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Question

New HP Pavilion dv6-6c13cl - what to do with it?

Mar 24, 2012 12:04PM PDT

Despite the warnings I saw about hp's customer service, I picked this computer for several reasons, including that it's my mother paying a new laptop and she really wanted it to be this one. It's from Costco and we have a three year warranty, so that's good.

Now I have it, I want to know how to start off on the right foot. I've read some about what to do with new computers, but it's generally old information. I also need to transfer files from my old hp pavilion and WD Passport. I tried looking up information on the model, but I cannot find a single review or even comment on it, just similar ones that have different processors or memory. It's not even on the Costco website - just a very similar one, the one I was choosing against at the store, that at 749 was more expensive by 150 dollars, with Intel and more memory.

The model: HP Pavilion dv6-6c13cl
AMD QuadCore A6-3420M Accelerated Processor
640 GB hard drive
6144MB DDR3 SDRAM
DVD optical drive
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
15.6 diagonal HD Brightview LED Display

Basically I'm a complete newbie so I have a very vague idea of what I should even be asking about. I haven't even opened the box.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: what to do with a laptop
Mar 25, 2012 1:32AM PDT

- I would start getting it out of the box and see if it works.
- If the user manual says to make your own recovery disks, do that immediately. Also - without even reading the manual - if your laptop invites you to do it.
- Then install your favorite antivirus (unless you're happy with one that's present on it already).
- Then visit Windows update for the latest patches, or let the Windows update itself until it's ready with it.
- Then install any program you need that isn't on it. Could be LibreOffice, a pdf reader, Adobe Flash, software that came with your all-in-one, your mp3-player, your camera, software you need for school, iTunes, etcetera, etcetera.
- Then get the backup of your old machine and copy all files you want to your new laptop. If you don't have a current backup, use your external drive as intermediate storage.

Kees

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Do those recovery discs, now
Mar 25, 2012 6:08AM PDT

I agree 100% on the recovery discs. Upon boot-up it may have already suggested you make those discs. So, get your hands on some DVD blanks and do that task ASAP. Next, register the laptop, etc. or any warranty issues and have the receipts or paperwork readily stored. Now, learn to use your laptop and review what if any of the "crapware" s/w you want to keep. Why, because more than likely these are demo or trail ware releases, you'll be prompted to pay-up at a later date if you want to keep them for continued usage or full versions.

FYI -The HP DV6xxx series of laptops were problematic or prone to such due to heat. If you notice this, keep all this in mind, because sooner or later it may falter. BUT!!! maybe by now its been corrected if you have the latest version of a DV6xxx model just released maybe the reason for little info on it.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Thanks! It wouldn't let me make the disks before setting up.
Mar 25, 2012 7:19AM PDT

When I turned it on it had me register it, name it, choose to the activate the Norton Internet Security, and install the Windows Updates. I could only make the disks after logging on, so upon logging on I merely signed into Norton to activate the thing and restarted. The manual was on the computer, so I saved it onto a USB and shut the computer off. I will turn it on again to make the disks.

I have just looked for a date on the warranty, and it says September 2011. So hopefully the heating issues have been resolved. But I'll be wary of the heat problem.

There should be a disc for Microsoft Office 2007. The starter version preinstalled is 2010.

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The user manual was in the computer.
Mar 25, 2012 6:18AM PDT

Thanks!

The User Manual was in the computer. When I set the machine up it wanted to install Windows updates before I logged on, so I let it do that first. Like right after it said it was finalizing settings. I activated the Norton Internet Security that was preinstalled during that setup, then signed in to my Norton account after I logged on. (Which I will replace later with the Norton product I had on the old laptop, as my norton account tells me I can download it.) Is that okay?

I haven't made the disks yet, but I shut down the laptop and won't do anything else with it until they are purchased and made.