Clear cut answer? Swapping to SSD what is lost?

So when my M17x does come into the fight... I plan on upgrading to a SSD. But the I keep reading about people miraging / ghosting over. Why? People keep saying to clean install you need a separate Win 7 key / disc.

Does it not come with recover software? Are you not allowed to reformat a HD and clean install with the disc it comes with? If you can't what is lost through using a spare Win7 64 Home Edition disc/key I have?

Again, I know I'm new and I know on other boards I hate seeing repetetive post. But I searched and scoured the other thread that is 50 pages long.. But there's just too much info and not enough clear cut answers..

 

It comes with a disc. You are fine doing a fresh install with the copy that comes with it. You will have to separately add some of the fancy alienware stuff. Will give you link later when I am not on my iPhone. Otherwise, you don't lose anything worthwhile.

To find link just google "alienware look and feel"

 

Thanks, found the thread. So all that is "temporarily" lost is the backgrounds and load screen? Everything else is the same as a OEM shipped unit?

 

No, it's a regular old copy of windows. So, you lose the alienrespawn software, the norton AV crap, and various other minor bloatware that I definitely have not noticed missing. So, technically it's not a full restore cd, but IMHO you're better off without stuff you likely don't want.

So, some important things to do on a fresh install:

Drivers (duh) and yea, it comes with a driver cd.
Alienfx software (on Dell site)
Tons of windows updates
Tons of Directx updates (very important and easy to overlook)

Enable trim if applicable
Disable defrag and pagefile (if win7 doesn't automatically)

 

I recommend reading this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...instructions-recommendations.html#post7263615