Dell Laptop

I purchased a Dell laptop, what now?

Congratulations on your new purchase! Now that you have your device in hand, this guide will take you step by step through setting it up for first time use. Choose an option below for more information:

 

 

 

  1. Plug your computer into AC power using the enclosed power cables.
  2. Connect your mouse and keyboard.
  3. Turn your computer on.

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Microsoft Windows Setup

 Follow the prompts on your screen. When prompted, connect your laptop to Wi-Fi or by an ethernet cable to the internet. Make sure to register your laptop with Dell when prompted. This will activate your 2-year warranty.

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Get the latest Windows update

Windows devices may get new functionality at different times as Microsoft delivers non-security updates, fixes, improvements, and enhancements via several servicing technologies. Windows will let you know if you need to restart your device to complete an update, and you can choose a time that works best for you to complete that update.

  1. To check for updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
  2. Select Check for updates. If updates are available, you can choose to install them.

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Update Drivers and BIOS

Dell releases updated drivers regularly to ensure that the Dell computer has the latest security patches, fixes, and functionality. Updating the drivers is a preventive measure to protect the computer and ensure that the hardware devices work correctly.

  1. Go to Dell Drivers & Downloads website https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au?app=drivers
  2. Enter the Service Tag, Express Service Code, or the Serial number of the Dell product and click Search.
  3. Click on Check for updates

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Install Microsoft Office (free to students)

  1. Go to the Microsoft Education Products page  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office?ms.officeurl=getoffice365?ms.officeurl=getoffice365
  2. Enter your GTCC email address and click on Get Started.
  3. If you are a Continuing Education student, and do not have a GTCC e-mail address, please contact the Tech Center for help.

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Install or activate an anti-virus software

Antivirus software is a type of computer program that's designed to seek out and remove computer viruses that have infected your computer. They can also block your system from getting infected with new viruses. Microsoft has a free, built-in Anti-Virus program called Microsoft Defender Antivirus, that protects your device from malware and viruses. Defender will disable itself if you install another anti-virus program.

  1. If your laptop came with a trial of McAfee Anti-Virus software, you can choose to enable it for the trial period, it will give you an option to renew when the trial ends.
  2. If you don’t want to enable McAfee, uninstall the trial version.
    1. Type control panel in the search bar and click on Control Panel in the menu
    2. Click on Programs
    3. Click on uninstall a program. (Be very careful not to uninstall any program unless you are absolutely sure you don’t need it.)
    4. Click on McAfee in the list and click on uninstall. (There may be multiple items for McAfee, you will have to uninstall them one at a time).

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Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus

  1. Open the Notification area (upward arrow) in the taskbar corner and click the ‘Windows Security’ icon.
  2. In the Windows Security app, select the ‘Virus & threat protection’ tab from the left menu items. Then, click the ‘Manage settings’ link under the ‘Virus & threat protection settings’ section.
  3. On the next page, toggle the switch to Off under ‘Real-time protection’ to enable/disable the Microsoft Defender.
  4. Here, you can also control various other virus & threat protection settings for Microsoft Defender, such as Cloud-delivered protection, Automatic sample submission, Tamper protection, and more. You can enable or disable them based on your needs.

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Enable a backup on your device

The best, most secure way to back up your Windows PC is with OneDrive.

  1. Right click OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then click on Settings.)
  2. Select Manage Back up. To start backing up a folder, toggle any folder that says Not backed up, and then select Save.
  3. To stop backing up a folder, select the toggle for the folder to turn it off. A confirmation dialog will appear presenting some options:
    1. Continue backing up this folder will keep the folder being backed up. OneDrive will only keep the files in your OneDrive folder, and they won't be in your computer's folder. This computer will only move the files back from your OneDrive folder to the folder on your computer.
    2. If you chose OneDrive only, there will be a shortcut in your computer's folder called Shortcut to Folder (OneDrive), but with the specific name of the folder, like Documents or Pictures. To see your files, select the icon and it will open the folder in OneDrive.

Access your backed up folders on any device

When your files finish syncing to OneDrive, they're backed up and you can access them from anywhere in Documents, or Desktop. When you back up your Desktop folder, the items on your desktop roam with you to your other desktops where you're running OneDrive.

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Microsoft Bitlocker

BitLocker is Microsoft’s easy-to-use, proprietary encryption program for Windows that can encrypt your entire drive as well as help protect against unauthorized changes to your system such as firmware-level malware. 

Your BitLocker recovery key is a unique 48-digit numerical password that can be used to unlock your system if BitLocker is otherwise unable to confirm for certain that the attempt to access the system drive is authorized. 

Why is Windows asking for my BitLocker recovery key?

Windows will require a BitLocker recovery key when it detects a possible unauthorized attempt to access the data. This extra step is a security precaution intended to keep your data safe and secure. This can also happen if you make changes in hardware, firmware, or software which BitLocker cannot distinguish from a possible attack. 

In these cases, BitLocker may require the extra security of the recovery key even if the user is an authorized owner of the device. This is to be certain that the person trying to unlock the data really is authorized. 

Where can I find my BitLocker recovery key?

BitLocker likely ensured that a recovery key was safely backed up prior to activating protection.

  1. Open a web browser on another device. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey to find your recovery key.
  2. Sign into the Microsoft account you used when you set up the device.
  3. Under devices, choose the name of your device that you are using the recovery key on.
  4. Click on view details on your device
  5. Go to Bitlocker Data Protection, and click on Manage Recovery Keys
  6. Enter the appropriate recovery key into the field in the blue screen.
  7. If your recovery key is not saved, and you do not have it printed out or stored somewhere, the only other option is to reset the device to factory default.

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How to back up the recovery key

  1. Tap the Windows Start button and type BitLocker
  2. Select the Manage BitLocker Control Panel app from the list of search results
  3. In the BitLocker app select Back up your recovery key
  4. The Manage BitLocker Encryption app with an arrow pointing at the option to back up your BitLocker recovery key. Select where you want the key backed up
    1. Save to your Microsoft Account - This will save the key in the Recovery Keys library of your Microsoft Account where you can easily get to it from any computer in the future.
    2. Save to a USB flash drive - If you have a flash drive handy you can save the key to it. If your computer asks for the key in the future just insert that USB drive and follow the onscreen instructions. The key takes only a couple of KB of space so the drive doesn't have to be large. ***Important: Don't store this USB flash drive with the key on it with your computer. If a thief were to get the computer, they could steal the flash drive as well and bypass BitLocker encryption, leaving your data vulnerable.
    3. Save to a file - You can save your recovery key as a plain text file on any device. If you need that file in the future just open it with any text editor like Notepad or Microsoft Word and you'll be able to read the key. You won't be able to save it to the BitLocker encrypted drive, so you will have to save it to a USB. You should copy or move that text file to your OneDrive Personal Vault for safe and secure storage that can be readily accessed from any device if you need it.
    4. Print the recovery key - You can simply print the recovery key if you prefer. ***Important: Store that printout somewhere safe and don't keep it with the computer.
    5. Select Finish. You can make as many backups as you want. It's not a bad idea to have more than one, just to be safe.

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Download the Web Browser of your choice

  1. Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/
  2. Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

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Add a wireless printer

The steps to install a wireless printer may vary by manufacturer. In general, however, modern printers today will detect your network and automate the installation.

  1. Use the printer's LCD or touchscreen panel to enter the wireless setup. On my Epson printer this is under Setup > Wireless LAN Settings.
  2. Select your Wi-Fi network. You'll need to know your home network's SSID, which you can find by hovering your mouse over the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.
  3. Enter your network password.

In some cases, you might need to temporarily connect your printer to your computer via USB to install software. But otherwise, that's it. You should find your printer automatically added in the Printers & scanners section under Settings > Devices.

If you run into trouble, make sure your printer is relatively close to your computer and not too far from your wireless router. If your printer has an Ethernet jack, you could also connect it directly to your router and manage it with a browser interface.

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Connect to Wi-Fi

  1. Select the Network icon on the taskbar. The icon that appears depends on your current connection state. If you don’t see one of the network icons (or a similar one) shown in the following image, select the Up arrow to see if it appears there.
  2. Choose the Wi-Fi network you want, then select Connect.
  3. Type the network password, and then select Next.
  4. Choose Yes or No, depending on the type of network you're connecting to and if you want your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on the network.

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Campus Wi-Fi

  1. Eduroam - Enables GTCC to serve as a hotspot for Eduroam members visiting our campus. Eduroam wireless network is faster and more secure than TitanNet.
  2. TitanNet - The GTCC student/public wireless network. Faculty, Staff and Students log on using their GTCC username & password. 

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Get Support

  • Titans Tech Center – Did you know if you purchased a laptop or tablet from us we can help you with repairs, software, and many other things? If you didn’t purchase your laptop or tablet from us, we can still offer advice and suggestions for improved performance, anti-virus software, and much more. The Tech Center is located in the back of the Jamestown Campus Store.

Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm. (hours subject to change)

336-334-4822 extension 50048

Lynn Welborn, email: dlwelborn@gtcc.edu

 

  • Titan Hub Computer Lab - Do you need a computer to complete assignments or help with printing, saving, or uploading your work, activating your Titan account, resetting your password, and so much more? The Titan Hub Computer Lab, located on the third floor of the Jamestown Campus library (LRC), provides both PC and Apple computers, printers, study areas, charging stations, and more.

Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

(hours subject to change)

 

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FAQs

 

  1. I tried to register my computer and it is in someone else’s name. Is it used?NO. Our devices are purchased from a third-party vendor, Douglas Stewart, and are registered to them until you register the device in your name. We do sell returned and repaired, open box or demo devices, but these will be clearly labeled Open Box or Refurbished and/or Non-Returnable.
  2. Can I return my device if I don’t want it? We will return the device and refund the purchase price if it is returned UNOPENED, within 48 hours of purchase, WITH A RECEIPT. If the device is not operational when you get it home, bring it back to the store where you purchased it. We’ll check it out and exchange it if necessary.
  3. What kind of warranty do I have? Dell laptops and desktops have a 2-year in-home warranty with accidental damage included in your purchase. All other devices have warranties that vary in length and amount of time covered. Please stop by the Tech Center, we’re glad to find out for you.
  4. Can you repair my device if I didn’t buy it at GTCC? Unfortunately, no, but we can always help with questions and suggestions.

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