M11x - Do I need to do fresh install?

My M11x will arrive end of August.
Here are my plan, hopefully you guys give me advise.

1> Do I need to do fresh install?

2> I'm planning to do partition, I have 256GB SSD and planning to do 200GB OS + 56GB Data....any advise how can I do this? Last time I do partitioning I fvcked up big time because I didn't get the capacity that I need and I re-image it almost 3times.

3> How should I know if I have hinges/screen problem?

Thank you in advance.

 

1) Never a bad idea. Alienware configs are cleaner than other OEM's, but there is still a good deal of junk that comes with the install.

2) Why do you bother with multiple partitions? That is a thing of the past, where you would need to periodically reformat Windows to clean out the garbage that accumulates over months of use. Windows 7 is so stable, that you can easily get away with a single parittion. And if you do need to reformat, you can easily move your data onto an external drive - something that was not available back in the days where reformatting Windows was a necessity.

3) You won't know until you get your laptop. You might have it, you might not. In either case, I would recommend that you get a good warranty on your laptop. A good warranty is far more important than any CPU upgrade or memory upgrade.

 

I need to do partitioning because I have this Rollback Rx software which restore my snapshot (clean system) in-case I have corrupt software due to virus/windows update/new install software/etc. - If I restore my snapshot, my Data partition is not included which my files/picture/etc are saved.

Can you please help me how to partition 256GB to C: 200GB + D: 56GB

PS:
kent1146, thanks for the advise re: SSD. I read a lot of good things about SSD and I'm very thankful that you open my eyes to SSD.

 

If you must partition, and are doing a clean install of Windows, then do it in Windows setup. Tell Windows Setup to delete all existing partitions, and then create a new 200Gb partition to isntall Windows on. Once Windows is installed, you can go into Control Panel -- > Admin Tools --> Computer Management --> Disk MAnagement, and create another partition on the remaining 56GB. You can then do whatever you need to do with those 2 partitions.

 

If I will not do reformat, can I use the Disk Management directly to create 2partition (One is Operating system and the other one is Data Partition)?

 

The easiest way to do this is to use disk partitioning software. G-Parted is a free tool that can create a bootable CD or USB drive for you. Just run G-Parted, and have it resize your existing partition so that you have 56GB free.

 

I received mine yesterday and the first thing I did after playing around for a short time was update the bios and then wipe/reinstall Windows 7.

There was a lot of bloatware, but I agree not nearly as much as say an Acer or HP would come with. I personally feel that it made a difference in the speed of the OS.

 

What do you consider bloatware? To me, bloatware is software (1) with no purpose, (2) too large for its intended purpose, or (3) that offers nothing new. Under that definition, Adobe Reader could be considered bloatware by #2, since it's huge (though it still has a useful purpose, so I hesitatingly call it bloatware), and perhaps Alienware CC is by #3, since it duplicates Windows' innate functions like power settings (though so many people use it, perhaps its handiness is enough to ignore that it fits the definition).

--
On topic, IMO a reinstall isn't necessary. There are at most a handful of things that you might want to uninstall. I doubt a fresh install with what you want installed is any faster than Dell's install with what you don't want uninstalled.

 

Bloatware is stuff that "could be convenient if I needed it"

Like the Dell backup safe something, or the wireless utility when I am content with the built in windows one, etc

 

Any application that is pre-installed for me, that I would not choose to install myself.

It makes no difference to me if the application is small, or useful in some cases, etc. If it's pre-installed, and I don't want it, it's bloatware.

I can tell you that my personal experience with the Alienware M11x contradicts this.

When I got my laptop, I tried your approach - uninstall the things I didn't want. Then, I did a clean reformat, and installed only the things I did want. The final list of installed software for the machine was identical. By your logic, the machine should behave exactly the same. However, I can tell you that this was not the case. The machine booted significantly faster after the clean install.

I get power-button-to-desktop in 25 seconds. I would never be able to get that using the Alienware image that comes with the laptop, regardless of what I uninstall.

 

well I assume your M11x came with a non-SSD since you seem to have put your own in? Sort of hard to compare a non-SSD to SSD boot times fairly

I could be mistaken however and am not doubting you at all. I'm all for reformatting and installing what I believe I need.

 

Thanks for the input guys....

If I will do fresh install, anybody can give me a link or guide me step-by-step what software driver I need to install first....?

 

Of course I didn't compare non-SSD to SSD boot times. The first thing I did when I got the machine was image the mechanical hard drive to an SSD. All of my uninstalling and reformatting was done on the SSD. I never used the mechanical hard drive that came with the M11x.

And wh

 

I will receive my M11x R2 today. I think I will not waste my time of doing fresh install because of FEW bloatware installed.

Here's what I will do:
1> Check all the software installed and their function
2> Uninstalled the software I don't need.
3> Uninstall McAfee antivirus
4> Install Kaspersky Internet Security
5> Run Ccleaner
6> Defrag system
7> Install Rollback Rx and create my initial snapshot.
8> Install all the software I needed (MsOffice, Nero, PowerDVD, games, etc.)


I hope M11x R2 will not disappoint me

 

if you think you're gonna defrag an SSD you might wanna do more reading...

 

thanks....i read a lot of news and issue defragging SSD. I guess no need to defrag.

How about Ccleaner? anybody?

 

Hmmm... I just got my M11xR2 today, and I really don't see any bloatware at all. I just see some drivers and alien command center stuffs. Perhaps the Cyberlink youcam could be bloatware, but I really see nothing like you guys mentioned.

 

Totally agree. Got mine two weeks ago. I see no need at all to totally reinstall W7. Seems like people want something to do to occupy their time.

 

I detected a shorter start and shutdown time after a fresh win 7 install.
Personally I feel always better after a clean install instead of using a pre installed image - but thats just me.

 

No need for reinstall. Uninstall McAfee and install something faster and better. Uninstall Live Essentials componets like photo gallery that require the mini SQL. Although I am unsure how much resources that really takes.

 

There is a significant drop in boot times with a fresh install.

When I got my M11x, I began to uninstall any apps that I didn't want, disabled services, configured my startup programs, etc - I got a boot time (POST to desktop) of 0:52 on a Western Digital Scorpio Black 7200rpm drive. When I did a fresh re-install and installed apps that I wanted, my boot time (POST to desktop) 0:28 on the same drive.

There was a significant drop in boot times, despite the software load and configuration being identical. If you are comfortable doing a reformat, then I absolutely recommend that you do it. Simply uninstalling programs does not give you the same performance at the end.

 

how do you do a fresh install? I'll be receiving mine in a week.