Guide for making an OEM Vista install virtually a clean install?

I got my laptop but did not do a clean install. I just removed all the bloatware I could think of. Is there a guide to do just that though, get rid of all the stuff that shouldn't be there so that you essentially have a clean install without all the bloat or footprints of it?
If not, and I got rid of most stuff and used tuneup utilities, it shouldn't make too much of a difference right?

 

You don't tend to get much bloat from Dell machines anyway (when bought direct from Dell), so unless you are particularly fussy you'd be fine with what you've done.

I always do a clean install, but I am one of the fussy ones

 

Ok sounds good

 

+1 on a clean install.
IMHO it would be more work to pick and choose what to remove rather than just doing a clean install.

 

Step 1 - Boot to Dell OS DVD and follow instructions.
Step 2 - Install drivers.

Simples.

Least you know exactly where you are then.

 

does the dell cds come with their bloatware on it also (like hp) or is actually a legitimate pure os cd

 

Normally it's clean.

Like I said though, there is minimal - I repeat minimal - bloat on dell machines when bought directly from Dell.

Mine had no "join freeserve" or anything like that at all (well, ok freeserve might not be around anymore, but you know what I mean). It did have some wallpapers, images, music etc, and their webcam central software. That was it.

Now if you buy retail, it might be a different story. No telling what PC World will do to it.

I clean install because I like to setup my partitions etc and because I vlite the installation to get rid of standard windows bloat. that is the only reason I will ever clean install a Dell.

 

It is an OS only disc. It's dell branded so your system will be identified as such, but there is no bloatware at all.

 

Exactly. A while ago, I used my Dell 64-bit Home Premium disk on my custom-built desktop, and everything installed perfectly, but now in my system info and stuff, the Dell logo shows up.