Congratulations on your new computer! It’s always very exciting to bring a new system home to replace the aging one that has seen better days. Contemporary technology opens more possibilities and capabilities. Now to get the most out of your system and get more done! Since it’s a new computer, it most likely came with Windows 11. Here are the things I recommend doing to set up your new PC!

Here are questions that are answered in this post:

1. Why is it so important to update Windows as soon as I set up my new computer?
2. How can I stop my computer from restarting in the middle of something important?
3. Is there an easy way to clear out the recommended apps and ads from my Start Menu?
4. What quick changes can I make to get Windows 11 looking and working just the way I like?
5. How do I bring back those classic desktop icons that used to show up automatically?

Windows Update

Your new computer may have been sitting on the store shelf or in a warehouse for a little while. The latest Windows updates likely haven’t been applied, so it’s very important that they are. Our computers are constantly internet-connected, and having the latest security updates really matters!

To access Windows Update, left-click the Start Menu once. Then click Settings or the gear icon. On the bottom left, click Windows Update and click the “Check for Updates” button. When those updates are done, click the “Restart” button.

After restarting your PC, please log back into Windows Update and log in again. Repeat this process until it says, “You’re up to date.”

Big updates like Windows 11 version 22H2 (second half of 2022) are listed under “optional”. Optional updates do not appear if none are available. Occasionally you’ll need to go into Advanced Options to see them manually. I do recommend these updates, but required updates should be completed first. After you install big updates like 22H2, check for updates again and ensure Windows is fully up to date.

I think it’s also worth checking out the Advanced Options of Windows Update and turning on two settings. These settings are “Receive updates for other Microsoft products” and “Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating.” The latter one is the most important; otherwise, Windows is very inclined to automatically download and install updates, which can automatically restart your computer, even if you’re in the middle of something.

You can select “Active Hours” where your computer where Windows will automatically restart during the hours, you’re likely not sitting in front of your computer.