New HD Clean Install?

I have read a few things on here about clean install. I am installing my new 7300 rpm 100g HD soon in my i9300. Should I just ghost the drive or is a clean install the way to go? By eliminating the Dell Xtra software will I gain alot of performance? Also I would like to keep the Direct Media so I can still use the buttons on my front panel. Is this possible or will it still work without it? I have the CD that I made from my laptop software will that do a clean install without all the extra stuff?

 

I would call dell and explain to them that you are upgrading your HDD. Dell will send you all the CDs that you need. One will have junk software on it, then there is the XP cd, plus drivers CD. You'll also need to request Cyberlink PowerDVD and Sonic Record Now if you want those two.

FOr the direct media, you just need to download it from dell's website and install quickset. The 9300 uses the older version of Direct Media, so you won't have any problems. Also, your buttons will work without Direct Media. Direct Media is the booting software when you press play, but you don't have to have it unless you want it.

 

Thanks fro the info, just did it. BTW DELL and there customer service sucks they sent me to the wrong place 3 times, and were very hard to understand. Took me more time to tell them all my personal data each time than the actual request.

 

did you give your service tag number ?

 

Yeah EVERY time!! Then they tried to sell me on some kind of software warranty, even though my warranty is good till 10/2006. Oh well!!

 

what drive did you buy?

 

I bought the Hitachi 100g travelstar, 7200 rpm. I looked at a bunch and it seemed like the best. I liked the new 160g drives out there, but the are only 5200rpm.