A new computer is one of the best moments in computing. Everything is fast. Nothing is cluttered. The hard drive is empty and the possibilities feel open. It’s also one of the most consequential moments — because the decisions made in the first hour often determine how well the machine serves you for the next five years.

Most people unbox it, plug it in, and start clicking. That’s understandable. Here’s what’s worth doing deliberately instead.

Before you do anything — backup the old machine first

If you’re replacing an existing computer, stop before you touch the new one and make sure the old one is fully backed up. Files, photos, documents, browser bookmarks, email if it’s stored locally, any software license keys you’ll need again. The old machine is still working right now. That won’t always be true — and once you’ve moved on, going back for something you forgot becomes significantly harder.

Don’t assume you can come back to it. Back it up while it’s in front of you and you still have time.

Run all updates immediately

A new computer that’s been sitting in a box for weeks or months has missed every security update released since it was manufactured. Before you connect to your bank, check your email, or do anything sensitive — let Windows Update run completely. This may take an hour and require several restarts. Let it finish.

This is the equivalent of checking the tire pressure and fluid levels before driving a new car off the lot. The car runs fine without it. But you want to start from a known good state.

Uninstall the bloatware

Most new Windows computers come with software pre-installed by the manufacturer that you didn’t ask for and don’t need — trial versions of antivirus programs, game launchers, shopping apps, manufacturer utilities of questionable value. This software runs in the background, consumes resources, and occasionally pesters you with notifications.

Go through the list of installed programs — found in Settings under Apps — and remove anything you don’t recognize and didn’t choose. When in doubt about a specific program, a quick search will tell you what it is and whether it’s worth keeping. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, it’s a good thing to have done during a professional setup.

Set up your Microsoft account carefully

Windows will ask you to sign in with or create a Microsoft account during setup. Do this thoughtfully — write down the email address and password you use, because this account becomes tied to your Windows license, your settings, and your ability to reset the machine if something goes wrong. An account you can’t get back into later is a real problem.

If you already have a Microsoft account from a previous computer or from Outlook or Hotmail, use the same one. Consistency here matters.

Set up your browser and import your bookmarks

Windows comes with Microsoft Edge as the default browser. You may prefer Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Install your preferred browser early, before you get into the habit of using Edge by default — changing habits is harder than setting them.

Then import your bookmarks from your old machine. If you had sync turned on in your previous browser, signing in may restore them automatically. If not, import from the backup file you exported before switching. Either way — get your bookmarks restored before you need them.

Set up your email

Add your email accounts in your preferred app or through a web browser. Verify that you can send and receive before the old computer is no longer available for comparison. If anything looks wrong — missing folders, old mail not appearing — it’s easier to troubleshoot while you can still check the old machine as a reference.

Set up backup before you put anything on it

The best time to set up a backup system is before there’s anything to lose. Configure Windows Backup, connect an external drive, set up a cloud backup service — whichever approach you’re using. Do it now, while the machine is new and the stakes are low, rather than later when there are years of photos and documents on it.

What not to install

A new computer is clean. Be deliberate about what you add to it. A few guidelines:

• Don’t install software from sources you don’t recognize or trust
• Don’t install “system optimizer” or “registry cleaner” utilities — they are almost universally either useless or harmful
• Don’t install additional antivirus software on top of Windows Defender
• Don’t install browser toolbars or extensions you didn’t specifically seek out
• If something asks to install during the setup of something else — read carefully before clicking yes

Take notes

Write down what you set up, in what order, with what accounts. Which email address you used for the Microsoft account. What backup solution you configured. Where your files were transferred from. A single page of notes kept somewhere safe gives you — and anyone who helps you later — an invaluable starting point if something goes wrong.

This is the breadcrumb trail, started fresh from day one. It costs ten minutes now and saves hours later.