First notebook on the way soon, got some questions so I'm not in over my head when it arrives

Well if everything goes right, I'll be ordering my first notebook here in a few days. But when it gets here, I want to do everything right the first time. So, I have a few questions hopefully you can help me with. I'll post them one at a time so it doesn't scare you away

1. What is the best alternative to doing a clean install? I've done my fair share of searching about this, and it seems the only answer is to manually remove the programs yourself. Most recommend the Add/Remove programs, but from personal experience, as well reading here at NBR, that leaves a mess behind. So, what is the best program to fully rid my system of bloatware? That is, if that is even the best alternative to a clean install, don't want to get too ahead of myself. I'd love to hear a few opinions please

I'd do a clean install, but I get lost reading the guides posted here, maybe if I feel a bit more comfortable with my computer knowledge I'll try it out on my next notebook.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

Check that out...it may help.

 

Clean install really isn't that hard. But I would use CCleaner to remove the programs, clean up your registry after removal, and then clean up the other junk files.

 

I'm in the exact same boat as you. Well from what I've gained, clean install is the best way. I get lost with reading the guides also but there's a first time for everything right?

 

If you dont want to reformat you can do as I will when mine arrives any minute now. First, delete everything you dont want from add/remove programs. Then, get yourself a copy of a great program called Tuneup Utilities 2008. This program will clean your system registry, reorganize all the contents of your Hard-Drive, and it will also allow you to optimize the way Vista runs by turning things off that eat away at your system memory. It saves everything before it makes any changes and its completely revisable if a problem occurs, it will have your laptop running in optimum shape, short of overclocking ofcourse.

 

Well, many users (including myself) ultimately prefer to do a clean installation of the OS, but it's far from a required step. If reading through the various guides leaves you uncomfortable then don't do it, at least not right away.

Down the road when you're more familiar with your notebook and have been exposed to more OS-related procedures (installing and updating drivers and whatnot) then you can give it a go. Until then, just enjoy your notebook as it comes to you and don't let anyone tell you that you MUST do a clean install or else everything will suck. It won't.

Enjoy.

 

Yep, that's what I'll be doing. Would you also recommend CCleaner? Or maybe a different program? Have you had any experience with any type of these programs (pcdecrapifier also comes to mind)?

And thanks everyone for the replies.

 

Actually, now I'm thinking a clean install would be best. I keep going back and forth between that and just manually removing the bloatware. My only concern in doing a fresh install is about downloading the drivers and whatnot.

Would it be possible, if I ask Microsoft for the OS CD and drivers CD (if it doesn't already come with a Vostro 1400) to follow something like THIS and after that put in the drivers CD and hopefully it'll be fairly self explanatory?

Why do you even have to download drivers anyway? Why wouldn't they be there on the fresh install?

I'm so confused, and sound like I've never used a computer before

 

You could just uninstall everything instead of going through a clean install.