I have a question about the setup of my new PC.

[AccrusC]

I am extremely excited because my new PC is due to be delivered today between 2/3pm.

I opted to not have an operating system installed because we have lots of windows keys available at work and this saved a lot of money...

My question is, in terms of the initial setup, what does this mean? Is there literally no operating system installed whatsoever? Or is it just going to be windows but un-activated? Is there any extra steps that I may need to take in the initial start up?

Any input would be great - I personally haven't setup a PC before.

 

[sck451]

There will be a very limited installation of Windows. You should not, however, just activate this: it would be better to do a clean installation from a USB stick. You want to do the "create Windows 10 installation media" process on this page.

 

[Steveyg]

Yeah there are a number of steps the first one should be removing the "test image" of Windows that will be installed then doing a complete fresh install

Then you need the drivers for your components, it's not a difficult process but it's very time consuming. I'm sure there are plenty of guides out there to follow to make sure it's done properly. If it's done improperly then performance can suffer

 

[AccrusC]

thank you, probably a silly question but the guide mentions a USB, i don't have one but have an external hard-drive that I can format. I'm assuming this will be fine

 

[Rakk]

Yeah there are a number of steps the first one should be removing the "test image" of Windows that will be installed then doing a complete fresh install

Well if you use create the installation media as shown in the link that @sck451 linked you can format everything during the installation process so no need to do this beforehand

Then you need the drivers for your components, it's not a difficult process but it's very time consuming. I'm sure there are plenty of guides out there to follow to make sure it's done properly. If it's done improperly then performance can suffer

Windows now does a very very good job of getting all the drivers you'll ever need (with a couple of exceptions for specific stuff), as long as the windows update thing is done with reboots until it finds nothing new, it should all be sorted

 

[Rakk]

thank you, probably a silly question but the guide mentions a USB, i don't have one but have an external hard-drive that I can format. I'm assuming this will be fine

Should be fine I'd have thought, though yes save anything from it first as said external hard drive would be wiped by the installation media

 

[AccrusC]

thanks for your help! will let you know how it goes!

 

[jamiephillips909]

thanks for your help! will let you know how it goes!

Make sure to plug your new pc into a decent surge protector aswell

 

[AccrusC]

All set-up, running like a dream! Although my little office is now more of an oven.... Gonna invest in some air-con...

I'll get a surge protector tomorrow! Thanks for the advice