[telchior]

Google "how to uninstall crapware for <manufacturer". You could figure it out on your own, of course, but you might miss something. I'll also mess with settings to tone down unnecessary aesthetic stuff, e.g. Windows Aero animations.

I also like to install a temperature monitor (I've used Core Temp and Speedfan, both are fine) then run benchmarking software. Besides reassuring me that I've actually gotten what was advertised, this shows me the maximum heat the laptop is likely to reach and, with some guesswork, whether anything needs to be repasted.