New XPS Studio 13 ( To clean install or Not to clean install? )

I have a XPS Studio 13 set to arrive on March 13 (4 weeks from order date) on the way. I have been scouring these message boards, which have been an invaluable resource, for weeks now. I have read a number of users insisting on a wipe and clean install of Vista as soon as your laptop arrives. At the same time there are users who feel a clean install isn’t worth it and can be more trouble than its worth. My question is should I perform a clean install when the laptop arrives or not?

An argument for the clean install is that it removes some of the dell bloat ware, as well as Microsoft works that it somehow made me included do to some language configuration bug in the dell website order process. I would also be putting on a copy of Vista Ultimate 64 instead of Vista Premium. I have read some development tools Visual Studio and SQL server perform better on Ultimate or Enterprise.

Some arguments against the clean install include, no getting the face recognition software to load back up, the chance of forgetting a driver and messing something up, and the time it takes to perform the wipe.
There is still some debate on whether it’s a good idea to clear the dell partition and format to one partition or leave it in tact. Any thoughts on this?

Any info / advice is appreciated.

 

Hey!
Some peep's do the Clean Install, some don't..it comes down to personal preference. I've read that the 1340 doesn't come with a lot of Dell Bloatware.

When, I received my 1530..it came with some bloatware! So, I did Les' guide on the clean install:
Dell Vista Laptop Reformat and Bloatware Removal Guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

Here is another great guide to check out, if you wish..of course
NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

I wanted to have the capability of having what I wanted on my new lappy..not others (Dell, etc.).

Les' guide is very handy/helpful is you want to check it out!


Cin

 

I echo that...mine ran mucho better after using those threads...even got rid of media direct....but everyone is different on what they want to wipe out!!!get rid of the AV trial for sure!!!!!

 

Yes! I abolished Media Direct also...more of hazard for me..then anything else...caused to many prob's with my 1530

I think those 2 Guides for doing a Clean Install & Tweaking are an essential..But, that's just my own opinion!

I lurves having Avira AV on my 1530


Cin

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is Media Direct and how does removing it affect your system?

 

Here is some info' on Media Direct:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=213238

MediaDirect enables you to watch DVD movies, slideshows, or listen to music. MediaDirect is installed in a special partition on the hard disk.

Alot of peep's remove to use that extra partition for more *space*


Cin

 

Media Direct doesn't come on the Studio XPS line... At least it didn't on mine.

 

Well, that's even better that it didn't! ...I shouldn't say that, some peep's really like MediaDirect, to be fair..


Cin

 

I would definitely recommend a clean install.

My M1330 was much more snappy once I had done it (it doesn't really take very long), and you can load everything you want on it, and then immediately back it all up so that you can reset your laptop to that exact point should anything go wrong.

 

That is one of the great things with the clean install..You *tweak* your lappy' the way you want it! And, backups are a very good thing!


Cin

 

wish i could figure out why my processes and cpu usage loves to spike t0 74% out of nowhere randomly...this is after a clean install hmm

 

Thanks for the advice guys. When she arrives I will do a clean install. The idea of installing all my base software and taking a "snapshot" that I can restore to sounds great!

Is this functionality built into an app that comes with windows or is there a good third party software app that I need to look at?

 

Clean install is what I did also. I didn't even bother with the provided version of the OS. Got it from Bestbuy, opened the package, booted it up with my copy of Vista installation DVD. Got all the necessary software (webcam, face detection, roxio, etc) from Dell's website.