New Windows PC? Here’s the Setup Checklist You’ll Wish You Had
I recently got a new Windows computer. For the most part it’s:
- Backup your data
- Download some apps
- Update your settings
And you’re good to go.
But there were a few things I forgot. I made myself a checklist. If you have to make a similar checklist, feel free to borrow these.
This is specific to a Windows upgrade.
Before You Begin
- Backup your files. Cloud storage is the easiest (Google, OneDrive, etc). You can also use a USB drive. You may want to do both!
- Record desktop files/shortcuts
- Record Start Menu and Taskbar icons
- Record Taskbar icon pinned items for specific apps
- Record pinned items in Windows Explorer
- Record browser bookmark favorites (some browsers will allow you to sync across devices, so may not be applicable)
First Thing’s First
- Startup: turn OFF apps you don’t need (in my case: Edge and OneDrive)
- Uninstall default apps as needed
Install Applications
Obviously your list will be different. You may want to add a hyperlink to the software’s website to ensure you have the latest version
- Preferred browser, and turn ON the sync to re-import bookmarks/favorites
Be sure to set this as the default browser
You may need to download browser extensions. For me, it retained by browser start page via an extension that I made (“New Tab: Search”) — but I still had to turn off the “show extra customization”
- The third party cloud storage method (ex Google Drive)
- For me, I installed MS Office
Specifically For Web Development
General
- Record VS Code Extensions (even though it should be automatic, when you log into GitHub and also turn on the “Backup + Sync” setting).
- Git, and be sure to log in / set initial configuration
All Git Repos: be sure to download files found in .gitignore
- Photo Imaging software. I’m still using Fireworks 8 but ideally I should migrate to Gimp.
- FTP: I’m using FileZilla. It was easy to backup/restore the connections.
For PHP/MySQL Development
- Mamp Pro, or an alternative server
I purchased a license, so be sure to record it to easily put it back in. Also record the (2) file/locations for the SSL certificates.
- Composer
- MySQL Workbench, I found it easy to transfer the connections, but it did not retain the passwords.
For Node.js Development
- Install Node.js
- Get NPM; you may need the option for “install additional necessary tools”
- Install Nodemon: npm install -g nodemon
- In Powershell, I had to run this command As Administrator:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
Other Settings
- Background picture on your desktop
- Re-pin the apps to your Start menu and Task Bar. Open the specific files and “pin” them to the Task Bar.
- Sleep settings (under “Power”. I prefer my monitor and device to sleep longer than the default)
- Ensure your keyboard, not just your mouse, can wake a sleeping computer. This may already be set by default.
Device manager >> keyboard >> right click, Properties >> Power Management >> check the box for “Allow this device to wake the computer”
Other Notes
- Reinstall drivers for hardware, example a printer and/or keyboard
- Do the Windows Updates: hit Window Key + I, and there’s a button for “Windows Updates”
- For a brand new computer, the initial Windows Updates may take a long while. If you bought a refurbished computer it may go a little faster.
