Do you get tapped to provide assistance with new computer purchases? For family, friends, or coworkers? Maybe you even have the new computers sent directly to you, so that you can load them up with software and configuration settings before handing them off to their new owners? If so, here is a handy checklist of things to do/consider. (Some of the items on this list refer specifically to Windows/Vista boxes, but the concepts generally apply to any type of computer.)

Editorial Note: This checklist is obviously incomplete, but I believe that it is definitely useful and its present form. I’m tossing this out here as a starting point, but you can expect updates. If you have any tips to add, or questions, or concerns, please post them as comments, and I will merge them in as well.

New Computer Specifications: — Without venturing into the completely different topic of figuring out what kind of computer to buy, with what accessories, here are just a few specific tips on purchasing issues that are often overlooked.

1. When specifying the amount of memory, be aware that computer manufacturers tend to fill all available slots with lower capacity memory chips. For example, if you specify 2 GB of memory, you will likely get them in the form of two 1-GB strips, that use up the two available slots. If you wish to plan ahead with room for expansion, then you may want to pay extra to get one 2-GB strip that only takes up one slot and leaves one slot free.
2. You may want to pay attention to how many USB controllers there are to drive the USB ports. For example, the computer may have four USB ports in back plus two in front. The question is, which of those ports have to share bandwidth? Say that you connect an extra hard drive to one of the USB ports in front, and connect two more in the back. Will all three drives run at maximum speed, or will they compete for bandwidth?
3. If the old computer has a printer attached, it may be using a parallel port (DB 25 connector), but the new computers these days usually do not have parallel ports. If it is a newer printer, it probably also supports USB, in which case the solution is simply to get a USB device cable for it. If not, you will either have to install a parallel port in the new computer, or experiment with a USB/parallel port converter box.
4. Likewise, you’ll need to check all other attached peripherals (scanners, external disk drives, etc.) to see if they require serial, parallel, or SCSI ports that may or may not exist on the new computer.
5. Some proprietary software enforces licensing through the use of a dongle that attaches to the parallel port. If any such dongles are in use on the old computer, then either the dongle needs to be upgraded to a USB version, or a parallel port needs to be installed on the computer. (Upgrading may mean that you can run the software on the new computer with the USB dongle and continue running it on the old computer with the Parallel port dongle simultaneously during the transition, after which, you’d return the old dongle to get back a deposit.)
6. Likewise, some legacy software requires the use of a floppy drive, so you may need to specify one of those.

Physical Hookup Considerations:

1. If the old computer is using extension cables for the video connector, mouse, and/or keyboard, those extension cables may not work with the new computer. The new keyboard and mouse are likely to be USB, and the new video might require an HD cable.
2. The same caution applies to replacing a computer that is currently hooked up through a KVM switch.

Extracting Information Off of the Old Computer:

1. Microsoft has tools that can capture user settings/preferences/etc.
2. Be especially certain to make a note of all current connectivity settings
   • PPoE or dial-up accounts and passwords
   • POP and SMTP server settings
3. Firefox has a plugin called FEBE that will make a backup of all of the other plug-ins and settings. You can then use this backup to restore the settings on the new computer.
4. Be certain to properly uninstall any software that has restricted licensing, so that the license keys can be transferred to the new computer. This includes such things as McAfee antivirus subscriptions.

Preparing the New Computer (Off Site):

1. If the hard disk comes configured as a single, large partition, you may want to consider repartitioning it so that the main partition is relatively small — enough for the operating system, most, if not all of the software to be installed, temp folders, current project files, and the like. A second partition would be for archives, media file collections, etc. This means that only the first partition would have to be backed up using disk imaging software such as Norton Ghost. The data on the second partition are “just files” and can be backed up using any desired method from simple copy commands on up.
2. Of course, the first thing you’ll do is install any OS updates/patches.
3. Make sure the computer is configured to accept remote control/remote assistance. (See related articles, below.)
4. Run TweakUI to adjust various settings for performance and/or your user’s preferences. (See related article, below.)
   • Disable Animations - for performance or if you just find them annoying (General)
   • Mouse wheel scroll speed (Mouse | Wheel)
   • Use classic search in Explorer - jumps directly into searching for files when you hit F3 (Explorer)
   • Increase size of thumbnails (Explorer | Thumbnails)
   • Whether or not system icons like My Computer and the Recycle Bin appear on the desktop (Desktop)
   • The Locations of special folders (My Documents, My Music, Document templates) (My Computer | Special Folders)
   • Disabling Autoplay by type (e.g. enable autoplay for CDs & DVDs, but not other removables) (My Computer | Autoplay | Types)
   • Disabling Autoplay by specific drive letter (My Computer | Autoplay | Drives)
   • Hiding control panel items that are not used (Control Panel)
   • Changing which text editor program is invoked for viewing page source (Internet Explorer | View Source)
   • Windows command prompt filename & directory completion (Tab key) (Command Prompt)
   • Screen saver grace period before locking workstation (Logon | Screen Saver)
5. After most of the desired software is installed, the OS has been upgraded/patched, and you’ve captured a backup image of the hard drive (parrtition) containing all that, run a hard disk defrag. You might think that a defragmentation would be unnecessary on a brand-new machine, but the process of installing all that initial software does quite a bit of thrashing. It is surprising how much running a defrag at this point can help.

Installing the New Computer (On Site):

1. Visit http://www.grc.com and run Shields Up! Test to make sure that no ports have been accidentally left open. (See related article, below.)

Related articles:

• Remotely Assisting Vista from XP (or Vista)
• UltraVNC PC-to-PC Remote Control
• Check Your Internet Security with Shields UP!!
• A TweakUI for Vista

Read more: Software, Productivity