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Suggested deployment steps for Windows 7-based PCs

(For deployment of a new PC with an O/S prior to Windows 7, click here.)


1. Configure and purchase a Dell Vostro Desktop/Laptop with several specifc upgrades/shopping cart choices:
  • Navigate to Dell Small/Medium-sized Business site, as Vostro line is not available on Dell Home site
  • Choose a conventional form-factor Vostro model. (*Note that FastTrack models will ship within 3 business days, a conventional build can take 3 weeks).
  • If possible, add second hard drive equal or greater in storage size as the default hard drive
  • Upgrade to optical mouse and basic speakers
  • Eliminate all optional add-in software/services.
  • ***OPTIONAL: Step up Memory to 2x default amount (at least 4GB)
  • ***OPTIONAL: Step up CPU choice to next faster processor
  • Prior to purchasing, check popular coupon sites (google 'Dell coupons') for current coupon codes that can be applied at checkout

2. Define system/user/admin variables just prior to first boot, the enter them during initial set up sequence:

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  • New computer variables:
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  • Computer name: <buyer prefix>0<O/S><computer #><description suffix> , Ex.: lm0xp08wrk
  • Computer description: <Computer name> <O/S> <Computer Type> , Ex.: lm0xp08wrk Windows XP Pro Dell Vostro 1400 Laptop
  • Administrator Password: <define one you won't/can't forget>
  • Leave the default of 'Yes' on the screen that asks 'Will this computer conenct to the Internet directly, or through a network'. Click next
  • Select the 'No, not at this time' radio button at the screen that asks 'Ready to register with Mirosoft?'. Click next >
  • Windows Login (Your name): Choose one that protects anonymity: <buyer prefix><'user'>, Ex.: lmuser
  • Though you won't enter them during the initial setup, have handy:
  • Windows Login password: <something with letters and numbers, 8 characters or more>
  • Windows Login password hint: <A phrase you won't forget that will help you remeber it>, Ex.: Available from NorthShore-IT.com repository
  • Workgroup: Something shorter than 8 characters, will be the same for all your computers <buyer prefix><'lan'>. Ex.: lmla
  • ---------------------------
  • Windows 7 Home Premium workflow:
  • ---------------------------
  • Click Next on the screen defining Country or region, Time and currency and Keyboard layout
  • Type a username, Type a computer name.
  • Type a password, Retype your password, Type a password hint.
  • Accept the licesne terms 'required to use Windows' and 'required to use your computer'.
  • Help protect yoiur computer and improve Windows automatically. Click the 'Ask me later' button
  • Select the correct time zone, time and date settings.
  • Join a wireless network. Select 'Skip'.
  • Select a network type. Select 'Work' network. (If the computer build is taking place in the final use location, select 'Home' network).
  • If 'Register your product' appears, select 'Skip'.
  • Disable any antivirus trial subscription installations that may prompt upon initial startup. Uninstall those with an option to do so and restart if prompted.
  • ---------------------------

3. Adjust UAC, Optimize the taskbar:

  • Press Start, search for UAC. Select 'Change User Account Control Settings'.
  • Set the slider one notch lower (to the second from the bottom ('do not dim my desktop')). Click OK. Click Yes.
  • Right-click on the Windows Taskbar, select 'Properties'
  • Unselect: Lock the taskbar,
  • Select: Use small icons
  • Taskbar buttons: 'Combine when taskbar is full'.
  • Notification area > Customize: 'Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar'. Click OK and OK.
  • Choose: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad > <Right-click> 'Pin to Taskbar'.

4. Uninstall unnecessary, pre-installed software (will vary by model/manufacturer):

  • Navigate to Control Panel > Uninstall a program
  • Uninstall Ebay, eSobi
  • Uninstall Google Toolbar
  • Uninstall every part of the McAfee SecurityCenter software
  • Uninstall Microsoft Office Home and Student, Microsoft Office Powerpoint Viewer and Microsoft Office Suite Activation Assistant
  • Uninstall MyWinLocker
  • Uninstall Norton Online Backup
  • Uninstall all Windows Live applications. Reboot

5. Adjust display properties:

  • Right-click anywhere on the Desktop, select View > Small icons. Right-click again, select 'Personalize'
  • Scroll down. From the Basic and High Contrast Themes section, select 'Windows Classic' and click OK
  • Click the 'Screen Saver' icon on the bottom right.
    On the Screen Saver drop-down, select 3D Text.
    Click Settings. Select Text: Time, Rotation Type: None, Surface Style: Solid Color & Show Specular Highlights. Decrease the Size and Rotation Speed. Click OK
  • Under Power Management, click the 'Change power settings' link.
  • Under Power Options, select 'Create a power plan. Select 'High Performance'. In 'Plan name' type 'lan'. Click Next
  • Under 'On battery' times, set 'Dim the display' to 10 minutes, 'Turn off the display' to 25 minutes and 'Put the computer to sleep' to Never.
  • Set the 'On battery' brightness slider down (left) by about 1/3.
  • Set all 'Plugged in' times to Never. Click Create.
  • Click on 'Choose what the power button does/buttons do'.
  • Select 'Do nothing' from the drop downs for both the 'On battery' and 'Plugged in' states of 'When I press the sleep button'.
  • Do the same for 'When I close the lid'
  • Click on 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'. Select 'Don't require a password'. Click 'Save Changes'
  • Close the Power Options window
  • Click OK on the Screen Saver Settings tab
  • Click on Save theme. In the Theme name box, type 'lan'. Click Save. Close the Personalization window
  • Reboot

6. Set Windows Auto-login:

  • Open the Run Dialog (type run in the Start Menu Search, select the Run icon), and type ' control userpasswords2 '. Click OK
  • Uncheck 'Users must enter username and password to use this computer'
  • Click OK on the bottom.
  • At the prompt, enter the windows user's password and confirm it.
  • Click OK. Reboot.

7. Reconfigure Windows folder options:

  • Using Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\ and create a folder called 'shared'.
  • Click the arrow next to the Views button. Select Details.
  • Select Organize > Folder and search options.
  • In the Folder Options General tab, click 'Show all folders' and 'Automatically expand to current folder'
  • In the Folder Options View Tab:

    ***Check the following***:
    Display the full path in the title bar (Classic theme only)
    Show hidden files, folders and drives

    ***Uncheck the following***:
    Hide empty drives in the Computer folder
    Hide extensions for known file types

  • Click Apply. Click Apply to Folders. Click Yes and OK
8. Open Internet Explorer and set default home page:
  • Open IE for the first time. Click to accept to any application prompts.
  • Navigate to www.google.com. 'X' out of Google or Windows Live (or any other) browser toolbars . Select all available toolbar components and click Disable.
  • Right-click just underneath the URL bar and check the Menu bar.
  • Uncheck the Favorites bar.
  • Select Tools > Internet Options. Under the General tab, click 'Use current' in the Home page section
  • Click the drop down arrow and select 'Manage Search Providers' next to the search field in the upper-right hand corner of IE
  • Select the default search provider and click on the 'Find more search providers...' link
  • Scroll down to Google Search Suggestions and click the 'Add to Internet Explorer' button
  • Check 'Make this my default search provider' and click the 'Add' button. Close the browser window
  • Click on Accelerators. Remove all Accelerators, Click Close
  • If desired, log into respository and copy computer deployment varables to local text file.

9. Label physical drives:

  • In Windows Explorer, right-click on each physical drive and select 'Properties' and name them with this format: <computer name>-c & <computer name>-d
  • Click OK if prompted for administrator permissions.

10. Set workgroup:

  • Open Control Panel > System and Security> System > 'Advanced system settings' > 'Computer Name' tab
  • Change the Workgroup & Computer description names to those you defined in step 2.
  • Reboot.

11. Set up shared folder in root of C:\ drive:

  • Right-click on the C:\shared\ folder, and select 'Share with > Specific People' . Under 'Choose people to share with click the drop-down arrow
  • Select Everyone. Click Add. Under Permission Level, change 'Everyone''s level to Read/Write. Click Share. Click Done.

12. Copy/push 'FreshStart' applications disc or directory to shared folder:

  • Create this path: C:\shared\system\_FreshStart
  • Copy FreshStart contents into 'system\_FreshStart' folder either via CD-ROM copy or network push via Goodsync
13. Install an Antivirus:
  • Disable Windows Defender. Press Start > Search > 'Windows Defender'. Click the Windows Defender icon.
  • Click Tools > Options. Uncheck 'Use real-time protection' and 'Use Windows Defender'
  • Install an antivirus. A preferred choice is Avira AntiVir. (Another alternative is AVG Antivirus)

14. Move 'My Documents' to D: drive (or root of C: drive):

  • (If migrating files via Dropbox, install it now).
  • Create a new folder in the 'D' drive (or root of C: drive) and name it 'My Documents'
  • Also in Windows Explorer, right-click on the previous My Documents folder and select 'Properties'
  • Click the 'Move' button and Navigate to and select the 'D' drive My Documents folder and click OK. Click Yes and OK to confirm your choice

15. Install Microsoft Office or other productivity suite:

  • Install Java.
  • If you do not have a valid Microsoft Office registration key, a good alternative is to download and install the OpenOffice Productivity suite, which is compatible with Microsoft Office

16. Patch and update Microsoft Office / Windows:

17. Install other important utilities and applications:

18. Install a Software Firewall:

  • A preferred choice for Windows 7 users is ZoneAlarm. (LAN IP range is 192.168.0.1-192.168.255.255 )
  • Install Free Registry Defrag. Run it. Reboot

19. Install several Antispyware applications:

20. Install diagnostic tools and media applications:

21. Install other useful software, if desired:

  • Install Gmail Notifier
  • Install GoodSync
  • Install SwitchOff
  • Install SetBrowser
  • Install Digsby
  • Install DivX
  • Install Dropbox
  • Install Exact Audio Copy
  • Install DVD43
  • Install HandBrake
  • Install AF5_Rename_Your_Files

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Computer name: lm0xp08wrk - Service Tag: 3JK8PY7
Computer description: lm0xp08wrk Windows XP Pro Dell Vostro 1720 Laptop
System Description: lmadden-lm0xp08wrk
Dell Express Service Code: 58694782156
Windows Login (Your name/username): lmuser
Windows Login password: distinctive123
Workgroup: lmlan

Administrator Password: unforgettable
C drive name: lm0xp08wrk-c
Shared folder path: \\lm0xp08wrk\shared
Windows Login password hint: Available from NorthShore-IT.com repository
LAN IP range: 192.168.0.1-192.168.255.255
IE Title Bar text: NorthShore-IT.com supports this PC
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