784. New PC with Creator Version Installation Example

 I thought I'd share with you my experience installing a new Dell PC with preinstalled Windows 10 Creator Version where I was coming from an older Dell with Anniversary Version.:

1.      Note the new PC’s support info. For the Dell 15-1500 Series 5700 being installed, thefollowing applies:

a.      Dell Service Tag: xxxxxx

b.      Dell Express Svc Code: xxxxxx

c.      Dell Warranty: Expires xxxxx

2.      Attach power and Ethernet cable and power on.

3.      When asked for logon credentials by Microsoft’s popup asking for its account ID and password, do NOT use it. Instead create a Local Logon with your desired UAC name. But, since I did not catch this, the steps will proceed with using the MSFT Account ID and password. It will ask for a PIN to for the account also: xxxx.

4.      Fingerprint Setup … I believe later you can ADD a fingerprint. We will try additional users by doing Start > type HELLO you can proceed to fingerprint processing.

5.      Cortana Setup … Cortana is a waste. Dumb it down here and later kill it.

6.      Dropbox … No need for this, did NOT setup

7.      Onedrive … No need for this, did NOT setup

8.      McAfee … Will not use this 1-year trial, so did NOT setup and remove later

9.      Netflix … will never use, so did NOT setup and remove later

10.   Kill Cortana: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Policies > Microsoft > Windows. Now, setup a Key  (there already or create one) called AllowCortana equal to DWORD32 = 0. If you want to reenable Cortana, set it to 1. Note: Cortana task cannot be diabled permantently and will still pop up under active tasks.

11.   Somewhere it automatically set up the Network, including wireless, but has not yet set up password to wireless.

12.   Chrome: Download from Google website. When it installs and you login with Google Account, it automatically creates same bookmarks, add-ons, passwords, from before. Change default Download pointer by Settings > Advanced > Downloads. Set to d:\Downloads from c:\users\me\downloads.

13.    Netgear Genie: This was difficult to find on Netgear site. Instead had to search Google for it and then go to the link owned by Netger. Downloaded and installed.

14.   CCleaner downloaded and installed, version ccsetup.535.exe.

15.   Network Adapters: Note wireless AC3165 in this PC, driver=Intel, 19.51.4.2, 7/2/17

16.   Backupper: Get from site and installed This is used to backup/recover personal data on D:

17.   Create RECOVERY drive and save system files. Start > RECOVERY

18.   Speccy: Downloaded and installed

19.   Thunderbird: This is Email Agent used. Download and install.

a.      Set up email accounts using EXISTING email addresses

b.      Set up Local Folders by copying them from old PC. On that PC do Help > Troubleshooting > Open Profile Folder to get their location. Now, open File Explorer and go to the location > Open Mail > Local Folders and copy the files to flash drive. On new PC, repeat the steps until you get to Local Files subdirectory in File Explorer and copy Flash Drive files into it. You are done.

c.      On old PC Thunderbird, go to Address Book and EXPORT LDIF or .CSV file to Flash Drive.

d.      On new PC Thunderbird, IMPORT them from Flash Drive calling them My…..whatever

20.   Note the entire Configuration:

Processor: i&-8550U @ 1.8 GHz

Memory: 8GB (capable up to 16 GB) in slot 1. 8192 DDR4 (2400 MHz), SMBIOS, Mfr = 01980000802C, Part # KMKYF9-MID

etc.

21.   BIOS: When Dell Logon screen comes up, QUICKLY hit F2

22.   Set up File Network sharing: Network Sharing > Advanced . Then turn on “network discovery” and “file and printer Sharing”. If asked for network credentials when trying to get to old PC, they are the user name TPANC13 and PW for getting on that system. Make sure the old PC also has these file settings. ALSO, Shut everything down including Router (unplug for 30 secs). Now, bring up router and power up PCs.

23.   SAFE Mode: Hold Shift and do Restart AND keep holding Shift until menu comes up for Troubleshooting, Select Windows Startup Settings and select Safe Mode.

24.   Dell Diagnostics: Power off. Power on and continually tap F12 until menu comes up.

25.   Remove McAfee and ensure Windows Defender comes active.

26.   Install broker software

27.   AxCrypt: Installed by copying 1.7.28930-x64-en-us-beta.msi to d:\AxCrypt Install Files. Then run it. The KEEPTIMESTAMP reg hack must be redone to keep timestamp equal to underlying file. Got this from old PC and now in d:\Hacks folder.

28.   AnyPassword: Copied AnyPassword to d:\AnyPassword and execute apwp.exe 3/19/12 file. Once installed, copy database PSW2016.PW from old PC into same D:\AnyPassword directory. You will need Key. Should be in folder, but have to change extension to .reg and run it. Now, customize when started the the default folders/files to use pointing to new PSW2016.PW.

29.   SyncToy: Downloaded 2.1 and installed. Will probably not use this since it got things all messed up!

30.   Office 2003: Install from the CD. Get Office Service Pack SP3 from Microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8 and install it to get last level of last updates before being discontinued. Also need the Office Compatibility product that allowed 2003 to use 2007 and above files. Set up the default libraries in both Word and Excel to point to D:.

Problem: EULA prompt every time Excel brought up. Fix is to start Excel as Administrator,load a file, and close. Next time everything will be ok.

Problem: Clicking on a .xls file does not get you to Excel. File Associations need to be updated. The installation of Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, Powerpoint File Formats needed to be installed. It assigns .xls to Open XML Converter. The download to install is actualled called File FormatConverter.exe

31.   Problem: At this point noisy Optical drive Problem and failures to data CDs. Called Dell Tech Pritam and after many hours showing problem manager Mohammed on 10/19 committed to send out new drive due here on 10/23.

32.   Brother Printer (DCP-L2540DW Series): This will work automatically. Driver some how works with anything. However, we needed Utilities to use scanner, etc. Tried disk, but Optical drive went into a loop (see 32 for more problems). So, installed Full drivers, Network MF2-Prosuite from the Brother site. Bring up CC4 app and change default libraries for scanned files to d:\Harware\Brother…\Scanned Documents.

33.   Cute PDF: Download from site BOTH Cute PDF and Prereq GhostScript Converter and install.

34.   Window Title Colors: Go to Settings > Personalize > Colors and set

35.   Display Theme. Find Yosemite file and run it.

36.   Accuweather Gadget. This uses Air, so both the widget download was required after searching Accuweather Stratus download AND Air from real ADOBE site.

37.   Downloaded ACDSEE for Pentax, but did not install. We’ll use default application Photos. Quicktime was required for other one.

38.   Decrypted all picture files so we can find them via Photos. Actually use less disk space.

39.   Ancestral Quest 15. Downloaded from searched site and got Key from old PC to enter. Copy old Ancestry Stuff on Desktop of old PC to new location D:\AncestryStuff

40.   Powerpoint Viewer. Download and install.

41.   Touchpad Blocker: Download and Install. Changed toggle to Ctrl+T because Ctrl+F9 was used elsewhere.

42.   UAC Picture: Search and go ahead and update.

43.   Customized Start ICONs. Removed crap from install and built mine using smaller Icons and groups.

44.   Create subdirectory under d:\Family\Nancy called Books & Movies and used file sharing to copy most recently updated Books, Movies, eBook .doc files. Now they will be backed up with normal backups. However, I do need to copy periodically her files into this new folder on my PC.

45.   Create SymList link for Thunderbird folder containing address book, etc. data. See Post 783.

Hope this is of use to someone. The install and customization took less than a half day when you remove the time wasted with the Optical Drive problem -- see post 782.