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    A clean Windows 7 reinstall or restoration of the HP factory settings on my Envy 14?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by umhaha, May 17, 2011.

  1. umhaha

    umhaha Notebook Consultant

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    I would like to re-install Windows on my Envy 14 to fast things up. I was wondering if I should just re-install completely or re-install it so that it's back to HP's factory settings. Which option do you guys recommend me? I would appreciate pros and cons of each if possible.

    Personally, I would like to do a completely re-install Windows 7, but I would also would like variety of HP's functions such as the Beats Audio button, fences, and other things.

    Thank you for your time and any help would be appreciated!
     
    umhaha, May 17, 2011
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  2. jai554

    jai554 Notebook Consultant

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    if i were you.... i would restore to HP factory settings.....
    REMEMBER: backup your important documents to another hard drive before you restore.......
     
    jai554, May 17, 2011
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  3. pez319

    pez319 Notebook Consultant

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    A clean windows install will generally make your comp run faster because there's less processes running but once you start adding all the drivers and programs you need it does raise the processes so ultimately you only really get maybe 10 processes less. The big point of a clean install is to remove bloatware and save hdd space. It seems like you use HPs software because you mentioned you want fences so It might be easier to do a minimal recovery or just a regular restore and then use a program like revo uninstaller to remove programs you don't want. You realistically won't see that much of an improvement with a clean or standard install except in maybe bootup times in which case you can just disable unnecessary programs from starting

    If you do a clean install you need a windows cd which you can download in the envy 14 lounge thread. There's also a list of basic drivers you can download from there. Make sure you keep a copy if you swsetup folder too because that has software such as adobe elements that you can't just download.
     
    pez319, May 17, 2011
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  4. MagusDraco

    MagusDraco Biiiiiiirrrrdmaaaaaaan

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    you can just do a minimal recovery or whatever they call that one factory reinstall that only puts on the drivers and a couple hp things.
     
    MagusDraco, May 17, 2011
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  5. pongalong

    pongalong Notebook Consultant

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    I did a minimal system restore just so I didn't have to deal with the hassle of drivers. Removed any bloatware with Revo Uninstaller immediately after. Just boot up into HP Recovery and next to the System Restore option there should be a minimal system restore option that takes up less space.
     
    pongalong, May 17, 2011
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