Advice on Seting up The Dell "[REFURB] Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF" Deal PC?

grang on 25/06/2018 - 23:42

Seeking tips on Setting up the Refurb PC windows 10 environment with users, security etc. I have never setup a refurbed PC before.

…

So I bought this deal for 283 bucks. Arrived quickly (1 week) nicely wrapped.
It even has a few nice Ninite installers for AVAST, Chrome, LibreOffice, VLC, Teamview and Skype on the desktop. Logs into blank Windows 10 desktop bar these 6 icons at the bottom of the screen.

PC logs in as "Owner" with no PWD.

So, any tips on configuring this one? (I installed Avast already). Rename the Admin user? Create a new one. Join it to the "Windows account email" we use for the PCs

Use: Setting it up to be a part of the home office PC for my mums personal and light touch work from home business and when the kids visit. (There are already a couple of laptops in place already, but they need a desktop as the 1 laptop did not upgrade well to win 10 (HDD cache driver failed)).

Other Software: I have an office 2016 HUP license form work I'll use for office 2016. Other than basic browsers and PDF, this PC won't do much more.

Computing

Comments

  • jeefbeef on 26/06/2018 - 00:15
    +1

    That's pretty much it really, install the programs you want using ninite, install office 2016, uninstall everything you don't want. The PC comes pretty clear of junk out of the box and the hardware is more than sufficient for basic use and should last until it literally dies.

    One thing I would do is open up the case and clean out all the dust with some compressed air - even though it's apparently refurbished, I noticed that my one had quite a few dust bunnies inside.

  • GangGang on 26/06/2018 - 08:17
    +1

    Mine was already set up just like yours. There is not much to do besides a clean install to start fresh. You created a new account, is there a way to make that admin & remove "owner"? Besides that you're done.

    • thedriver on 26/06/2018 - 08:56
      +1

      To create a new admin account, create a new account in Settings, Accounts, Family and Other people.
      Then choose Add someone else to the PC, then choose the text option that you don't have their information, then choose the text option that they don't have a Microsoft account.
      Give it a name and a good password.
      Then click the new account and select Change Account Type. Change the Account type to Administrator.
      Delete the previous administrator account, by selecting that account and click Remove.

      Edit: corrected a setting name

      • grang on 26/06/2018 - 22:55

        Awesome.

        I have struggled with the windows 10 "home" security. It isn't straight forward feeling like parts windows XP dressed up in windows 10 colours.

        Really helpful.

        I assume I can also add this PC then to the same Microsoft family of PCs we have (i.e. same email address I registered the others to?

  • thedriver on 26/06/2018 - 08:44

    Actually no. Do this first… It will take the best BFB steps ensure you have a safe, virus and trojan free operating system.

    Ideally, on another computer download the Windows 10 ISO for USB from the Microsoft Windows 10 website.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10I…

    Reboot from the USB to do a CLEAN install of Windows 10.
    Wait for the "Windows Setup" screen.
    Press Shift + F10 keys together on the keyboard. This will open the command prompt window.
    Type diskpart then press Enter.
    Type clean then press Enter.
    Exit the command prompt window and continue the w
    Windows 10 install.

    During install, create an "Admin" account that doesn't use a Microsoft login.
    Download all windows update until no more are available.

    Create a second, non admin user account and then login with that.
    Download any applications or installers you need to c:\temp.
    Logout.

    Login with your admin account and install software that you've already downloaded.
    Don't browse the internet using the admin account.
    If you need something else, switch user, login with your normal user account, download it and install as above.
    Once you've got a clean install with your apps, make system backup and ideally an image backup.
    Then you're good to go.

    Check you've got the latest drivers you WANT from Dell (not all of their drivers or software are necessary) and the latest BIOS installed.

    Edit: added BIOS and drivers.

    • grang on 26/06/2018 - 22:57

      I can see the really careful.
      Can you elaborate on the risk above? i.e. is there a risk the clean install from ACT may contain an unknown element?

  • myusername on 26/06/2018 - 11:11
    +1

    what version of win 10 is it?

    is it up to 1803 yet?

    let us know how you go running the latest update with avast running

    https://www.ghacks.net/2018/05/25/avast-update-fixes-windows…

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