preloaded with the Operating System, Drives and Software (much of which you don't want). The list for a machine you build yourself is basically the same except you have to load the hardware drivers and you don't have to remove all the unwanted software.

For details on each, or to see why I recommend it, see New Computer Setup (Windows 8)

• ___ Turn off Autoplay (CP/Autoplay)
• ___ Turn off User Account Control (CP/User Accounts)
• ___ Install Classic Shell
• ___ Change CD/DVD drive letters. (CP/Admin Tools/Computer Management)
• ___ Put Computer Icon on desktop (CP/Personalization/Change Desktop Icons)
• ___ Power Plan: (CP/Power) High Perf: Display off: ___ mins, Sleep: Never (Plugged In)
• ___ Add Computer shortcut/icon to taskbar and Tools menu
• ___ Automatically expand to current folder (Options on File Explorer (aka Win Explorer) View tab)
• ___ Turn off Hide Extensions (In Win 8 this now appears as a check box on the View tab of File Explorer)
• ___ Show hidden Files and Folders (Also now a check box)
• ___ Ask before Delete, Recycle Bin/Properties
• ___ Remove "My " from in front of Docs, Music, Pictures, Videos (Win 8 only, not required in Win 8.1)
• ___ Un-install unwanted Antivirus programs
• ___ Make sure Windows Defender is running and updated (CP/Windows Defender)
• ___ Un-install all the bloatware programs which came pre-installed
• ___ Change Account Picture
• ___ Pick a Theme and/or desktop backgrounds and/or add theme: _________________
• ___ Customize the Windows Start Screen to your liking
• ___ Stop un-needed programs from running at Startup

Free Programs I Always Recommend Installing:

• ___ FastStone Image Viewer (and FastStone Capture, $20)
• ___ Adobe Acrobat Reader
• ___ Google Chrome
• ___ Mozilla Firefox
• ___       Add-Ons:  ___ WOT   ___ NoScript   ___ Tab Mix Plus
• ___       Optional Add-Ons:  ___ Adblock Plus   ___ DownThemAll
• ___ Adobe Flash Player
• ___ SyncToy
• ___ OpenOffice.org or  ___ LibreOffice.org
• ___ Window Essentials:  __ Photo Gallery   ___ Movie Maker
• ___ PowerPoint Viewer
• ___ Belarc

Optional Free Programs, depending on interests:

• ___ Thunderbird
• ___ Audacity,  ___ Lame encoder,  ___ FFmpeg encoder
• ___ FFDshow
• ___ Handy Free Clock
• ___ Defraggler
• ___ Recuva
• ___ Speccy
• ___ CCleaner
• ___ FastStone Capture ($20)

After installing all software, be sure to run Windows Update and Belarc again.

Suggested next choices:

• Windows 8 Shortcuts
• New Computer Setup (Windows 8)
• Other Tips (Contents)

ImagingTips.com Site Map