
Once you’re sure everything is in good shape, you can move on. Click the Windows Security option and look for any yellow flags that indicate you need to take action ( Figure C). You can find Windows Security settings in the Settings app under Updates And Security (the same place you found Windows Update). Windows Security isn’t the mess it used to be–it’s a perfectly viable alternative to third-party antivirus software and does everything you need to keep yourself safe. There are two ways you can protect your computer from malware: By downloading your antivirus software of choice or by using Microsoft’s built-in Windows Security. Repeat for anything you want to uninstall. Find the items you don’t want, click on those items, click the Uninstall button ( Figure B), and follow the steps to uninstall the app. You should see a full list of installed software. Go back into the Settings application and click the Apps item. SEE: How to avoid installing Windows 10 crapware (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Getting rid of bloatware is an essential part of setting up a new Windows 10 PC–leaving those applications installed won’t do you much good and will probably just slow your computer down. Get rid of bloatwareĬomputer manufacturers are notorious for shipping new machines with their custom software preloaded in Windows, and most (if not all) of it is garbage. When you click that button, and it says there’s nothing available, you’re done. This process will take a while, require multiple restarts, and you’ll have to click that Check For Updates button multiple times. Then click Check For Updates and let Windows do its thing. Scroll down in the setting menu until you see Updates And Security ( Figure A)–click on that. Open the Settings app by opening the Start menu and clicking on the gear icon that appears above the start button on the left side of the menu. Once you’re logged into Windows, the first thing you should do is download and install all available Windows 10 updates. SEE: Windows 10 power tips: Secret shortcuts to your favorite settings (Tech Pro Research) 1.

Before you start enjoying your new Windows 10 PC, there are essential things you need to do to get it set up, protected, and working properly.

Unwrapping a new PC, peeling off the protective plastic, and powering it up for the first time is exciting.
