Successful first build, but still more questions...

[roomwithamoose]

Well, to the credit of this forum, I have just completed my first build. Completely smooth so far, no problems yet. Couple of quesitons though:

-First off, when is a good time to connect the new system to the internet? I have cable modem, so I should wait till I have a fire wall. Is it okay to connect with no firewall, then immediately download and install one? Does WinXP have the protection I'll need?

-Also, when I installed WinXP, I only formatted 60Gb of my 80GB hdd. I'll use the other 20gb for back up. Do I format that in the control panel?

-Last thing for right now: what are some good benchmarks that I can run? Are there system tests that come on WinXP that I can use to make that everything is truly up to par? It was just such an easy build, with everything by the text book, that I'm a little suspious and anxious that there's something lurking! Let me know if my fears are unfounded!

Once again, thank you everyone VERY much!!! I came into this forum three weeks ago, knowing hardly anything, and I just completed my very first build! Thanks again!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by roomwithamoose Well, to the credit of this forum, I have just completed my first build. Completely smooth so far, no problems yet.

Congrats on completing your first build.

Originally Posted by roomwithamoose -First off, when is a good time to connect the new system to the internet? I have cable modem, so I should wait till I have a fire wall. Is it okay to connect with no firewall, then immediately download and install one? Does WinXP have the protection I'll need?

Don't go online until you at least install the Blaster Patch. My friend went online as soon as he got his brand new computer from me and immediately got infected (he has DSL). Luckily the fix wasn't too hard, but what a crummy first day with his new computer. This was when Blaster first made it's appearance and I didn't know about it yet or I would have downloaded and installed the patch for him.

WinXP does have a built in firewall already and it's okay. Just make sure it's enabled for your connection.

Originally Posted by roomwithamoose -Also, when I installed WinXP, I only formatted 60Gb of my 80GB hdd. I'll use the other 20gb for back up. Do I format that in the control panel?

You use Disk Management for that. Start> Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Computer Management> Disk Management.

Originally Posted by roomwithamoose -Last thing for right now: what are some good benchmarks that I can run? Are there system tests that come on WinXP that I can use to make that everything is truly up to par? It was just such an easy build, with everything by the text book, that I'm a little suspious and anxious that there's something lurking! Let me know if my fears are unfounded!

Sorry, can't help you there. I don't use benchmarks. Do a Google search for "PC Benchmarks" and I'm sure you'll get lots of hits.

Cricket

[Yuanji]

first thing to do if ur going online is to search for a blaster patch cuz if ur comp is succeptible 2 it, its rlly gnna be a pain. after that, just run windows update and download everything you need.

[Shasta]

Ditto to what has been said. The Blaster Worm is bad & can infect your system in seconds, as soon as you hit the internet.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

If it doesn't work go to Microsoft & search for the Blaster Patch. It is number KB833330. Very important!

[flanzig1]

What I do is install Zone Alarm firewall/AVG anti-virus/Ad-aware then after I connect to the internet I go to Microsoft Updates and download all the critical updates. Using this method, my builds have stayed clean of junk.

[Shasta]

That's great but I think what we are all saying is that if you don't patch the computer before you go online you may not get through the updates. At an absolute miniumum you would want to get the patch first, before any other update whatsoever. I've had two computers get the Blaster Worm within seconds of being online this past year & with the same plan you have, going right to getting updates after installing XP. It is a gamble but maybe the same thing won't happen to you. Sounds like it hasn't so far; that's great. Good Luck.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by roomwithamoose -Last thing for right now: what are some good benchmarks that I can run? Are there system tests that come on WinXP that I can use to make that everything is truly up to par? It was just such an easy build, with everything by the text book, that I'm a little suspious and anxious that there's something lurking! Let me know if my fears are unfounded!

3Dmark01 and 3Dmark03 are the two I see used the most.

[abnorml_chylde]

for the blaster patch... are you people saying that right when you get the internet up and running, go and download the patch? i think thats what ur saying but im not sure.....


thanks for the info


Jason

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by abnorml_chylde for the blaster patch... are you people saying that right when you get the internet up and running, go and download the patch? i think thats what ur saying but im not sure.....

No no...use another computer to download the patch first. If you go online with your new computer and it's running WinXP, it'll get infected immediately. Blaster doesn't affect Win9x so you can use a Win98 or WinME computer or a patched WinXP computer and download the fix from Microsoft. Put the file on a floppy or burn it to a CD-R and install it on the new computer before you go online with it.

Cricket

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

If you slipstream SP2 wouldn't that contain the patch? That could be an option if you have downloaded SP2 already, on a different computer, although you could just put it on CD and install.

[Markoman01027]

I would put the Blaster patch on a CD-RW, also put SP1 network install..plus put an AV on it aswell as a firewall..then install everything..then go online and download every critical update with windows update.

[Yuanji]

there really isnt that much of a harm if you download the patch immediately cuz it will effectively remove the worm if you download it. only problem is with people that have dial-up in which case i would ask somebody else or get the patch onto a floppy but i've reformatted my comp before and it resets all of the patches etc and after dling the patch immediately, everything else is fine

[abnorml_chylde]

ok thanks for the info guys



jason

[neouser99]

Originally Posted by abnorml_chylde ok thanks for the info guys jason

I would turn the windows firewall on before even putting you computer on the internet. It will effectively stop most of the virus/trojans that are still out there waiting for unprotected computers. Immediately proceed to the windows update before anything else and install all of the critical patches/service packs. then you can get your anti-virus/3rd party firewall/ad-aware/spybot installed.

Preferably you should get another computer to d/l the sp2 and install it on the other computer before doing anything, as this is ideal.

-neo