Computer Software Installation Dundee

You’ve got a new laptop sitting in its box and no idea where to start. Or your old computer has crashed and needs Windows reinstalled. Or Office won’t activate, your printer won’t connect to your new machine, and you’ve spent two hours on hold with Microsoft. Whatever the software headache, we sort it at our Perth Road workshop.

We install operating systems, set up new computers, transfer your data from old machines, configure business software across multiple workstations, and make sure everything actually works together before you take it home. Most software jobs are done same day.

New Computer Setup

Bought a new laptop or desktop? Out of the box, it’s not ready to use. Windows needs configuring, updates need installing (there are always dozens), bloatware needs removing, your programs need setting up, your printer needs connecting, and your email accounts need configuring.

Most folk spend an entire evening fighting with this. We do it daily. Bring in the new machine and we’ll:

• Configure Windows properly and install all pending updates
• Remove the manufacturer bloatware that slows everything down
• Install your programs (Office, browser, antivirus, whatever you need)
• Set up your email accounts and calendar
• Connect your printer and any other peripherals
• Transfer your files from your old computer if you bring that too

The bloatware on a new laptop is worth talking about. Manufacturers pre-install trial versions of McAfee or Norton (which nag you to pay), Candy Crush and other games you didn’t ask for, manufacturer utilities that duplicate Windows features, and promotional apps that run at startup and slow everything down. Some of these report usage data back to the manufacturer. We strip all of it out and leave you with a clean machine running only what you actually need.

You collect a machine that’s ready to use from the moment you open the lid. No setup screens, no “just a few more updates” notifications, no fighting with printer drivers at 10pm.

Windows Installation and Reinstallation

Sometimes Windows needs a fresh start. Maybe it’s been corrupted by a failed update, maybe it’s accumulated years of software clutter and runs like treacle, or maybe you’ve had a virus cleaned and the system isn’t quite right afterwards.

We do clean Windows installs, keeping your data intact. Your documents, photos, and files are preserved while the operating system gets a fresh foundation underneath. We also handle Windows 10 to 11 upgrades, making sure your hardware is compatible and your drivers are sorted before, during, and after the process.

A clean install is only half the job. Windows 11 has dozens of settings that affect your privacy and performance. We disable unnecessary telemetry, configure Windows Update to install at sensible times rather than mid-presentation, turn off background apps you don’t use, optimise startup programs so the machine boots quickly, and set up OneDrive correctly (syncing the folders you want, not everything by default). These small adjustments make a noticeable difference to how the machine feels day to day.

For machines that came with Windows 10 but don’t meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements (usually the TPM 2.0 chip), we can advise on your options. Sometimes a clean Windows 10 reinstall is the better choice. Sometimes Linux is a better fit for the hardware. We’ll tell you what makes sense for your specific machine.

Office and Business Software

Microsoft Office installation should be simple, but licensing has become genuinely confusing. Office 365 subscriptions, standalone Office 2024, business vs personal plans, product key activation, Microsoft accounts. We handle the lot.

We install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. We configure Outlook with your email accounts, set up OneDrive sync if you want it, and make sure everything is activated and working properly. If your licence has expired or you’re not sure what you own, we can figure that out too.

For businesses needing software deployed across multiple machines, we handle the setup efficiently. Same configuration, same settings, consistent across every workstation. A lot of business owners try the first machine themselves, realise how long it takes, then bring the rest to us. That’s fine. Bring the lot and we’ll get them all done together.

Accounting and Industry Software

Beyond Office, we install and configure business-specific software: Sage, Xero, QuickBooks for accounts, AutoCAD and SketchUp for design, Adobe Creative Suite for creative work, and whatever specialist applications your industry uses. These packages often have their own licensing headaches, server connections, and configuration requirements. We’ve dealt with most of them and can get them running without the two days of troubleshooting you’d face doing it yourself.

Data Transfer from Old Computer to New

Getting a new computer is exciting until you realise all your files, photos, documents, and bookmarks are on the old one. Moving everything across properly is one of the most common things folk ask us to do.

Here’s what transfers and what doesn’t. Your files (documents, photos, music, videos, downloads) all come across. Your browser bookmarks and saved passwords can be synced. But programs can’t be transferred from one computer to another. They need reinstalling on the new machine. That’s just how Windows works.

We handle the whole process. Connect both machines, transfer all your files to the right locations on the new computer, reinstall your programs, set up your email, and make sure everything works. If your old computer won’t start, we can usually still pull the data off the hard drive and transfer it. See our data recovery service for those situations.

Common things that catch folk out during a transfer: browser bookmarks and saved passwords need syncing through your browser account (Chrome, Firefox, Edge all do this differently). Desktop shortcuts need recreating. Printer drivers need reinstalling on the new machine. Email signatures and rules in Outlook don’t always carry across automatically. We handle all of these details so nothing gets missed and you don’t spend the next week discovering things that didn’t transfer.

Drivers and Peripherals

You’ve installed Windows, everything looks fine, then you try to print something and nothing happens. Or your webcam makes you look like a pixelated ghost. Or your external monitor won’t display at the right resolution.

Drivers are the software that tells Windows how to talk to your hardware. When they’re missing, out of date, or wrong, things don’t work properly. After a Windows reinstall or upgrade, drivers are usually the first headache. We identify what’s needed, install the correct versions, and test everything.

We sort printer setup, graphics card configuration (important for gaming PCs and creative work), webcam and audio devices, external monitors, scanners, and anything else that plugs into your computer.

One thing worth knowing: Windows Update installs generic drivers automatically, and they often work well enough to get going. But generic drivers are not the same as the manufacturer’s own drivers. A generic graphics driver, for instance, won’t give you full resolution options on an external monitor and won’t allow proper GPU performance for gaming or video editing. A generic audio driver may mean your headset microphone nae works at all. We install the correct manufacturer drivers for your specific hardware rather than whatever Windows grabbed automatically.

Older peripherals are a common issue too. A printer that worked perfectly on Windows 10 may have nae driver support for Windows 11. We check manufacturer support before you commit to an upgrade, so there are nae nasty surprises when you get home.

Antivirus Setup

Windows Defender, which comes built into Windows 10 and 11, is genuinely good enough for most home users. It’s free, it updates automatically, and it doesn’t slow your machine down. We make sure it’s configured properly with real-time protection active and automatic scanning scheduled.

If you want commercial antivirus (Norton, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, or others), we install and configure it so it protects you without making your computer crawl. The key is proper configuration. Default settings often scan at the worst times and generate constant notifications. We set it up so it works quietly in the background and only bothers you when something actually needs your attention.

There’s a common mistake folk make: they buy a new computer, it comes with a 30-day trial of Norton or McAfee pre-installed, and they assume that’s their antivirus sorted. It isn’t. When the trial expires, the protection lapses, but the software keeps running and nagging you to subscribe. Meanwhile Windows Defender has been disabled because it detected another antivirus product. We see this regularly. We remove the expired trial, confirm Windows Defender is active, and make sure you’ve actually got protection rather than just the appearance of it.

For more on infections and removal, see our virus removal page.

Linux Installation

Linux isn’t just for tech enthusiasts any more. It’s a genuine alternative to Windows, especially if your computer is too old for Windows 11, you want something free and lightweight, or you’re concerned about privacy.

We install Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and other distributions. Linux Mint in particular looks and works similarly to Windows, so the transition isn’t as jarring as you might expect. It runs well on older hardware that struggles with Windows, and it’s completely free.

If you’re not sure which distribution suits you: Linux Mint is the easiest transition from Windows (familiar desktop layout, works out of the box). Ubuntu is the most widely supported with the largest community. Fedora is for folk who want the latest software versions. We can also set up dual boot, where both Windows and Linux live on the same machine and you choose which one to start at boot time. Useful if you need Windows for specific programs but prefer Linux for everyday browsing and email.

We handle the full setup: install the OS, configure your accounts, install your preferred browser, set up email, connect your printer, and transfer your documents from Windows. If you’re not sure whether Linux is right for you, bring your machine in and we’ll give you an honest assessment based on what you actually use your computer for.

Email and Account Setup

Getting your email working on a new computer or after a reinstall is something folk often struggle with. Outlook configuration with work email, setting up Gmail or Yahoo accounts, syncing calendars and contacts across devices, getting the mail app to actually receive messages.

We configure email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, the Windows Mail app) with your accounts. If you’re moving from one email provider to another, or need business email set up with your own domain, we handle that too. Calendar sync between your phone, tablet, and computer is included.

Business email setups are often where folk hit a wall. Getting Outlook talking to a Microsoft 365 Business account, or configuring it to connect to a cPanel email account on a small business hosting plan, involves server settings and authentication steps that are straightforward once you know what you’re doing but frustrating if you’ve never done it. If your IT person set everything up years ago and you’ve since got a new machine with nae notes to go on, bring it in and we’ll work it out.

We also sort Microsoft account linking, Apple ID setup on Windows (for iCloud calendar and contacts), and Google account sync so your calendar and contacts stay consistent across your phone and laptop without you having to think about it.

What to Expect

Bring it in. 153 Perth Road, Dundee. No appointment needed. Bring the computer plus any product keys, licences, or installation media you have. If you’re transferring data from an old machine, bring both.

We assess and quote. We check what’s needed, confirm compatibility, and tell you what it’ll take. Clear quote before we start.

We install and test. Every program gets tested. Every driver gets checked. Everything works before you collect it.

Turnaround: most software jobs are done same day. Multi-machine business setups take longer depending on the number of machines and complexity. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe.

Warranty: 90-day warranty on all installation work.