Just bought new Acer... reinstall Windows?

Hey guys! I just bought my first Acer laptop, an S3.
I love it so much already!! I've been only using it for a few hours and I'm pretty impressed. Maybe I'll post a video of my own thoughts about this ultrabook on youtube (the other videos on there were extremely boring and dry). I watched the other videos on there while awaiting the delivery of my S3 and also to see if I should choose it or not.

Anyway.... the purpose of this post is to ask: should I clean install Windows 7 and just install the drivers and the important Acer apps (there are three that help make the ultrabook experience great like quick wake up from sleep and instant connect to wifi and backup).

Since this ultrabook didnt come with a media drive, should I invest in a USB drive or should I just stick to flash drives? The only time I use CDs or DVDs is when I'm installing a new printer or Windows or Office, which isnt very often... My backups are done via an external USB hard drive.

So yeah should I do a clean install of Windows or should I just remove the bloatware?

 

I never re-install although there are people who always do.
In my opinion there's no point- you remove 10 apps that Acer installed (in 10 minutes) and you're done as opposed to re-installing Windows and going through basic config again which will take more time regardless of how awesome your SSD is (if you even have one).
Whatever is left over in registry after uninstalling Acer-branded crap is less than you'll add by installing and uninstalling different things during first month- so I don't see any benefit in performance either.

As for USB DVD- there's no point buying it. Stick to USB. Most things can be downloaded from Internet (like printer drivers), Windows can be resurrected from the hidden partition so you'll need a DVD drive only once in a while in which case you can simply use one from a different PC over LAN.

 

hmm great points. thanks!

i actually cheaped out and went with the HDD model!

 

The only stuff you can remove are the Acer bloatware Games, Acer Screensaver (if you don't like it), Acer Window arrangement (if does still exist on S3)...

I would let the factory config as shipped and update the drivers as usual. Remember Acer and others manufacturers customizing certain their drivers for the need of their machines and you'll have anyway to install them again.

Also, If i was you i will try as soon as possible to ask Acer how to have/make recovery dvds or install Factory settings back, just in case.

 

Thanks. Yeah there is a program called "eRecovery" that came with my laptop that let's me save a factory image onto USB

 

I'm one of those folks that routinely clean installs. I like to start with a clean registry and minimal applications. But, I tend to pass on programs like Acer's eRecovery, ePower, etc. The only app I put on my 3820tg is launch manager. Yes, a clean install is a PITA.

 

Great!
How much took the recovery image onto Usb stick, or which one did choosen?

 

This aging Extensa came with Vista HP (yuck) and was pretty unusable. Vista was bad enough, but add the Acer bloatware, it was terrible.

Did a clean install of Windows 7 and it was like a completely new laptop. Not only was it much faster and more responsive, my battery life increase by a good 1/2 hour.

That's not a totally fair comparison to what you were asking, but I always do a clean install when I get new hardware and I find its more reliable and faster. That is not just on Acer, but also HP (Compaq), and Asus systems as well.

The "Microsoft Premium Collection" that you see selling online and at Best Buy is nothing more than a regular PC that's had a clean install done on it.