Get rid of junkware?

In your opinion, is it better to just reformat from xp home with all the junkware? Will I achieve (very) similar results with uninstall (add/remove programs) and a registry cleaner (registry mechanic). I reformatted to xp pro and didnt back up my drive image and thus lost a lot of dell stuff (like dell quickset, media direct and some intel pro wireless thing).

Not sure if its good to have those stuff or a 'cleaner' drive. So is there any way to get back the original settings (with all junk) after I reformatted to pro (ie get disc from dell or whatever) and is it worth it? Im running Dell Inspirion 6400 Centrino Duo T2050.

 

Imo its better to reformat it with xp pro.. you can download all of the software/drivers you mentioned from dell's website and install what you need..

 

Personally, I go with format. We did have a poll running around here somewhere that showed most dell users prefer to format versus doing the add/remove method. As justsomeguy said, 99.9% of everything that is on your laptop when you first receive it can either be downloaded off of Dell's site or you can request from Dell on disc.

 

Good but im not sure what I had on my laptop before I format so Im a bit lost right now.

 

Its been a few months since I did it, but if you put in your model details on the dell site it will list the applicable software/drivers for your model.. Its fairly hard to go wrong really

also, I had a disk with the machine with all of the drivers/utilities on (though newer versions were available on the website)

 

Most of the junk software should come on a CD called Dell Applications or something to that effect. You should have received this if you ordered the XP disc from dell.

The drivers are avaialble on the website as noted (support.dell.com under drivers & downloads). They are also on a disc but those are usually outdated.

The only software that you really need to request is Cyberlink PowerDVD (if you have a dvd/cd drive) and Sonic RecordNow. Cyberlink is the dvd decoder and player. Sonic is burning software, but I personally recommend Nero.

Can you tell us what laptop model you have? I might be able to give you more information.

 

Nero recommendation seconded.. Dont think Dell supply that one though.. Least not over here.

 

I have a Dell Inspirion 6400 Centrino Duo T2050 (1.6ghz), 2gig ram, ati x1400...what else do you need?

My situation might be a bit more complicated in that I screwed my install with XP Pro on my first run through. I tried to upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro but it failed...When I got to the Windows XP loading screen the thing automatically restarte (safe mode didnt work either). Then I install XP Home from my old computer (desktop XP home SP 1) while overriding the XP Home/Pro on my laptop (probably caused some incompatability issues). Right after I realized I had XP Pro so I installed that overriding XP Home SP1....and here I am.

For some reason, they shippment only came with 1 CD...wordperfect...didnt get any other software (I didnt order it)...but no problems, I already have Nero and all the other software i need. Two things right now, cant seem to connect to the internet and my screen resolution is smaller.

EDIT: Some of the stuff on the dell website say they are "part of a multidisk zip file" and that I need to insert the last disk of the set...whats up with that?

EDIT2: Should I just perform a 'true' full reinstall of XP Pro? And since Ive already reformatted (and probably lost all my drivers)...do I still have to worry about backing anything up.

 

I ordered the xp disc and I didnt get the junkware disc with my comp. So dell is doing the nicest thing of sending it to me.

 

i just bought dell xps 1710, will it come with a seperate copy of xp media center for me to reformat the hd. Order states I will get Dell Resource CD with Application Backup,w/Tools for XPS M1710. will this allow me to clean install. I feel like the answer will be no.

 

if you dont get it, just request a copy, they should give it to you without issue

 

I prefer uninstalling software I don't need over a reformat. I don't think the effort involved in reinstalling everything is worth the potential speed advantage from a clean install.

 

if u reformat/reinstall windows, do u have to install the programs that run the dvds and all that stuff that comes with the laptop thats not junkware?

 

Yup. When you reformat, you're basically wiping off all the data and software in your hard drive. When you install Windows, that's all you're gonna get. Any other software you want should be installed after you have installed Windows.

 

Okay, its done. It was just problematic for me because I didnt back anything up and was clueless at where to start.

 

so how do i add the other software that plays the dvds and whatever else the laptop can do if i reinstall windows to get rid of all the junkware???

 

Just download klcodec standard, and you can play pretty much anything, including dvds.
klcodec

 

you can get dvds from dell w/out hassle

there are plenty of free players out there, the best of which is vlc player. it will play pretty much every format you throw at it; in fact, i've yet to come across a format it won't play

i would avoid dl'ing codecs

 

so u dont need any special disk from dell to install the dvd player?

 

You can use a free software, but I would recommend using Cyberlink PowerDVD from Dell. For one, Cyberlink is completely 100% compatible with MediaDirect. There have been some questions brought up as to whether the free software would work with MediaDirect.

Second, all you have to do is contact Dell Tech Support and request the Cyberlink PowerDVD. They will send this to you free of charge and you'll get it in about 2 business days. If they ask you why you are requesting it, all you have to tell them is that you need to reinstall it. It is not hard to get and you can use chat support if you live in the USA.

 

ok so afte this weekend ends, ill call dell and ask for a XP Home reintallation disk, and a Cyberlink PowerDVD disk.

btw whats MediaDirect?

 

MediaDirect is the program that allows you to push that little button on the oppisote side of the LED's from the power button and play CD's, music, look at photos, etc without starting up Windows. Its cute and everything, but I really have had no purpose for it because the extra 30sec to boot up windows is not a problem for me.

 

Plz letme know,

If i format and fresh install the Win Xp, and also the dell quickset, will the media direct capability work ?

thnx

 

you need to partition about 3gb of space for the dell media direct to install on and make sure you got all the drivers etc...