# How To Assemble A Desktop PC/Software

Now that you've got a functioning computer, you'll need to install some
software if you're going to do anything with it. An operating system or
two must come first, then hardware drivers (so that the operating system
can access your hardware) followed by security software and utilities.
And that's as far as we're going to go with you, but you'll also want to
install some application software -- games, word processors, databases,
programming languages -- whatever floats your boat\... That's pretty
much the point of this whole computer business after all, though I hope
you've found the journey of building it yourself has been worthwhile in
its own way.

In this section we'll consider what software you'll want to install and
how you might go about doing so.

## BIOS updates

One important step that can be required as the starting point after you
have a working PC, depending on how stable your BIOS is (bugs or any
lacking specific software and hardware support), is to do an update of
it (called \"flashing\" the BIOS). This step can be overlooked if you
are sure that any later versions of your BIOS will not solve any issues
or requirements you have. The simplest way as an initial step is to,
find another computer, download the flash update and put it on a USB
thumb drive (or another a bootable support media) and boot the new
computer with it. If you do not have another computer or thumb drive,
you will need to put off this step until after you install the operating
system (you can also use a boot disk that permits you to get an OS
running out of it) to get the new computer connected to the network.

## Operating system(s)

If you have a workable machine that recognizes the basic hardware (CPU,
memory, HD, mouse and keyboard) you can now start installing an
operating system (OS). You may select from several available on the
Internet or from your local computer store.

Options can be varied, there are many operating systems to choose from,
including commercial ones like Microsoft Windows (of which the current
version is Windows 11 version 22H2) or free ones like GNU/Linux
distribution (a free software operating system) or BSD. It all depends
on the uses you will be giving to your machine (function and required
software) and the price tag you are willing to pay and the support you
require. Simply put, can you accomplish your day to day tasks with the
software that will run under the operating system in question? Do you
require some special software availability, ability to run on older
equipment? Have you considered the costs? Determine your needs before
installing an operating system.

Note that you also have the option of installing more than one operating
system in what is called a multiboot setup. Having installed an OS, you
can always install another later. The complexity of doing so may vary,
depending on how the last one automates (or not at all) the process. If
your multi-boot setup is Windows-only, install the oldest Windows
version first.

### Installing Windows

The installation of Windows is relatively easy. Push the power button on
the front of the PC, put the DVD-ROM in your optical drive or insert the
USB, and follow the on-screen instructions (you may have to configure
your BIOS to start with the DVD or USB). If you are doing a Windows-only
install, just allocate all of the hard drive to Windows.

Some people find that it\'s useful to create separate partitions for the
operating system and data. This means that if something goes wrong with
the operating system, the partition can be formatted and the operating
system can be reinstalled, possibly without losing data. If you have
already allocated the whole disk to 1 partition and you want to change
it later, you can do so and create new partition (from the existing
partition) using Disk Management in Windows Vista and later or use a
third-party tool.

If you are installing Windows on a RAID drive, or a SATA drive in some
cases, you are going to have to provide drivers to the Windows installer
so that it can access the hard drive on the raid controller. At the
prompt where you are asked to choose a partition, you can click Load
Driver and browse (or ask Windows to search) for the driver. Unlike
Windows XP, you are not limited to floppies; a USB flash drive suffices.

It\'s a good idea to save your license key for windows in a safe place
in case reinstalling becomes necessary.

### Installing Windows to dual-boot with GNU/Linux

!Dual booting allows you to select your operating system on
boot.
If you are dual-booting, some extra factors must be considered. NTFS,
which is the default file system that Windows uses, is fairly well
supported in Linux. NTFS-3g has reached a
usable stage, with users reporting no data corruption or loss during
ordinary use of the latest versions of the driver, providing GNU/Linux
users with a reliable way to read and write NTFS partitions. This system
is now in widespread use and most up-to-date Linux distros will support
the NTFS file system. Previously only read support was safe, and this
may still be the case for some distributions. However, NTFS does have
some advantages over FAT32, in that a 4GB file size limit no longer
exists. Though Linux supports NTFS, Windows does not have built-in
support for any of the standard GNU/Linux file systems. However, there
are Windows applications, such as Ext2
IFS that can be used to read/write
ext2 and ext3 systems.

When it comes to partition the hard disk(s), remember to leave space for
GNU/Linux (a good amount is on the order of a third of your total hard
disk space). You may want to have a spare FAT32 partition (of around one
third of your disk space) on which to share documents between Windows
and GNU/Linux. Though this will most likely not be necessary unless you
are using a distro which cannot read/write NTFS. You should also modify
the partition table as necessary - you may not need as much space for
Windows or you may need more in your FAT32 transfer area. But you must
ensure that you leave at least 30 GB for your Windows installation,
since the standard installation of Windows takes up about 10-15 GB of
hard drive space, and it is always wise to leave extra on, to allow for
any changes that may occur. Windows 8 in particular blocks installing on
drives less than 16GB (20GB for 64-bit) free space. If you have 16 GB or
higher RAM, you\'ll need more space.

### Installing GNU/Linux

The primary problem faced in installing GNU/Linux is choosing between
distributions. Of the many variants of GNU/Linux, Fedora, SuSE, and
Ubuntu are generally recommended, as they are updated regularly and
compatible with a broad range of hardware:

-   Ubuntu, widely regarded as one of the easiest
    to use versions of GNU/Linux. The amount of community documentation
    and support makes this a solid choice for a beginner.
-   Fedora, a distribution known for it\'s pursuit of leading edge tech
    while remaining stable.
-   openSuSE, A feature rich distribution and relative of SUSE Linux
    Enterprise.
-   Debian, not feature packed, but a very stable operating system and a
    solid base for learning more about GNU/Linux.

Some GNU/Linux variants may support hardware that these do not. If you
have obscure or old hardware, you may want to search forum sites for
various GNU/Linux variants to ensure compatibility. For example, Puppy
Linux is a small Linux distro designed to run
on older systems.

For example, let's consider Ubuntu. It\'s a variant of Debian, and is
the current standard for easy-to-use GNU/Linux distributions. One can
download the .iso image or order a DVD (containing a combined
installation and Live disk) from its website. An .iso is nothing more
than a special file format that your CD drive burning software uses to
create a copy of the software, in this case a copy of Ubuntu GNU/Linux.

The installation of most distros GNU/Linux is relatively easy. Push the
button on the front of the PC, put the disk in your optical drive, and
follow the on-screen instructions. By default, the installation version
of Ubuntu will erase all files on the hard drive and partition 1.8 GB
for the OS. If you want to customize, follow the on-screen instructions
carefully. The LiveDVD version does not erase your hard drive and is
intended solely for a user to test drive Ubuntu GNU/Linux.

When installing a GNU/Linux distro, you may be asked to choose between
alternatives -- whether to run KDE or Gnome (The desktop interfaces),
for instance, or to install vi or Emacs or nano (Text editors). If the
terms are unfamiliar a quick Google search will usually yield answers.
Most choices have comparable features, and the choice usually comes down
to preference. It can be a good idea to \"Distro hop\" or trying
multiple different distros in a short period of time, to figure out what
works best for you.

## Security

After installation, security should be your priority.

### Updates

From time to time, software companies and independent programmers
release new and improved versions to their software; these are known as
updates. Updates usually install new features or fix problems. Usually,
you should download the latest updates to improve system performance
though it\'s sometimes wise to wait a little while to be sure the update
itself does not cause problems. Many programs update themselves and this
process is known as an automatic update. If you have to manually update
your software, do so through the software developer\'s site, not through
a secondary source. This approach will reduce the chance of contracting
a virus or other piece of malicious software.

#### Windows

A newly installed computer can be attacked within moments of being
connected to the Internet. In severe cases, the attacks can render a
system unbootable or make a second reinstallation faster or easier than
manually removing the malicious programs causing the problems. To avoid
having your new computer attacked, install a firewall, or activate the
one that came with your OS. Both Windows and GNU/Linux have in-built
firewalls: in some GNU/Linux distributions, it is enabled by default.
Windows 10 includes an antivirus, but you should update to the latest
version for better protection against current threats.

As soon as you are on the Internet, run your operating system\'s update
facility to fix any security flaws that have been found since your CD
was printed. To do this before Windows 10, simply click on your Start
Menu, click on \'All Programs\', and then click on Windows
Update, and follow the instructions. On
Windows 10, open Settings and click Update and Security .

#### GNU/Linux

!The YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) Control
Center Control Center")
The method of updating your GNU/Linux system varies greatly from
distribution to distribution.

For SuSE, there are two ways:

1.  YaST (Yet another Setup Tool), the default package manager/system
    management tool for SuSE
2.  ZENworks updater, a GUI-based updating service

For Fedora, type

:   `dnf update`

as the root user inside a terminal window.

It is perhaps easiest to update the OS from Debian-based distributions
such as Debian, Ubuntu and Linspire. For Debian and Linspire you type
the following into a terminal window while running as the root user:

:   `apt update`
:   `apt-get dist-upgrade`

Ubuntu has you run sudo to switch run a program as root. Type the
following into a terminal:

:   `sudo apt update`
:   `sudo apt-get dist-upgrade`

Most distros, including Ubuntu, also have a GUI-based updater program.

#### Automatic updates

If your computer will be running overnight (or if you\'re just lazy), it
may be good to have your computer update itself.

**Debian-based (LINUX) -** Debian-based operating
systems (including Ubuntu, but Ubuntu already has a more simplified
automatic updater) will typically use a cron script
for receiving automatic updates by the console (although you can
download some GUI-based updating tools - that is, if you\'re working
with a GUI).

**Ubuntu (LINUX) -** As Ubuntu is based on Debian, you can use a cron
script, but an easier way of doing it (if you\'re using
GNOME) is to go to the \"System\" menu, then
\"Administration\", then \"Software Sources\". Then open up the
\"Updates\" tab and select \"Automatic updates\", also select \"Install
security updates without confirmation\".

**SuSE (LINUX) -** SuSE uses YaST to manage
updates, packages (applications), and system settings. YaST can be
configured to use automatic updates in the YaST control centre.

**Microsoft Windows -** Microsoft has always used the Microsoft
Update service (formerly called
\"Windows Update\") to manage updates both automatically and manually
(although by default it usually is a automatic update). Windows XP
onwards reminds you when the computer is needed to be restarted if an
update requires one via a special icon in the notification area.

Windows 10 provides an option of setting *active hours*; the computer
will not restart to complete updates during that time.

If you have Windows 10 Pro, it is possible to *defer* (postpone) updates
for up to one year or one month, depending on the type of update. It is
also possible to completely stop updates for up to 35 days (with the
caveat that all updates will then have to be installed before the
updates can be stopped again). To configure such options, go to
Settings\>Update and Security\>Advanced Options.

### Anti-malware

Anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam programs (which generically are
all called anti-malware programs) of commercial quality or better can be
found for free online quite easily and can protect your computer from
various nasties you might get while surfin\' on the Internet. Windows
programs are listed in the software section below. Third-party firewalls
for Windows are recommended as the built-in default one Windows provides
is not nearly powerful as, for example, ZoneAlarm, a third-party
Firewall solution that not only monitors incoming traffic, but monitors
outgoing traffic as well. The latest versions of Windows 10 include
Microsoft Defender, a antivirus and
antispyware program.

Security software is important and should be set up first. The best
procedure is not to connect to the Internet at all until your choice of
anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software is installed and
activated, then connect to the Internet and update each of these
programs, though it is usually fine to connect to the Internet for the
purpose of downloading it.

Once secured, your system should be safe for prudent Internet browsing;
however, remember to schedule regular scans and keep your security
software up to date.

## Drivers

Now that your computer is relatively secure, you will need to install
software to control your various hardware components. This type of
software is known as a driver.

Although you may find that all of your hardware works out of the box,
consider downloading the driver straight from the company\'s Internet
site. This will ensure you have the latest edition of the software.
Knowing where to download the driver is also good in case you lose the
CD that came with the device.

If you do not have a fast Internet connection (broadband), the company
usually provides an option to receive the driver CD in the mail, in
which case you\'ll want to use the CD you have now and update the driver
later. Even if something seems to be working fine, downloading new
drivers may help increase computer efficiency, though there is always a
risk that a brand new version may break something. Downloading drivers
for your motherboard\'s chipset can often help if you are having a
problem. Finally, many monitors will not go above a certain refresh rate
without the proper driver, which may be of great concerns to gamers.

If you are using Microsoft Windows, you can generally find drivers for
your selected hardware on the manufacturer\'s website. Most GNU/Linux
systems already have all of the drivers installed, with the exception of
proprietary modem and graphics drivers. If you can\'t find the driver
you need, a simple Google search will often
yield the best results. Windows Update also often can install the latest
drivers (though you may have to go to Windows Update to install it, as
they may not be considered important).

## Software

Before buying software for your new PC, remember that there is an
abundance of useful software, free for downloading, available on the
Internet. From web browsers to word processors to graphic manipulation
programs, there is plenty of software available online.

Though most of what is available is safe and useful, it's always a good
idea to do a little research and make a backup before installing
anything new. The following are some proven and reliable programs that
are available, free (or gratis), for individual use (and sometimes more;
check the license).

Broadly speaking, there are three types of licenses:

-   Proprietary - This is the type of license that comes with most
    software that is purchased. Source code is not available, and you
    cannot make copies for others.
-   Freeware - The software is zero cost (free), and you may share
    copies with others. You cannot make copies and sell them, however.
    The source code is usually not available.
-   Free software/Open Source - The source code is available. This means
    that if you know how to program, you can make and distribute
    variations of the program yourself, fix bugs you find, etc. You may
    share copies with others, and you may pay for the software on disk,
    or download it for free. (The \"free\" in \"free software\" refers
    to \"free\" as in \"free speech\", not as in \"free beer\".)

Of course, there is a lot of overlap and many exceptions to these
generalizations. Be sure to check the license that comes with your
software to be sure of what your rights are!

### Windows

-   Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox,
    Google
    Chrome/Chromium "wikilink"),
    or Microsoft Edge.
-   E-mail Client: Windows Mail "wikilink"), Mozilla
    Thunderbird
-   Office Suite: LibreOffice, Office
    365, Microsoft
    Office
-   Disc Tools: InfraRecorder, Nero
    Multimedia Suite
-   Instant Messenger: Pidgin "wikilink"),
    Trillian "wikilink"),
    Telegram "wikilink")
-   Media Player: VLC media player,
    Winamp, iTunes,
    Windows Media Player
-   Anti-malware: Malwarebytes "wikilink"),
    AVG AntiVirus, Avast
    Antivirus, ESET
    NOD32, Microsoft
    Defender
-   Security: Spybot -- Search &
    Destroy, ZoneAlarm
    Firewall
-   Utilities: 7-Zip,
    Rainmeter, Copernic Desktop
    Search
-   PDF Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader or
    Foxit Reader
-   Photo Editing: Paint.net,
    GIMP, Microsoft
    Paint

To ease out the installation process for utilities and other basic
software, you can use Ninite. Check all the
software that you need and download the installation utility. However,
note that this utility will only install in your Windows partition and
you cannot manually specify the directories in which you want the
applications installed.

You can also get many of these programs (or alternatives) from the
Microsoft Store.

### GNU/Linux

!An example of GNOME Software, a common graphical utility for managing
software on GNU/Linux
computers
Unlike Windows, on a GNU/Linux system the majority of the software that
you will want for everyday use of your computer is usually included out
of the box, or handled by the package manager provided by your
distribution. Many distros that focus on ease of use have a graphical
interface for installing software that is similar to a mobile phone app
store.

As an example, to install the software git on Ubuntu, only a single
command is needed

``` bash
sudo apt install git
```

The *sudo* command confirms you have permission to use apt. The *apt*
command calls the apt package manager. *install* lets apt know you want
to install the following item, in this case *git*.

Some distros contain an additional package manager, typically either
Flatpak, or
Snap "wikilink"). Applications installed from
these managers run in their own *sandbox* that limit their access to the
rest of the system, increasing security.

If they aren\'t already installed by your distribution:

-   Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox, Google
    Chrome/Chromium "wikilink"),
    Konqueror or
    Opera "wikilink").
-   Email Client: Mozilla
    Thunderbird, GNOME
    Evolution, or
    Kmail
-   Office Suite: LibreOffice, or Calligra
    Suite
-   Instant Messenger: Pidgin "wikilink") or
    Kopete.
-   Media Players: Kodi "wikilink"), GNOME
    Videos,
    Rhythmbox,
    Amarok "wikilink"), or VLC Media
    Player.
-   Movie/DVD Players: Xine or
    MPlayer.
-   Disk Tools: Brasero "wikilink"),
    GParted
-   Windows Compatibility: WINE "wikilink"),
    Proton "wikilink"), or
    Lutris
-   Virtual systems: QEMU or GNOME
    Boxes.
-   Photo Editing: GIMP or
    Darktable
-   Art: Krita (2D Raster), Inkscape (2D
    Vector), Blender (3D
    Art) "wikilink")
-   Audio: Audacity, LMMS,
    Ardour "wikilink")

### Additional Software

#### Open source

For additional software some excellent sources of free and open-source
software are

-   GitHub, GitLab, and
    SourceForge - Sites featuring many Open
    Source projects.
-   Portable Apps - Provides portable
    versions of applications meant
    for running on USB keys.
-   AlternativeTo - Provides lists of
    alternatives to common software.
-   Free Software Directory

#### Proprietary

Of course, it is also possible to *buy* copies of software.

-   Microsoft Store "wikilink") - Sells
    software for Windows 10 and 11.
-   Xbox Game Pass - Microsoft\'s
    subscription game service, available for Windows 10 and 11.
-   GOG Galaxy - Sells games without
    DRM.
-   Steam "wikilink"), Humble
    Store - Large markets of games and some
    software.
-   itch.io - Indie game host
-   Epic Games Store,
    Origin "wikilink"),
    Uplay, Battle.net -
    Publisher focused game sellers.
-   Adobe Creative Cloud - Sells
    Adobe creative products through a subscription model.
-   Autodesk - Sells engineering and 3D
    Software.

## See also

-   A Neutral Look at Operating
    Systems

