Checking Your System after Installing Windows

Here are things to do after Windows is installed:

• Configure your hardware Check that all of your hardware was correctly detected by Windows, including your modem, network cards, scanners , video cameras, digital cameras , and printer. Choose Start, right-click Computer, and choose Properties. Then click the Device Manager link on the Tasks pane on the left side of the window (see "What Is the Device Manager?" in Chapter 14). If any of the computer components listed in the Device Manager window have exclamation marks on their icons, something is wrong. Refer to Chapter 14 for information about how to reinstall hardware.

  Tip  

  You can print a summary of your Windows configuration. Choose Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Information. Then choose File Print.

• Check your network connection If your computer is connected to a LAN, check that the network communication is functioning normally. If it's not, see "Troubleshooting Your Network" in Chapter 30, or talk to your LAN administrator.

• Reinstall programs If you didn't reformat your hard disk to install Windows from scratch, and if you installed Windows Vista in the same folder as your previous version of Windows, you shouldn't need to reinstall the application programs that were installed on your hard disk. The Install Windows wizard looks for installed programs and installs them in Windows Vista, too. Otherwise, get out your installation CDs or DVDs and start installing programs.

• Test your Internet connection The Install Windows wizard can usually locate and set up your Internet connection during the installation process. This is especially true if you have a working broadband or LAN Internet connection. To test your connection, choose Start Internet to launch Internet Explorer 7. If you see the MSN web site, you're on!

• Update your antivirus program If you have antivirus software (and you should if your computer connects to the Internet), check whether it is compatible with Windows Vista. Go to the program's web site and check whether you need to upgrade the antivirus program. Also make sure that you have an up-to-date virus database.