Check out your Windows OS after installation

After installing your  operating system (OS) of Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, you might be wondering  how to make windows looks nice and perform better.

Of course, there are programs and drivers to be installed, and configurations to be done,  preferences to set.

Here are some important steps you should do:

1. The most important thing for you do first is install an Antivirus with the latest virus definitions:

Even you have formatted your Drive C, but some viruses like Virut are still in other drive or embedded in your .exe files. Those viruses can re-infect to your system easily if you access the drive or in accidently double click on any exe files.

I recommend you use the Avast Internet Security Suite

2. Install drivers:

In order to make your computer running in a stable speed, you have to make sure that your drivers  are correct installed. Typically motherboards come with a CD including the drivers you need.

3. Change the way Windows Behaves:

• how to hide/unhide the files/folders: To easily see viruses from a flash drive.
• Unhide file extensions: for easily to see what the exactly file type is.
• View by ‘list view’
  these setting can be done at Windows Explorer > Tools > Options > View> and then apply to all folders.
• Change the start menu to Classic view
  Right click on Task bar > Properties > Start Menu > select the “Classic Start Menu”

4. Optimize Windows for Good performance:

• Turn off Windows Visual Effect :
  Right click on My Computer > Properties > Advance > Setting (top one) >Visual Effects > Select “Adjust for best performance”
  
• Disable System Restore:
  Right click on My Computer > Properties > System Restore > Tick on “Turn off System Restore”
• Disable hard drive indexing:
  Right click on Local Drive > Properties > uncheck “Allow indexing service to index this disk for fast file searching”
  
• Disable unwanted start up program:
  some programs  can be  disabled at start up.  You can do that to  click  on  the windows logo — -> start  —> Run and  then type in "msconfig"  and then Enter. for a more easier way to disable startup items I would really recommend the ccleaner under the section tools –> startup you can disable/enable as you please. Make sure you leave your anti-virus program enabled so your computer stays more secure .

After you have done all the above steps, don’t forget to make a copy of your whole system using Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image for later recovery.