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    m17x Recovery DVD VS Win 7 OEM DVD

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by djjosherie, Apr 16, 2012.

  1. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    Does the Windows 7 SP1 recovery DVD that comes with the system install anything else but windows? Including any Dell bloatware? Just got my 17x and reloading it, but using the Alienware DVD that came with it, realizing it's still got a lot of Alienware logos and stuff... I don't want ANY dell bloatware :(

    thx
     
  2. Yiddo

    Yiddo Believe, Achieve, Receive

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    The built in installation is dire it comes with 40GB for the OS and software and is full to the brim with bloatware and monitoring spyware which Alienware installs just like that screen you see when you first turn it on that asks you to tick 2 boxes to monitor what you are doing. Also it uses up around 18GB for the backup recovery feature so that is 58GB of your HDD before you get started for an SSD that is game over.

    Best thing to do is create a factory backup using a USB Stick and Alienrespawn and then create a bootable USB stick using the windows DVD that came with the laptop and install a stock version of windows. The Windows DVD comes with the basic Alienware features but no software but you can easily download everything from the Alienware website and it will only use up around 15GB.

    You can find all the additional features + a ton more on this post here. Which is the dogs.
     
  3. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

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    What bloat/spyware? Be specific. My M11x is about the most bloat free retail system I have ever seen.

    I do not consider things like wallpaper "bloat" nor the software to control the lighting etc as these are things you might expect for a themed notebook/laptop.

    I DO consider 30day trial software installs as bloatware.
     
  4. Descalzo

    Descalzo Notebook Evangelist

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    Hear hear! I have had a zillion Dell systems, with both Pro and Home, and this is pretty durned bloat-free. You wanna see bloat? Look at my mother-in-law's HP. Or my dad's Acer. Holy monkey.
     
  5. Yiddo

    Yiddo Believe, Achieve, Receive

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    For a start I just noticed this post title is talking about the M17x on the M11x forum...

    So I assume that your model is going to differ to mine and as I ordered in the UK free trials seem to be rife on the system I received even after deselecting them during the ordering process.

    I explained above why it is better to use the DVD imo what more is there to say apart from listing every piece of software installed?
     
  6. djjosherie

    djjosherie Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, sorry about m11x post, I could of sworn I clicked the m17x page... (I have m11x on my favorites since I've owned that for a few years now).

    Anyways, to answer my own question. Upon arrival of my new m17x yesterday, I can say there was enough Dellienware crap on it I reloaded it (plus I wanted to put in my SSD as the main drive).

    The recovery windows discs that come with both the m11x and m17x are completely identical to a OEM DVD of windows 7, except I've found I don't have to type a serial number, which is nice. Thanks tho :)
     
  7. desiz

    desiz Newbie

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    it was't exactly original oem dvd for me, the m11x recovery disc loaded with alienware wallpaper
     
  8. Yiddo

    Yiddo Believe, Achieve, Receive

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    Same, it seems to come with the standard Alienware features like wallpaper and icons.