New L502x - re-install Win7 or not?

I've spent many hours reading the mammoth L502 owners thread, and as a consequence, cancelled my order and re-ordered with the 1080 screen (so thanks, I think).

What I can't work out from the thread though, is the first thing we all need to decide. Should we do a fresh install of Win7? And if so, how do we do it? (we get the code from the laptop, but where do we get the correct version of Win7 from)?

Thanks for any help, and for all the advice in the owners thread.

 

I know I may get shot for this. As soon as I pulled the laptop out of the box I uninstalled all the crap I didn't want, downloaded CC Cleaner. Cleaned up the registry and crap files(CC Cleaner does that for you). Then I updated windows and drivers and loaded the software I wanted. The computer has worked great since. I imagine the L702X and L502 have the same crap preinstalled. If you go the reinstall windows route, just remember, the dell software you may have wanted to use will have to be found and reinstalled.

 

Have had an l702x since march

Didn't even bother with cc cleaner or anything else, simply uninstalled the dell bloat ware (and there isn't even much compared to other manufacturers) then as the op said, updated drivers, bios and windows updates

Has run completely fine since


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.124055,-0.146901

 

i have had glitches in the past due to registry issues and CC cleaner seemed to take care of it and I like the fact you can use it to clean out the internet crap and the little things that build up do to installing and uninstalling program and hell, it's free.

 

The XPS 15 doesn't come with all that much bloatware, certainly not compared to some Sony laptops I've setup.

First, I partitioned the XPS 15's 750 GB drive the way I wanted it. Thenk, I used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall what I didn't want. I also use CCleaner to keep things tidy.

In the past I've often done clean Windows installs on new computers. I don't find it necessary on the XPS 25.

 

I agree with evrything you have said. I have done the same with all four Hp's in the house as well as my laptop.

 

If you do decide to do a clean install and you don't have the cd that came with your laptop for any reason, make sure to download some drivers first before you reformat. Most importantly, get the lan or wireless driver so you can download the rest of the drivers off the site. You might also want the intel3000 graphics driver so you can work in a reasonable resolution setting.

 

For what it's worth, I always do a fresh install when I get a new PC. It's more of a just a preference since I know exactly what is installed on the PC going forward. I also take an image using Windows Backup (Create a system image) once I have all the drivers installed and all Windows updates applied.

 

Thanks all for the advice. I've always built my own PCs before, so a fresh install is what I'm used to, but I don't have the appropriate Win7 disk for that with this laptop. Anyway, the idea of just tidying it sounds good.

The Laptop arrived a couple of hours ago (nice). The first thing I noticed was a piece of paper saying:
"Important Information: Before Using Your Computer
1) Charge your battery for 12 hours
2) Update to the latest computer BIOS and drivers (ssuport.dell.com)

So I checked out the dell support site, and the drivers. They are recommending over 20 download driver updates for my machine. So I called Dell, and they said there's no need to do any, unless you have a problem.

So... I thought I'd get a more sensible answer from asking you guys

Do you recommend updating the Bios or any of the drivers? (there are drivers for everything, sound, cpu, HDD, trackpad, on board graphics & separate graphics, etc etc).

Many thanks

 

I received my XPS l502x in December, it had the latest bios A07 already installed.

I find the Dell site remarkably confusing to my 70 year old brain.

 

Start a chat session with Dell tech support and explain that you need the Win 7 install DVD. Even if you did not include it on your order, they almost certainly send you one, probably by 2nd day air. You might have to be firm, but I've never known them to refuse.

It can be a good idea to install updated drivers, as these are often tweaked by vendors. Some are more important than others, and some change more frequently than others. Gamers generally want to wring the last bit of performance out of their video cards, so video drivers are updated frequently. I received my L702x last May and immediately did a clean install with the drivers available at that time, many of which were likely newer than those shipped with the laptop. I had an ongoing problem where the WiFi card would take up to a minute to restablish a network connection when the laptop woke from sleep. Did another clean install with all current drivers from Dell over Christmas. In particular, the Intel Advanced-N6230 driver had been updated. Now it reconnects to the network after about three seconds when it wakes from sleep.


I do a lot of Windows installing at my job, and I generally never even break the seal on CDs shipped with most products, because odds are very good that the drivers at the vendor's web site are newer. If you do decide to do a clean install, get all the drivers from Dell site.

BIOS is a different question. If you bought a new model of laptop, you would probably want to update your BIOS as new ones came available. As a model matures, the fixes included in later BIOS releases generally become more and more trivial, designed to fix specific and uncommon issues: all the common issues would have come to light earlier.

The XPS Ln02X line has been out nearly a year, so if this was my machine I'd note the installed version and check the notes at the Dell web site to see what was changed in subsequent versions. If it was nothing I needed, I wouldn't update.

There is an extremely small chance that a BIOS update will fail and brick your machine. That said, I've done scores of these in the last 15 years and never had an issue, but I read about them here at the forums occasionally. If that happens and you've done nothing other that follow Dell's update instructions, you'll get tech support to replace the MB, but it's hassle. So one rule of thumb is do any BIOS updating during your warranty period.

 

Great info, thank you.

I'll check which Bios I have

Even for those of us who bought from the Outlet store?

 

I don't see why not. You've got a full warranty, and this is not something that costs them much. You almost always get satisfaction for anything you're reasonably entitled to if you keep firmly and politely asking for what you want.

I almost always use chat, you don't have the foreign accents to content with, you can be away from the chat session for brief periods, and best of all, you get a written transcript that you can produce later if they promise you something and later a different rep claims it can't be done. They'll send it to your email automatically at the end of the chat session. Hang on to that email.

As far as the Windows install DVD, just say that you want to do a clean install, and your understanding was that it would be included. Worst case, you'll need to get a supervisor involved, but that's unlikely for such a low cost item.

 

Unfortunately, live chat and e-mail support aren't available outside the US, at least not to Canadian customers.

 

That's a shame. What happens when you go to the US site and try to initiate a chat session, do they block it based on your IP?

 

I receive a message that chat is not available as my system was purchased in Canada.

Edit: just tried it again. There is a new response, as it directs me to another page for Canadian chat where I am required to enter name, address, phone, etc. That's new, so maybe it is now available to Canadians. I'll have to try it to find out.

Strangely, when I click the link for e-mail support I receive this message:

 

Thank you, I'll give it a go. Not sure about suggesting I thought it would be included though, I'll feel pretty stupid since it clearly says on my original order that it's not I might go closer to the truth, which is that I tried and failed to create a DVD with their software and dvd drive (probably due to rubbish media).

They are in the UK, used it a few times while trying to choose my system, and got an email after each one.

 

Re. Live Chat

Live Chat for pre-order/sales is entirely different. That's been available in Canada for years, but Live Chat for Tech Support was not.

 

Yes do update the drivers that come with the computer. Check Dell.com to see if you have the updated drivers. However DON'T update the BIOS. If everything is working fine then just stick with the BIOS that comes with the laptop. BIOS updates are tricky and if anything goes wrong you will have to have your new laptop repaired.