Unwrapping a new PC, peeling off the protective plastic, and powering it up for the outset time is exciting. Before you starting time enjoying your new Windows 10 PC, there are essential things y'all need to do to get information technology set upwardly, protected, and working properly.

SEE: Windows 10 ability tips: Secret shortcuts to your favorite settings (Tech Pro Research)

1. Update Windows

In one case you're logged into Windows, the first thing you should do is download and install all available Windows ten updates. Open the Settings app by opening the Get-go menu and clicking on the gear icon that appears above the kickoff push button on the left side of the menu.

Curlicue downward in the setting carte until y'all see Updates And Security (Figure A)–click on that. Then click Check For Updates and let Windows do its thing.

Figure A

This process will take a while, require multiple restarts, and yous'll have to click that Check For Updates push button multiple times. When you click that button, and it says there'due south nix available, y'all're done.

two. Get rid of bloatware

Computer manufacturers are notorious for shipping new machines with their custom software preloaded in Windows, and most (if not all) of information technology is garbage. Getting rid of bloatware is an essential part of setting up a new Windows x PC–leaving those applications installed won't do you much good and will probably but wearisome your reckoner downwardly.

SEE: How to avert installing Windows 10 crapware (complimentary PDF) (TechRepublic)

Go back into the Settings application and click the Apps item. You should see a full list of installed software. Detect the items you don't want, click on those items, click the Uninstall button (Figure B), and follow the steps to uninstall the app. Repeat for anything you lot want to uninstall.

Figure B

3. Secure your computer

There are 2 ways you can protect your computer from malware: Past downloading your antivirus software of choice or by using Microsoft'south born Windows Security.

Windows Security isn't the mess information technology used to be–it'due south a perfectly viable culling to third-party antivirus software and does everything y'all need to keep yourself condom.

You can discover Windows Security settings in the Settings app under Updates And Security (the same identify you institute Windows Update). Click the Windows Security option and look for whatever yellow flags that indicate you demand to take action (Effigy C). In one case you're sure everything is in good shape, yous can movement on.

Figure C

4. Check your drivers

Windows 10 is pretty adept at finding drivers, but sometimes it will pull a generic one that doesn't work as well or won't enable all the features of a particular device. Even a new out-of-the-box computer should be checked for missing drivers.

Drivers are the lawmaking that tells your figurer how to make use of its hardware components. You can find all the drivers listed in the Device Managing director (Effigy D), which you can find in the Control Panel, or past typing "device director" into the beginning menu's search bar.

Figure D

Wait for any yellow flags or Generic Devices. Right-click on the particular in question and select Update Driver. Tell Windows to search for drivers automatically, and it should observe the ones it needs.

If Windows tin't find the appropriate drivers, you may have to go to the manufacturer'southward website and download them yourself.

5. Accept a system image

New computers don't typically have problems, but it'south best to prepare for that possibility.

Later you take performed the other steps listed here, downloaded additional software, synced your files, and configured your computer just how you like information technology, you should take a organisation image, which is a ane:one copy of your entire hard drive.

You'll need an external USB drive or a secondary internal hard bulldoze to create a organisation epitome. This TechRepublic article details the steps for making a organisation image.

If your computer ever crashes, you'll be able to redo it exactly as it was when y'all took the organization epitome, so be sure to take periodic images to account for changes.