DV6t Quad Edition Clean Install

I recently purchased a new laptop after my Dell XPS 1530 failed me. After being tired of Dell and looking for some change, I decided to pick up a HP DV6tqe with the following specs:

• dark umber
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2670QM (2.2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz
• 1GB AMD Radeon(TM) HD 7470M GDDR5 Discrete Graphics(TM) [HDMI, VGA]
• FREE UPGRADE to 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 750GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• No Additional Office Software
• No additional security software
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• 15.6" Full HD HP Anti-glare LED (1920 x 1080)
• FREE UPGRADE to Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone and HP SimplePass Fingerprint Reader
• Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R)
• Standard Keyboard with numeric keypad

So far I have been pretty pleased with it. I am still getting used to it and finding new things here and there about it. However, I am noticing all the bloatware holds back the potential of this laptop. I have read a little on clean installs and have been somewhat skeptical since I have seen a few people here and there have issues with their computers and have to send them back.

I have done many clean installs on my old Dell XPS 1530 and Vostro 1500 before that. However, I have never done a clean install on a computer that already has a back up partition or on an HP in general. So I have a few questions:

1-Is there a clean install guide/thread around here anywhere?
2-What do I do about the factory backup partition?
3-Is there a sequence that I need to install drivers?
4-I am assuming everyone is using the drivers from the HP site?
5-What drivers are critical, and what would essentially be of no use?
6-Does the Hp BEATS software install with the IDT Audio Driver?
7-Any other tips?

 

1-Is there a clean install guide/thread around here anywhere?
Its faster to just do a minamal install from the recovery partition. Gets rid of all of the crapware but has all of the drivers installed.

2-What do I do about the factory backup partition?
Leave it

3-Is there a sequence that I need to install drivers?
It would be better to do a minimal install first but do the internet (Both wifi and the jack) first.

4-I am assuming everyone is using the drivers from the HP site?
Most of us use modded GPU drivers. (See my sig)
5-What drivers are critical, and what would essentially be of no use?
A. Wifi, coolsense, Support assistant (Needed for coolsense) AMD, intel, mousepad
B. The beats crap?
6-Does the Hp BEATS software install with the IDT Audio Driver?
I have not had any success with that. However! beats is pretty crappy software and you would be better off with a DAC and a decent set of headphones.
7-Any other tips? Take a look at this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duMjHdWNqLs

 

do a minimum install as it will install all the drivers and what not, than you can use windows anytime upgrade to upgrade to a higher level of windows

 

How do I do a minimal install?

 

When you reboot, hit F11 and it will take you to the recovery options. It is the last one in the left column.