What are the things that must be done immediately on a new pc?

@comcom


My method... Windows 10

1. Disconnect all internet and all "other drives".
2. Clean install Windows with "Local" account. (See Clean Install Windows 10 tutorial). (You can switch to MS account later if desired).
3. During install... skip, say NO, or uncheck, everything.
4. Install motherboard and vid card drivers, and things like printer, camera, keyboard/mouse drivers if you require them.
5. Make a full OS backup.
6. Reconnect the internet and do the Windows Updates (if any)
7. Make a full OS backup.
8. Do all your program installs, tweaks, personalizations, etc.,
9. Use REVO uninstaller to remove all the un-needed Windows Apps.
10. Then make your final, full OS backup. The previous two backups were just temporary ones.




This method.... "works fine, lasts a long time".

Last of all... after you get things set just how you like... keep up with your backups.
Make a fresh backup before patch Tuesdays and before any major changes, like new, unknown software for example.

comcom said:

My PC is custom PC (I tell the seller the parts I want and he assemble for me and installed Windows 10 Pro).
Does it mean the seller install device drivers by going to the component site to download the drivers and install the drivers?
During windows installation does windows auto search for component drivers and install the drivers automatically?
For custom PC is it necessary to export the drivers? I am thinking in the future when I need the drivers, the exported drivers might be outdated and need to go to the website to download the drivers?
During install windows can you use a wireless keyboard or wireless mouse?

I have no idea how the builder installed the drivers.
The smart way would be to use the motherboard manufacturer's drivers.
But Win 10 and Win 11 have a "huge" driver store.
In most cases Window's driver store, supplies just about all the drivers you need. Check Device Manager for any warnings.

Exporting drivers is more for having them handy if you need to do a re-install of Windows.

As for wireless... I don't use it for anything. Everything I use is wired.
So I have no way of knowing if they would work with the generic (driver store) drivers (during install), or not.

Anything wireless is subject to interference. This is an issue you don't have with wired devices.
Wireless devices can also have issues with dead or dying batteries.

For these reasons... I don't use wireless devices.




I don't "mind" if my computer wiring looks like this...

As early as you can- and before you rush madly and chaotically into configuring and installing left right and centre, start routinely and regularly using 3rd party disk imaging, and update your image files at intervals throughout your careful process of installation and configuration.

A naive user will leave that too late, thinking to create their first image when everything is as they want it.

Plan to keep as much personal data off C: as you can for reasons of O/S maintenance.
But don't use the Location tab.. just create your own folders on a different partition or disk.
If you wish you can add those to a library.

comcom said:

What do you do in a new PC first?

I'd say boot from a Macrium / Acronis / another imaging boot disk to make a system image even before you boot up normally to go through OOBE.
Doing that saved me when I had messed up a new computer so much that it could not run things well enough to be able to do any repairs.

Then do the OOBE.
Then check activation [Settings, Windows update, Activation] and let it go online to complete activation.

See also Force online activation attempt - NavyLCDR post #14 - ElevenForum

Then backup drivers.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials

Then consider doing a Clean install but in your case I don't see very much point.

Clean Install - TenForumsTutorials

Then uninstall OneDrive unless you want to use it.

Uninstall OneDrive - TenForumsTutorials [this is virtually the same as the method I used but it does it through Settings, Apps instead]
Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive - MSOfficeSupport [this is how I did it on my computers - look under the heading Hide or uninstall OneDrive, Uninstall OneDrive]

For desktop computers, always keep a USB/WiFi keyboard & a USB/WiFi mouse to use in the Bios & when booting to other disks such as a Windows installation USB or a system imaging boot disk. Bluetooth will probably not work in all such cases.
In all cases, get two large external disks to use as backup disks. I use one of mine this week, the other next week and so on.


Best of luck,
Denis

Using Macrium Reflect and/or AOMEI Backupper (either/both), image the OOBE installation to an external USB drive

Then,

Ghot said:

@comcom


My method... Windows 10

1. Disconnect all internet and all "other drives".
2. Clean install Windows with "Local" account. (See Clean Install Windows 10 tutorial). (You can switch to MS account later if desired).
3. During install... skip, say NO, or uncheck, everything.
4. Install motherboard and vid card drivers, and things like printer, camera, keyboard/mouse drivers if you require them.
5. Make a full OS backup.
6. Reconnect the internet and do the Windows Updates (if any)
7. Make a full OS backup.
8. Do all your program installs, tweaks, personalizations, etc.,
9. Use REVO uninstaller to remove all the un-needed Windows Apps.
10. Then make your final, full OS backup. The previous two backups were just temporary ones.




This method.... "works fine, lasts a long time".

Last of all... after you get things set just how you like... keep up with your backups.
Make a fresh backup before patch Tuesdays and before any major changes, like new, unknown software for example.

ralphblake2024 said:

The OP has a brand new computer unless i am missing something, he is not building a system with a bunch of parts.

Since he's been asking for advice on parts for about two weeks now... I think he is building a computer.

Either way... the list is useful.