How to use our documents in setting up desktop computer systems with Windows

The documents we're cocerned with

The best way to access these is from the Documents Index. You'll want a combination of the following:

The procedure

Print out all relevant documentation - 'Configuring Windows xx for performance, usability and security' is a large document and (because of something to do with the way its written using Cascading Style Sheets) prints with a lot of vertical space but its a lot easier to use with a physical copy

Make a detailed description of the computer's hardware - though its not essential to have every detail, some are essential. you should be able to get all you need by opening the case and looking around and looking in the startup BIOS screens. If the machine already has an operating system on it then it can be useful to see hwta drives are already installed.

Write down as many user-specific environmental details as you can - 'systems software technical specification form'

Write down the functionality that will be required of the computer - this will inform your disk partitioning strategy as well as your choice of the more major software applications

Obtain all software necessary for the job - download BIOS software and device drivers from the web; download or otherwise obtain versions of software applications (usually its advisable to use the most recently released versions); for commercial software have any required licence numbers

Upgrade (if worthwhile) and configure the system BIOS

Install and configure software - this will involve going back and forth between a couple of documents. As you work through the 'Windows xx Software Installation' document make a note of which versions of software you install and whether or not you've configured them

Install the operating system - 'Windows xx software installation' or our The Windows Environment and Application Konfigurator program

use the tools provided with the operating system installation to partition the hard disk - 'Configuring Windows xx for performance, usability and security'

Install device drivers - 'Windows xx software installation'

Work through sections 2 and 3 of the configuration - 'Configuring Windows xx for performance, usability and security' or use our The Windows Environment and Application Konfigurator program

Install minor software - 'Windows xx software installation'

Work through section 4 and onwards of the configuration - 'Configuring Windows xx for performance, usability and security' or use our The Windows Environment and Application Konfigurator program

Install and configure the software applications

continue through the list of them in 'Configuring Windows xx for performance, usability and security'

from the documentation for each software application (where they exist), follow any particular installation instructions and configuration advice

If this is a multi-user operating system (Windows NT4, 2000, XP) then configure for multiple users

Test the system - especially peripherals such as sound card, network card, modem, printer, scanner, etcetera

Notes

If at any point anything goes wrong and you don't find solution for the problem then make a note of it.