Should I install fresh copy of Windows 7?

Hello everyone,

I am getting my m11x tomorrow and I am very excited. Now I am wondering whether or not it's worth for me to install a fresh copy of windows 7. If yes, what are some drivers that I must install on the new windows 7? Thank you

 

It already has Win7 pre-installed...

 

There is not much bloatware off the bat; you should be fine with the standard Win 7 Home

 

Yes, clean reformat to Windows 7 if you care about performance.

When I first got my Alienware M11x, I booted the machine up and uninstalled everything I didn't want until I got to my desired software config. Soon afterwards, I decided to do a clean reformat instead, and installed all of the applications I wanted. The clean reformat method resulted in significantly faster boot times, despite the final software config being identical. If you want top performance from your computer, do a clean install from scratch instead of using the factory image.

I did not have an external optical drive. I installed Windows 7 Ultimate off of a USB key, using this guide below. You will need a computer with an optical drive and USB port, and a USB key that is 4GB or larger.
How To: Install Windows 7 from a USB Key! | Maximum PC

Once you complete the install, you need to install drivers. You can find them on Welcome to Dell Support --> Drivers and Downloads. Download these drivers onto another machine, and copy them over to your Alienware M11x after a clean reformat:

• Alienware - OSD Application
• Alienware - Command Center
• Dell - Custom Desktop Themes (optional)
• Audio - Realtec Driver - ALC665
• Chipset - Intel Driver - QS57 Express Chipset (for the R2)
• Chipset - JMicron Driver - JMB380 1394
• Chipset - JMicron JMB380C - Card Reader
• Input Device Drivers - Synaptics Touchpad
• Network - Atheros Driver - AR8132 LAN 10/100
• Network - Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module
• Network - Dell Wireless WLAN 1520 Half MiniCard
• SATA Drives - ST Microelectronics - DE351DL Free Fall Sensor
• SATA Drives - Intel Rapid Storage Technology (useless)
• Video - Intel Driver - Graphic Media Accelerator HD
• Video - nVidia Driver - Geforce GT335M (or use modded INF drivers)

What you might be interested in is what I *DIDN'T* install:

• Applications - Dell - Custom Desktop Themes (I didn't like them).
• BIOS - Alienware BIOS (since I already had the latest one)
• Communication - Wireless Broadband Drivers (since I didn't have a broadband card)
• Network - Intel Drivers - WiFi Link (since I don't have those cards)
• Network - Dell - Wireless WLAN 1520 Half MiniCard (I downloaded these, extracted these, but manually installed the drivers. I did not go through the Setup.exe program, since it installs a bunch of garbage)

I also went through msconfig, and chose not to start up any unnecessary startup applications. I also disabled AlienSense, the facial recognition login tool, because it consumes a bunch of resources. I also disabled the FAService from Windows Services, because it consumes a bunch of resources related to AlienSense. I also disabled AlienFusion, because it conflicts with Windows power management settings.

Beyond that, you simply download and install the apps that you want off of the internet. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Avast! Free Antivirus, Java, Flash, Steam, WinRAR, and Foxit PDF Reader (*NEVER EVER* install Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is a piece of junk. Foxit PDF Reader FTW).

 

I couldn't agree with kent1146 more, I did exactly the same, and if the performance was 10 now it's 13-14, quite an improvement

 

I got this question via PM from someone who read this thread:

I do not see a problem with anything that you proposed. It would work without problem for you.

Yes, you can use your own copy of Windows 7 with your own CD key.

Yes, you can later decide to reformat your M11x and use the copy of Windows 7 + product key that came with the laptop. Yes, you can do all of this using either the recovery disc or the recovery image that comes with the M11x. Once you do this, the laptop will then be using the M11x's original product key. They would not be using or have access to "your" Windows 7 CD key.

 

Does anyone know how to setup the alienware login screen?
I like it and I'd want to keep it after I installed a clean version of Windows.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ook-feel-after-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

Thanks a lot, BatBoy!