Trying to sort out fresh re-install of XP Pro

I pruchased two used Dell Latitude 600 laptops (one was for my
daughter). Both should have the same configuration, according to the
dealer. A "restore" CD reinstalled a fresh copy of XP Pro on both
machines (both came with separate COA stickers on the machines). I am
not familiar with setting up XP Pro, though I use it every day on my
work computer. There, I'm only a limited user - at home, I want to be
Admin on my own machine. But there seems to be some things I need to
sort out.

I tried to install BelArc Advisor on my machine, but it wouldn't run.
My daughter, though, installed it and ran it just fine. She showed me
her results, and there was a page-long list of Windows hot fixes and
updates not installed!! So should we both seek out a network
connection, turn on auto-update, and let Windows do its thing?

As far as a network conection goes, we plan on using WiFi. These
laptops are supposed to have WiFi built-in, but I'm not familiar
enough with finding components to verify that it's installed and
working. That was another reason for the BelArc. And I suspect that
I won't know whether it's working right until I try to connect with
it. It would be frustrating, thoguh, to try to connect and fail, and
have to troubleshoot it without a network connection!!

I also tried to use the DVD drive, but it said I was missing some
codecs, so I went to the MS support site and downloaded two sets of
codecs (WM9Codecs and wmp6cdcs) to burn to a CD and take home to
install.

Finally, can someone recommend a decent book that will help me set up
user accounts and permissions? I can see only two choices - Admin and
User. I know at work there are groups with permissions and different
user levels with different permissions. I want a fully-Admin account
to do things to the whole computer, a broad user profile for my normal
use, and a very limited user profile for Internet work.

Thanks for all the help.
Ed

Ed from AZ wrote:
> I pruchased two used Dell Latitude 600 laptops (one was for my
> daughter). Both should have the same configuration, according to the
> dealer. A "restore" CD reinstalled a fresh copy of XP Pro on both
> machines (both came with separate COA stickers on the machines). I am
> not familiar with setting up XP Pro, though I use it every day on my
> work computer. There, I'm only a limited user - at home, I want to be
> Admin on my own machine. But there seems to be some things I need to
> sort out.
>
> I tried to install BelArc Advisor on my machine, but it wouldn't run.
> My daughter, though, installed it and ran it just fine.

For home use I never setup a limited user. Well, at least if there are
adults in the house. Simply change all the accounts in control panel
to have admin rights.

> She showed me
> her results, and there was a page-long list of Windows hot fixes and
> updates not installed!! So should we both seek out a network
> connection, turn on auto-update, and let Windows do its thing?
>

You should anyway, just to get security updates.

> As far as a network conection goes, we plan on using WiFi. These
> laptops are supposed to have WiFi built-in, but I'm not familiar
> enough with finding components to verify that it's installed and
> working. That was another reason for the BelArc. And I suspect that
> I won't know whether it's working right until I try to connect with
> it. It would be frustrating, thoguh, to try to connect and fail, and
> have to troubleshoot it without a network connection!!
>
Get it wired first, get it working, get it protected, firewall etc. then
worry about wireless. Wireless is an optional item and a luxury. Work
on basics.

> I also tried to use the DVD drive, but it said I was missing some
> codecs, so I went to the MS support site and downloaded two sets of
> codecs (WM9Codecs and wmp6cdcs) to burn to a CD and take home to
> install.
You can download a a free AVS dvd player or similar program that will
play movies (if that's what you seem to imply. DVD drives can be used
for things other than movies, but the word 'codecs' seems to imply a
movie was being played.

>
> Finally, can someone recommend a decent book that will help me set up
> user accounts and permissions? I can see only two choices - Admin and
> User.
I still wonder about the backend reason for why so much security
complexity. If its just a hold over from work, then I'd try to drop
that thought. Work and home environments are nowhere the same.

> I know at work there are groups with permissions and different
> user levels with different permissions. I want a fully-Admin account
> to do things to the whole computer, a broad user profile for my normal
> use, and a very limited user profile for Internet work.
Good firewall and virus and spyblocker will do so much for you and
internet work.

>
> Thanks for all the help.
> Ed
>

Granted this is my flavor of how to do things. Wait a while, there are
a lot of opinionated people here and some have other very good ideas.
Pick one.