Explanation of different recovery options

So after playing around with my new Pavilion for a few days and the recovery options that it offers, I believe that I've figured out the different options:

System Recovery
Formats the Windows partition and copies the default factory installation of the operating system, drivers, and software (including trial software).

Factory Reset
Paves the entire drive and restores the Windows partition, the Recovery partition, and the HP_TOOLS partition, then performs a system recovery.

Haven't checked, but Factory Reset may only be available from the Recovery Discs themselves?

Minimized Image Recovery
Formats the Windows partition and installs a nearly fresh copy of Windows, then installs drivers and some HP software (such as MediaSmart, HP Wireless Assistant, etc.) - none of the additional software that ships with the unit is installed.

Are there any real performance gains to be had in going with a clean installation versus using the HP supplied operating system image? In terms of stability, which would be better?

 

I would still do a clean install - much of the HP software installed even with the minimized image recovery is resource-using junk

 

What if you were to uninstall the software? Or does that just leave garbage behind?

 

What does everyone else think on this matter? What would you do?

 

In my old dv9014 I tried uninstalling everything but the laptop still ran noticeably hotter when compared with clean install. I couldn't really pinpoint what was left running in the background and speed-wise there was no difference, everything worked fine. I just could feel the palmrests being a lot warmer compared to clean install. That was with XP MCE. When I tried it with Vista, it was warm all the time I sold it before I got my hands on Win7.

Personally I'd always do clean install, then drop in wireless button manager and quickbutton softwares, hdd accelerometer software and fingerprint reader software if needed.

 

Yep, that's exactly what I do (except for the wireless manager since I don't have bluetooth) and it is significantly faster than a factory install, even with things uninstalled and after a few runs of CCleaner - the factory programs just leave too many files behind and change too many settings for uninstallation to be worthwhile.

 

I did the minimized image recovery and the computer runs fast and it only reinstalled 1 or 2 things that I would consider bloat, which can be easily removed. It also saved me hours of looking for drivers and what not. It might not be the best solution or what the techies do, but for a layperson who just wanted to speed up the system and get most of the crap off without giving me any added stress, it worked out great.

 

how do I do a minimized system recovery? sorry for being noob