Home PC, HDTV, Audio

Basics

1. Connect to Internet
2. Download and install Windows updates
3. Configure Automatic updates to Notify but not install
4. Turn on Windows Firewall
5. Download and install PC vendor updates
6. Remove unwanted software that came with PC
7. Verify Page file size
8. Verify System Restore settings
9. Set Recycle Bin size
10. Configure IE Temporary Internet Files settings
11. Configure Defrag settings
12. Install printer
13. Install Productivity Suite if it did not come with PC
14. Install and/or configure email program
15. Use Windows Easy Transfer tool to move folders, file, data, and application settings from old computer to new

General Tweaks

1. Turn off unneed Windows features such as Tablet PC Components, DFS Replication, and Remote Differential Compression
2. Install USB Flash Drive and activate ReadyBoost
3. Turn off indexing

Advanced Tweaks

1. Enhance SATA disk performance
   http://www.tweakvista.com/articles/39099/enhance-sata-disk-performance/
2. Speed up web browsing with OpenDNS
   http://www.tweakvista.com/articles/39287/speed-up-web-browsing-with-opendns/
3. Speed up external hard drives
   http://www.tweakvista.com/articles/39198/speed-up-external-hard-drives/
4. Verify/change TCP/IP settings
   http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=2574

Final Steps

1. Run PC Pitstop full test and make any recommended changes
2. Install Anti-virus software: free  AVAST or Avira
3. Configure Windows Defender anti-malware
4. Install 2-way firewall and turn off Windows firewall
5. Setup and configure backup routine