How to Setup New Laptop? Step by Step - Laptop Setup Guide 2026 ⚡ Windows 11, by Tech Terminus on YouTube. 21 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Unbox the laptop and check the outer box for damage. Confirm the serial number on the box matches the sticker on the laptop, then keep the box and invoice.
Plug in the charger and power on. Follow the Windows 11 setup screens. If you want a local account, press Shift and F10 at the network screen, type oobe\bypassnro and press Enter.
Open Task Manager and check the CPU, RAM and storage match what you paid for. On a gaming laptop, check the graphics card TGP in the NVIDIA Control Panel or the maker's app.
Run a keyboard ghosting test in your browser and press several keys at once. Open a dead pixel checker and a backlight bleeding test page to inspect the screen.
Personalise Windows: turn on Dark Mode, show This PC on the desktop, rename the PC, set the date and time, and add a password, PIN or fingerprint.
Sign in with your Microsoft account and activate Microsoft Office using the key tied to your Microsoft account or the included card.
Install your essential apps, then remove preinstalled bloatware from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Turn on Windows Security and disable startup apps you do not need.
Run Windows Update and update your drivers and BIOS from the laptop maker's official support page. Register your warranty on the maker's site.
Partition the SSD in Disk Management if you want a separate data drive. Create a recovery USB drive from the Windows recovery settings.
Open Command Prompt as administrator, type powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter. Open the saved HTML file to see the design capacity and current capacity.
Tips and common mistakes
Only download drivers and BIOS from the laptop maker's official support page, never from third party driver sites.
Do the BIOS update with the charger plugged in and do not switch off the laptop during the flash.
Run the dead pixel and backlight tests in a dark room so faint faults are easier to spot.
Keep the original box and invoice until the return window ends in case you need a replacement.
Questions
Do I need a Microsoft account to set up Windows 11?
Windows 11 asks for one, but you can use the oobe\bypassnro command at the network screen to create a local account. Some features like Office activation and Find My Device work better with a Microsoft account.
How do I check if my new laptop battery is healthy?
Run powercfg /batteryreport in Command Prompt as administrator and open the report. Compare the design capacity with the full charge capacity. A big gap on a new laptop is a reason to ask for a replacement.
Should I update the BIOS on a new laptop?
Yes, if the maker lists a newer BIOS for your model, since it often fixes bugs and improves stability. Do it with the charger connected and follow the maker's instructions exactly.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
