Getting Started with Your New Windows XP Computer

Getting Started with Your New Windows XP Computer
Pete Flores, Ray Rippstein and Jim Segers
Associate Professor and Computer Specialist
November 15, 2002, 9am
p-flores@tamu.edu, r-rippstein@tamu.edu, j-segers@tamu.edu

The purpose of this manual is to help get the operating system up and running right the first time. This manual is also intended for counties a running peer-to-peer network. It can also be used by counties without networks. Windows XP is very similar to Windows 2K however certain steps need to be done first to set up the computer. Please read and follow these directions in order.
Unpack and set up the computer up, BUT DO NOT plug the network patch cable into the computer. The patch cable will be plugged in AFTER the software is configured and ready to read the network.

Depending on the manufacturer, the operating system may startup to different stages. This manual has four sections that cover common stages during setup for the Fallof 2002 cost share computers.
Important note: When the computer first boots up the user will be prompted for username and password. The user name should be the first letter of the first name, the middle initial and all of last name with no spaces. Please give yourself administrator rights.
Section One Setting Creating an administrator account on XP system.
Section Two is for computers with the operating system installed and Section I completed and ready to configure network. Installing Critical updates and updating Virus software are also covered.
Section Three adding users

Section I

It is highly recommended not to run an XP operating system computer without a password.. When a computer with XP boots for the first time, the operating system will boot straight into Windows, with Start Button on bottom left hand corner. The computer is logging the user in as Administrator. Some initial installations of XP will run a setup "wizard" which prompts you for a username. If the computer asks for a username, type in Admin1.
It is very important to add an Administrator account to the computer along with password.
To Create a user, left click once on start and select Control Panel be left clicking once. After the Control Panel opens ,Left click once on User Accounts. A dialog box will be displayed as seen in Figure 1. From this dialog box left click on Create a new account. A Dialog will a be displayed as seen in Fig 2.

Figure 1. Create New User Account

Fig 2. Type in the name admin1 and left click on next. A dialog will be displayed as seen in Fig 3.

Fig 2. Enter An Account Name

From Fig 3. Select Computer Administrator by left clicking the Radio Button and click on Create Account. The account will be created and you will return to the "Pick a Task" dialog. Now a user called Admin1 has been created, but no password has been assigned. The next step is to set a password for Admin1. (Side note: Windows XP as with Windows 2000. All the software and virus updates and critical updates are done under the Admin1 login and when user is using the computer that is done with user ID login. We will need to create more user ID's, but that will be done after critical updates and virus software are updated.)
	Fig 3. Select Account Type and Create
Select Change an Account From Fig 4. Left click Select Change an Account. A dialog box will be displayed as seen in figure 5.
	Fig 4 Change the Account-Assign Password
Fig 5 illustrates the Pick an Account to change. Your computer should not have this many users. From Fig 5 select admin1 by left clicking once on the admin1 icon. After it is selected, a dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 6.
	Fig 5 Select the Account to change

The dialog box provides several options as seen in Fig 6. Left Click on Create a password and a Dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 7.
	Fig 6 Creating a Password
Figure 7's dialog box is where the password will be created for admin1. Type in the password you would like to use as admin1 in the Type a new password field. Than retype the same password in The Type a new password again to confirm field. Please invent a password wisely and DO NOT FORGET THE PASSWORD. The dialog box also provides a hint section that's not required but you may type in some reminder phrase to help you remember the password. The password can be a combination of numbers and letters. Please keep in mind that the password is also case sensitive. Please make sure the Caps Lock is not on. After the password has been typed in twice, left click on Create Password Button at bottom right hand corner. (If by chance the password is not typed in the same in both places, a dialog box will be displayed indicating a mismatch.) Once Create Password Button is selected a dialog box appears as seen in Fig 8.
	Fig 7 Enter and Confirm Password
At this point the password is set for admin1. If you study the dialog box seen in Fig 8, it is very similar to Fig 6. Nothing has to be done here, but several things can be done to account including change the Picture. I suggest not to change anything and click on the X on the upper right hand corner. After it closes the Control Panel dialog box will be displayed. Click on the X on upper right corner to close the Control Panel. Now it is time to reboot the computer and login as admin1 to properly continue setup. Click on Start Button at task bar and select Turn Off Computer. A dialog box will be displayed with three options: Stand By, Turn Off, and Restart. Click on restart and the computer will restart. When it restarts a screen will appear as seen in Fig 9 but you will have fewer accounts.
	Fig 8 Change an Account

From the Fig 9 Screen, click on admin1 icon and type in password and this will allow you to log to the computer as admin1. As more users are created on XP the different users will appear as seen in Fig 9. After you have logged in as admin1, proceed to Section II.
	Fig 9 Window's Logon Screen

Section II

Continue on Section II only if Section I has been completed, establishing an administrative user account. That done, it's time to check the security options under network properties to make sure they are adequately set up before putting the computer online. You should have logged on as "admin1" using the administrator password. The next steps require administrator user privileges. Begin by left-clicking on the desktop Start button on the task bar, then left-click on Control Panel. A Control Panel Pick a Category dialog box will be displayed as shown in Fig 10. From this dialog box, left-click on Network and Internet Connections. A Network and Internet Connections Pick a Task dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig. 11.
	Fig 10 Pick a category
From the Network and Internet Connections dialog box, left-click on Network Connections, which is located towards the bottom center of the dialog box. A Network Connections dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 12.
	Fig 11 Pick a Task
From the Network Connections dialog box, either right-click on Local area Connection, then left-click on Properties, or as an alternative double-left-click on Local Area Connection. A Local Area Connection Properties dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 13.
	Fig 12 Local Area Connection

As shown in Fig 13, the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box has three tabs: General, Authentication and Advanced. We will step thru all three tabs and select the proper settings. From the General Tab, uncheck the box next to File and Printer Sharing if your computer is not going to share its files or its attached printers on your network. If it is, leave the box checked next to File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. Item boxes are checked or unchecked by left-clicking on the checkbox. If you are not sure, uncheck this option because it can always be reactivated at later date. Next, left-click on Authentication tab, and an authentication dialog box will be displayed as seen on Fig 14.
	Fig 13 General Tab
From the Authentication tab, make sure that the last option, Authentication as guest when user or computer information is unavailable, is unchecked. Next, left-click on Advanced tab, and an advanced dialog will be displayed as seen in Fig 15.
	Fig 14 Authentication

From the Advance tab under the Internet Connection Firewall outline, make sure that the option, Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet, is Unchecked. This adds a level of security to your computer, but may cause authentication problems on a peer- to- peer network. After this box has been Unchecked, left-click on the OK button. If your computer asks to reboot to continue, go ahead and reboot, and after your computer restarts, log on again as admin1. Otherwise, if the computer did not ask to reboot to continue, simply close the Network Connections dialog box, and we are ready to proceed to the next step.

Fig 15 Advance

Critical Updates Connect the network cable to the computer. It's time to access the Internet to update both Windows and virus scanning software. Updating can be time consuming but fairly easy, and these critical steps should be done now and at least twice a month. To update Windows with its "critical updates," begin by left-clicking on the desktop's Start button on the task bar, and a Start window dialog will appear as shown in Fig 16. On this example, a choice for Windows Update is located in the frequently used programs list above the All Programs menu item. If you also see it there on your computer, left-click on Windows Update. If you do not see it there, left-click on All Programs, locate Windows Update among the list of all programs on your computer, and left-click on Windows Update there. When Windows Update is selected, either a security dialog box as seen in Fig 17 will be displayed, or the Windows Update "checking for latest version" page will be opened by Internet Explorer browser as seen in Fig 18. Please proceed to the step for whichever dialog is displayed on your screen.
	Fig 16 Start Menu
This example shows an example Security Warning dialog box, left-click on Yes, and either the Windows Update "checking for latest version" or "welcome" page will be displayed by Internet Explorer browser as shown in Fig 18 or Fig 19.
	Fig 17 Security Warning
During display of the Windows Update "checking for latest version" page, just be patient, Windows XP is checking to see if the latest version of Windows update software is installed on your computer. This "checking" page will step to a "welcome" page as seen in Fig 19.
	Fig 18 Windows Checks latest version of Windows

On the Windows Update "welcome" page as seen in Fig 19, left- click on Scan for Updates. After selecting Scan for updates, if the scan finds necessary critical updates, a "pick updates to install" page will be displayed as seen in Fig 20. .
	Fig 19 Welcome to Windows Updates
On the "pick updates" page as seen in Fig 20, left-click on Review and install updates. A warning dialog as seen in Fig 21 may appear.
	Fig 20 Pick updates to install

If a warning dialog box as seen in Fig 21 appears, left-click on Yes to continue. A Windows Update "total selected" page will be displayed as seen in Fig 22.
	Fig 21 Security
From the Windows Update "total selected updates" page as seen in Fig 22, left-click on Install Now to install selected critical updates. The download and install process might take a while depending on the speed of your internet connection and size of the update. It might take as long as an hour to download a large critical update. After Install Now is selected, a "license agreement" web page dialog box will be displayed as seen on Fig 23.
	Fig 22 Total Selected Updates

On the "license agreement" Web Page Dialog box as seen in Fig 23, left-click on the Accept button to install the critical updates. The download and installing procedure will proceed with a "progress" Web Page Dialog box being displayed as shown in Fig 24.
	Fig 23 Web Page update-web Page Dialog shows

The "progress" Web Page Dialog box as seen in Fig 24 continues to be displayed until download then install progress are both complete. When Windows is finished installing critical updates, you will usually be asked to reboot the computer. Reboot the computer, and log to the computer as admin1. Go back, and repeat the Critical updates cycle, starting at Fig 16, and determine if any more critical updates are present. Sometimes updates must be done one at a time taking several download and install passes. If more critical updates were present, download and install the updates, reboot the computer each time, and log back on as admin1. Follow these steps until no more critical updates are available. After all the updates have been installed, we are ready to continue to the next Section.

Fig 24 Windows Update progress

Section III Adding users

Now that Section I and II have been completed, the users have to be added to the computer before installing software. Login as admin1, and left Click on Start button and from the Start menu screen as in Fig 16, select control panel by left clicking once. After selecting Control panel a dialog box will be as seen in Fig 25. From this screen select User Accounts by left clicking once.

Fig 25 Pick a Task

Create New Accounts is same as using adding users. This step will be repeated for each user that will be added to the computer. As mention earlier Windows XP as with Windows 2000. All the software and virus updates and critical updates are done under the Admin1 login and when user is using the computer that is done with user ID login. We will need to create more user ID's. If this Windows XP computer is going to server as a file or print server on a peer to peer network few more steps have to be taken before the other computers can access these shared resources. The steps are to make sure the user id's are correct. It is important to add the right ID's and passwords. Adding the user name, is very critical, it is a short form or ID of the persons real name. For Example your name is Jane Brown and or Joe Brown, the User Name should be jbrown, For resources remember that the user ID's for the other computers in the office have to match the user ID and password on the XP computer. If not sure what the User ID and password are on the other computers, reboot the other computers and from the login screen obtain the user id and password. To create the Accounts or Users, Click on Create a new Account as seen in Fig 26. After selecting this option a dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 27.

Fig 26 User Accounts Create New Account

Fig 2. Type in the name the user ID for your computer. In our example we are using jbrown. After typing in the user ID , left click on next. A dialog will be displayed as seen in Fig 28.

Fig 27 Name the new account

From Fig 3. Select Computer administrator by left clicking the Radio Button and click on Create Account. The account will be created and you will return to the "Pick a Task" dialog. Now a new user has been created in our example a user jbrown has been created, but no password has been assigned. The next step is to set a password for user ID. After selecting Create Account a Dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 29.

Fig 28 Pick Account type

Pick a task or Select Change an Account From Fig 29. Left click Select Change an Account. A dialog box will be displayed as seen in figure30.
	Fig 29 Pick a Task
Fig 30 illustrates the Pick an Account to change. Select the account you have created( in our example we are using jbrown) by left clicking once on the account name icon. After it is selected, a dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 31.
	Fig 30 Pick an account to change

The dialog box provides several options as seen in Fig 32. Left Click on Create a password and a Dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig32.
	Fig 31Creating a Password
Figure 32 dialog box is where the password will be created for user ID. Type in the password you would like to use for the user ID in the Type a new password field. Than retype the same password in The Type a new password again to confirm field. Please invent a password wisely and DO NOT FORGET THE PASSWORD. The dialog box also provides a hint section that's not required but you may type in some reminder phrase to help you remember the password. The password can be a combination of numbers and letters. Please keep in mind that the password is also case sensitive. Please make sure the Caps Lock is not on. After the password has been typed in twice, left click on Create Password Button at bottom right hand corner. (If by chance the password is not typed in the same in both places, a dialog box will be displayed indicating a mismatch.) Once Create Password Button is selected a dialog box appears as seen in Fig 33.
	Fig 32 Enter and Confirm Password

At this point the password is set for the user ID. If you study the dialog box seen in Fig 33, it is very similar to Fig 31. Nothing has to be done here, but several things can be done to account including change the Picture. I suggest not to change anything and click on the X on the upper right hand corner. After it closes the Control Panel dialog box will be displayed. Now if more users needed to be added to the computer now is the time to add the users. To add more users go back to Section III Adding users and add the user ID for the computer. Section III has to be followed until all the users are added. The way Windows XP is setup it is easier to add users before installing any software. If all the users have been added Click on the X on upper right corner to close the Control Panel. Recommended is to reboot the computer and logon to the computer using the different User ID's. The purpose is to the test the user id's and password and make sure everything is working before adding software. Once this is done the computer and you are ready to install software.
	Fig 33 Change an Account

It is highly recommended not to run an XP operating system computer without a password.. When a computer with XP boots for the first time, the operating system will boot straight into Windows, with Start Button on bottom left hand corner. The computer is logging the user in as Administrator. Some initial installations of XP will run a setup "wizard" which prompts you for a username. If the computer asks for a username, type in Admin1. It is very important to add an Administrator account to the computer along with password. To Create a user, left click once on start and select Control Panel be left clicking once. After the Control Panel opens ,Left click once on User Accounts. A dialog box will be displayed as seen in Figure 1. From this dialog box left click on Create a new account. A Dialog will a be displayed as seen in Fig 2.
	Figure 1. Create New User Account
Fig 2. Type in the name admin1 and left click on next. A dialog will be displayed as seen in Fig 3.
	Fig 2. Enter An Account Name

Now that Section I and II have been completed, the users have to be added to the computer before installing software. Login as admin1, and left Click on Start button and from the Start menu screen as in Fig 16, select control panel by left clicking once. After selecting Control panel a dialog box will be as seen in Fig 25. From this screen select User Accounts by left clicking once.
	Fig 25 Pick a Task
Create New Accounts is same as using adding users. This step will be repeated for each user that will be added to the computer. As mention earlier Windows XP as with Windows 2000. All the software and virus updates and critical updates are done under the Admin1 login and when user is using the computer that is done with user ID login. We will need to create more user ID's. If this Windows XP computer is going to server as a file or print server on a peer to peer network few more steps have to be taken before the other computers can access these shared resources. The steps are to make sure the user id's are correct. It is important to add the right ID's and passwords. Adding the user name, is very critical, it is a short form or ID of the persons real name. For Example your name is Jane Brown and or Joe Brown, the User Name should be jbrown, For resources remember that the user ID's for the other computers in the office have to match the user ID and password on the XP computer. If not sure what the User ID and password are on the other computers, reboot the other computers and from the login screen obtain the user id and password. To create the Accounts or Users, Click on Create a new Account as seen in Fig 26. After selecting this option a dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 27.
	Fig 26 User Accounts Create New Account

Fig 2. Type in the name the user ID for your computer. In our example we are using jbrown. After typing in the user ID , left click on next. A dialog will be displayed as seen in Fig 28.
	Fig 27 Name the new account
From Fig 3. Select Computer administrator by left clicking the Radio Button and click on Create Account. The account will be created and you will return to the "Pick a Task" dialog. Now a new user has been created in our example a user jbrown has been created, but no password has been assigned. The next step is to set a password for user ID. After selecting Create Account a Dialog box will be displayed as seen in Fig 29.
	Fig 28 Pick Account type