Quick Links
Congratulations, you’ve successfullyselected parts,assembled your own PC, andinstalled Windows!
Do gamers still “pown noobs?”
Is that still a thing?
Here are a few steps you should take before doing anything else.
First, press the Windows button on your keyboard, then key in “About.”
tap the link to “About your PC” that appears in the Start menu.
The RAM is particularly crucial here: confirm the total matches what you installed.
Shut down the PC and check the RAM on the motherboard.
Next, press the Windows button and bang out “This PC,” then poke the first result.
If you’re looking for something specific, just check under the relevant label.
For example, graphics cards are listed under “Display Adapters.”
You’ll need totrack down a driver for it.
Keep Windows Updated
Yes, updating Windows is time-consuming and boring.
It’s also one of the most important parts of keeping your machine running well.
Luckily, this is a really easy process.
This is the Windows Update section of the Windows 10 prefs menu.
You may need to reboot for actually apply the larger updates.
(Is Microsoft Defender Good Enough?)
Back when I started building PCs, everyone seemed to have a different recommendation for anti-virus and firewall programs.
But things have gotten a lot simpler since then.
It’s calledWindows Defender.
You cancheck out this guidefor more on how to use and configure Windows Defender though, if you like.
For advanced firewall management,check out this guide.
All that said, while Windows' built-in tools are pretty good, we also recommend installingMalwarebytes Anti-Malwareas well.
Encryption is a security measure that allows you, and only you, to access that data.
Windows 10 Pro has a built-in encryption tool called Bitlocker.
Note thatthe cheaper Windows 10 Home release doesn’t include BitLocker features.
You’re Done!
Enjoy your new PC!
If you want to jump back to another part in the guide, here’s the whole thing:
