New Computer Setup (Windows Workstation)

Windows Settings and Initial Software

• Internet Explorer: Change IE search provoder to Google, set homepage to Google
• Install Chrome, or Firefox
  • Turn off Chrome's pdf view: in the address bar, got to chrome://plugins and disable
• Antivirus; Sophos on UCLA network. (2015: Microsoft Security Essentials is no longer very good)
• I like to change the CD-ROM drive letter to Z:\; start Computer Management (right-click over Computer to get Properties, or Control panel, Administrative Tools), and go to disk management. Do this before installing any software from CD, as it remembers the drive location.
• Create a temporary (temp) drive to use for temporary items that you can regularly clean out (for example: C:\temp or D:\temp)
• Control panel - set to "small icons" view
• Date settings - I like "7-Aug-12" as the short date format - set in Control Panel -> Region and Language
• Get updates: Control panel, Windows update
  • Win7: Get magiciso - but search for magicdisk, as a search for magic iso returns the wrong program As of 2012, the correct link is [link]. This will install a tray icon - change settings (little up-arrow, "Customize") to "always show icon and notifications."
• Install Office; After a restart, you can mount the ISO as a virtual drive using magic ISO (on share drive). Get the updates.
  
  • Set field shading to always
  • Add Save As, etc. to quick access toolbar
  • For Outlook, turn off AutoArchive: File, Options, Advanced, AutoArchive button on right
  • In Outlook, turn off junk filtering; this is in the "Delete" group. If it is grayed out, change the registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\14.0\outlook DisableAntiSpam to 0 ([link])
  • Google Calendar Sync should run on one always-one computer, if you want to sync em (Outlook) calendar with Google calendar
  • "XL Toolbox" allows you to export publication-ready figures from Excel.(http://sourceforge.net/projects/xltoolbox)
• Screen - Adjust the screen resolution, multiple monitors, refresh rate (for CRT monitors)
• Power options - under Control Panel/Power Options, make sure it does not put the computer to sleep (especially Windows 7; choose performance plan and adjust settings if need be
• Explorer (file browser) - Setup explorer to menu and paths and folders by default: Tools (Alt^t), Folder Options, Advanced
  • In Win 10, set to go to MyPC, not Quick Access
• (pre 2015) If you are using the vmware Linux virtual machine, change the registry: fix
• Window maximizing when move outside screen - DISABLE this irritating "feature" Control Panel/Ease of Access Center/Make the mouse easier to use/check Prevent Windows from rearranging ... [link]

You may need to install various drivers; the website of the motherboard can be helpful. Check the Device Manager for any uninstalled hardware.

Lab specific

• Network - to get fast access, set the IP address and computer name etc to one assigned to us; we are in the HARPERLAB workgroup.
• Map network drives: Explorer, Search, Computers, computers on network, kiwi.neurobio.ucla.edu for Share (Y:) and hddata (X:), scanner.neurobio.ucla.edu for MRI 1TB drive (W:), exposed.neurobio.ucla.edu for 60TB server (V:)
• Win 7: Create "Documents" Library; rename existing library to "Program Documents", create a new folder (e.g., "AllMyDocs", create a new library and include the AllMyDocs folder. If on a network, need to use a symbolic link (E.g., 1) create local folder (e.g., C:\Users\Paul\AllMyDocs, 2) select library, and click "include" to add this folder in the new library, 3) delete this local folder (not in the library), 4) run a command prompt as adminsitrator and >mklink /d C:\Users\Paul\AllMyDocs Y:\Paul\Documents\AllMyDocs)
• Printers
  • Download the drivers for the HP P2055dn, and install for IP 149.142.173.236 (use Advanced/custom/network). While you can use Windows to Search for network HP2055dn, the duplex option won't work (as of July 2012).
  • For HP 3600, download "HP color laserjet 3600n" Vista x64 drivers (may be here), choosing the "HP Color LaserJet 3600 Host Based Driver" option. Extract file drivers (run the downloaded file, which will unzip). From Start, Printers, Add a printer, select "Local" printer, add port 149.142.173.235 (homer), and use "have disk" option to select the unzipped file.

Software (not as part of setup)

• Adobe Acrobat
• Backup - my latest favorite is SyncBackPro.
• Browsers
  • Chrome setup: set downloads location to "C:\temp", install adblock and facebook blocked add-ons. If you have an account, everything is carried over (add-ons, bookmarks)
  • Chrome: turn off browser pdf viewer by going to address about:plugins and disable "Chrome PDF Viewer"
• Camtasia and Snagit
• Cloning: 2016-06, Macrium Reflect seems to doa good job. "although Samsung SSD's come with a great clone tool ("Data Migration"), this did not work to overwrite an existing clone.
• Desktop
  • organization: use Fences
  • VirtuaWin for multiple desktops
• Google drive for PC (this will install a link on your desktop)
  • If you don't have a lot of space on system folder:
    • Create a Google Drive folder on a second hard drive
    • Before signing in starting, Go to Advanced
    • Select the new folder you created
• Folder Size - great software to scan folder trees for size: http://www.mindgems.com/products/Folder-Size/Folder-Size.html
• Java - get 32-bit version using any browser, then open a 64-bit browser to get the 64-bit version (needed for some LONI tools); Programs => IE (64-bit)
• Zip/compression software - Install 7-zip; you can right-click over zip/tar/gz files in Explore
• MATLAB - install the latest files
  • copy matlab and startup folders from Share drive; "matlab" folder should go to c:\matlab
  • change the permissions on the matlabroot\toolbox\local folder so that all users can write.
  • Set up the Database
  • Add the "dbstop if error" shortcut
  • set editor preferences for 100 columns and indenting (Editor/Debugger => Display AND Language settings)
  • under language, "Indent all functions"
  • under Tab, "Emacs-style Tab key smart indenting"
  • If using parallel, go to "Parallel" menu, manage profile, and test; Windows will give firewall warnings and let you allow the profile to run
• (pre 2015 - no longer needed as have java connection) Install the database connection; get the MyODBC connector (from [link] target="_blank">http://dev.mysql.com""> target="_blank">target="_blank">http://dev.mysql.com">> target="_blank">target="_blank">http://dev.mysql.com> target="_blank">target="_blank">http://dev.mysql.com>>> website), and set up the sidata64 and hfdata64 connections.
• [link]MRI Convert - this successfully converts some DICOM files that SPM cannot (e.g., 2007 Philips); CSPM will try to use this when SPM fails
• MRIcron
• MRIcroGL - note that this does not "install," so you need to save the files into your "Program Files" folder ("C:\Program Files (x86)" on 64-bit systems)and make a link to the mricrogl application.
• CorelDraw
  • Import saved workspace (Options -> Workspaces), usually saved on the share drive
• Email: Thunderbird (if you use IMAP, install IMAPsize, otherwise use MozBackup;
  • Accounts: add them in the order you want them listed
  • Account settings: change name, reply-to email, set to put replies in same folder, BCC to gmail, reply start above quote
  • Add-ons: install adblock, quicktext, quickfolders, folder pane view switcher ([link])
  • Attachment - expand pane to see all files: Right-click on the attachment pane, and click "Initially Show Attachment Pane" (replaces Attachment Options" add-on)
  • Filters: us "*.dat" file, copy to folder (Account settings, Location)
  • For UCLA EM accounts, visit: http://help.em.ucla.edu/app/answers/detail/a_id/1240
  • To keep the size down, see these options: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Minimize_the_size_of_a_profile. For gmail accounts unselecting the "All mail" helps a lot.
  • Stop putting lots of space between paragraphs
  • Windows search - turn off to stop freezing
• Endnote;
  • check for updates
  • set up a dummy library for searches
  • set to open the main and dummy libraries (Edit, Preferences)
  • In word, disable Instant formatting
  • load grant and other custom styles; may need to specify the Styles folder location (2012: under Documents\Publications).
  • change fields display - Author only (checkbox), no URL
• Ghostscript
  • To work with IrfanView, use 32-bit version
  • Easy download from http://www.ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html (2015-09). The www.ghsotscript.com site is a little confusing.
• GPower
• HandBrake - converting and working with video files; works for uninstalled codecs; simple, fast and free
• IrfanView for simple pasting/editing screen shots, other simple images; install the plugins to allow DICOM viewing
• LightScribe system software and labeling application (if have compatible DVD writer); this allows LightScribe DVD's to be labelled.
• Linux Virtual Machine
  • install VMWare workstation (or VM player for standard workstations)
  • copy the "LinuxVM" (Virtual machine created by Paul with FSL, FreeSurfer, etc)
  • setup the VM - see Linux in Windows (Virtual Machine)
  • PuTTy use the installer, and connect once to the LinuxVM, and accept the certificate.
• Notepad2 - use the "setup" version to replace the Windows notepad [link]
• Paint.NET
• Printer(s)
• R
• SAS
• Search - As of 2013, Windows search effectively does not work. Try an alternative (e.g., Agent Ransack).
• Sniptool to taskbar
• SyncBackPro
  • VirtualDub - for converting trickier video file formats to something usable (suggested by Adobe).
• VirtuaWin - for having multiple desktops.
• WinSCP for secure file transfer

Operating system (if starting from scratch)

You will need

• Windows CD
• License key
• In some cases, drivers for RAID/SATA on a floppy (you will need the "oemsetup.txt" file in the root directory)
• Put CD into computer
• Start - make sure the CD is the first boot device (you may need to go into the boot menu on startup, or change the BIOS settings)
• Click Enter when the message "Press any key to boot from CD" appears
• Shortly after starting to load, you will see a message at the bottom of the screen "Press F6 to load drives" - press F6 if you need to load the drivers on the floppy.
• If you pressed F6, after another few minutes you will need to "Specify" (press "S") the drivers, and enter the floppy.
• Follow the instructions, and you should have Windows installed
• Note: to use upgrade DVD, see this link.

Windows Gadgets (Windows 7 - there might be equivalents in Window 10)

I like several gadgets, which are stored on the share drive in Y:\software\Windows gadgets (or download from links below, since they are no longer available from Microsoft, who phased out Gadgets):

Clock

 Buttons download

Simple Date (click middle to bring up Task Manager) download

Network Traffic download

Network Traffic settings for 1 GB

CPU for > 8 cores "$('cpu').slim" download