Install Software and Utilities
Now that your new XP installation is stable and everything is configured to your tastes, it is time to install software and system utilities. At this point, however, do not install any Antivirus or Anti-Spyware software; in some cases, such software can interfere with the proper installation of your programs.
Start off by installing your office software, media players, games, etc., following their specific instructions. Then, proceed to install any utility software you have. In the utility field, I recommend installing any system monitoring software that might have come packaged with your motherboard, along with any defragmenting or registry cleaning software you own or have previously used. All while doing so, I’ll continue to advise against caving in to any Internet temptations. Keep browsing and downloading to a minimum as your computer is still, for the most part, unprotected from the dangers of the ‘net. Another rule of thumb that should be observed is that after each program installation, general conventions dictate that one should restart their computer and give the program a quick test run just to make sure everything installed correctly.
Installing all your software may be time consuming, but by installing your software before installing your Antivirus and Anti-Spyware applications removes any chances that such program might interfere with the installation of your software.
Install Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, and Firewall Software
After your software has successfully been installed, it’s time to install your Anti-Spyware, and Antivirus software. Additionally, if you want to, now is the time to install firewall software to replace the basic Windows XP firewall. If you already have Anti-Spyware and Antivirus software on removable media (CD / DVD); you can install it offline.
Otherwise, you’ll want to take advantage of one of the many free Antivirus solutions and a couple of the wonderful freeware Anti-Spyware solutions that are available for download. Fortunately, I’ve already covered this realm of software in another article. Take a glance under the "Privacy Protecting Applications" section for a comprehensive list of free software solutions to help protect against viruses and spyware: http://www.pcmech.com/show/internet/976/9/
Only one Antivirus program and one firewall should be installed, but it’s advisable to have a multitude of spyware detecting and removing applications. And remember, once you have assembled an arsenal of security applications, you should scan your computer frequently and always keep them updated.
Enjoy!
Alas, your new Windows XP installation is nearly complete. All that is left to be done is to enjoy a hopefully stable and secure computing environment. I hope that you found this article to be of some help, and I hope it cleared up a great deal of uncertainty regarding the post-installation phase of XP. If you have any questions or concerns, please email them to rpassey@pcmech.com or leave a comment here.
Remember folks, try to keep XP up to date with the latest security patches and always update your Anti-Spyware and Antivirus programs when possible. Keep in mind that any XP customizations you previously applied can be changed or revoked; rarely is anything set in stone.
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