Inspiron 15 First Time Computer Owner Requesting Advice

Hello, I just purchased a new, dell inspiron 15 and have no clue where to begin when it comes to upkeep and keeping all of my programs to date. I also know i need to get programs for deframintation and things like that, witch is also a field I know nothing about. Advice welcome.

Since it's new, I'll assume the Operating System is Windows 8.1. Click on this link for Windows 8.1 for Dummies. You can get a free download or order it in Print form. It will tell you way more than you want to know about using your computer.

Welcome to the forum!

You certainly have a big learning curve ahead of you. This site a very good tutorial section which will help answer many questions located here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/

I believe you meant defragmentation when you wrote deframintation. There is a tutorial for that also here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8615-optimize-drives-defrag-hdd-trim-ssd-windows-8-a.html

Search and read through the many tutorials and it should help you a lot. If you have questions as you go along feel free to ask questions. There are many here willing to help.

There is a defragmenter and disk cleanup utility built into the operating system. But I also use CCleaner to clean my disk. I have read in many places not to use third party defragmenters as it sometimes won't touch files it's supposed to move or can move, and they can sometimes move files they aren't supposed to, although I'm not sure how true it is.
There is a plenty of free antivirus software, and Avast has a software updater section which I've used a few times and it works well and helps me recognize when I have out of date programs. For antivirus I use Avast, Malwarebytes, and Superantispyware. Windows 8 does an amazing job of installing updates for drivers and itself in my opinion.

Edit: The person who posted (as I was typing haha) is very correct, you have a large learning curve, but those are great places to start is at those tutorials.

Hi areutheman,

you could also if you have any friends that are computer savvy, ask them and watch them use windows 8. if you are a visual learner that would really help you..

and absolutely just go to youtube and search whatever it is you are trying to do with your computer and you will get videos of people showing you windows 8 and doing whatever you searched.. (just look at the date it was posted though and make sure its atleast 2014)