When you buy a laptop do you do a fresh install?

muttclugg · 1 Nov 2011 at 15:59

Just wondering how many of us do a fresh install when they buy a laptop? I've just got a new one and its loaded with all kinds of junk. Tempted to do a fresh install right away!

Tee Hee Johnson · 1 Nov 2011 at 16:32

Just uninstall it all, no need for a fresh install

str · 1 Nov 2011 at 17:29

I use Acronis True Image to make an image backup of the HDD before I boot it for the first time. Then I boot it and if it's got too much junk I either uninstall most of it or I do a clean install with an OEM disk and use the COA on the bottom of the laptop.

reflux · 1 Nov 2011 at 17:31

I always wipe and reinstall. Although sometimes end up borking the restore partition in the process :S

juno_first · 1 Nov 2011 at 17:37

I just got a new Toshiba & it had C: 300gb + D: 300gb inc recovery folder of 8gb which i put on a dvd.
I re-partitioned 60gb for C: & the rest as 1 drive.
The original installation had loads of crap running, of which the biggest pain was mcphee.
I presume using the same key is ok & hopefully I can recover it to stock one day if need be.
I was unable to use Ghost12 with the stock install, even after stopping all the crap running on startup.

GTO656 · 1 Nov 2011 at 22:27

Yes I got a used laptop reinstalled and everything is like new

Temi_D · 1 Nov 2011 at 23:09

I do a clean install. Also I've never understood the logic behind Toshiba's 50/50 split of partitions

TigerUK · 2 Nov 2011 at 01:06

clean install if its used. Justnkeep as is if i buy new, and just uninstall the unnecessary apps.

Mainly because if it's new I'm not sure if I want to keep it so I feel uneasy about messing with the system too much, even though i know that returns get send back to the distributer for clean installation and repackaging.

Loque · 2 Nov 2011 at 11:28

reinstall clean, ALWAYS. I cant use a laptop, if I think there are things installed on it, that I don't know about. The only way I can be sure that all the crap is gone, is to reinstall. I usually make a recovery dvd, and then completely wipe the drive, including the recovery partition.

Wizzfizz · 2 Nov 2011 at 11:33

I always do a format/fresh install of Windows.

PiKe · 2 Nov 2011 at 11:36

To be fair it's much easier these days to reinstall as Windows 7 driver database is pretty comprehensive.

Crimefighter · 2 Nov 2011 at 12:43

Id like to do it on my Sony F11, but Im a bit worried about losing the functionality of the special keyboard buttons.

PiKe · 2 Nov 2011 at 12:48

Image the drive first then.

POB · 5 Nov 2011 at 08:58

Depends on the line of Dell I have purchased.

Vostro or Latitude = No

Anything from the home department = Yes.

bushmins · 5 Nov 2011 at 12:24

How would you go about doing a fresh instal of win 7 starter? Can you buy the disks? I have only xp home and win 7, the win 7 is already used on my main machine.

andy_mk3 · 5 Nov 2011 at 12:27

I went for a clean install on my laptop and deleted the recovery partition. On other people's laptops I just un-install all the bloat-ware and install proper security.

It's amazing the amount of junk they put on laptops, it takes them 3x as long to boot up

str · 5 Nov 2011 at 13:05

bushmins said:
How would you go about doing a fresh instal of win 7 starter? Can you buy the disks? I have only xp home and win 7, the win 7 is already used on my main machine.

I downloaded it. Information about it is on the Microsoft Technet.

Deleted member 77746 · 5 Nov 2011 at 13:12

If its windows yes. If its a mac no.

bushmins · 5 Nov 2011 at 13:13

str said:
I downloaded it. Information about it is on the Microsoft Technet.

Do you have a link to that?

str · 5 Nov 2011 at 13:32

I didn't bookmark it. The ISO was downloaded via a torrent and I verified it was legit with the SHA-1 found on the Technet page.