Recieved new HP laptop..Now, what to un-install?

Ok so I have had my new DV6T for about an hour and am loving it.

Specs:

-4GB RAM
-Intel Core Duo 2 - 2.26Ghz
-ATI Radeon 4530 graphics card
-Windows 7

A few questions...

Other than Norton, Microsoft Works, and the 60 day Microsoft Office trial, what else should I un-install?

How do I set a system restore point?

I want to make a backup of my system now and put it in a blank disc. What disc should I buy to do this (DVD-R)?

Is there any way I can test my CPU and Graphics card to make sure everything is at optimum performance?

Anything else I am forgetting to do?

 

Yes, get to know your system as it is first! What's the rush to uninstall? Norton is a great security system that consistently gets rating among the highest of them. So unless you absolutely, positively know without a doubt that you will never ever use any of these add-ons, there no reason to be in such a hurry to get rid of them.

Remember, bloatware is only bloatware if it's something you'll never use or don't need. Besides, you can just as easily uninstall them in a week or two as you can today.

 

Norton, I believe, is only a 60-day trial or so before it prompts you to subscribe.

 

I would do a clean install right away and then install things as you need them. The Pavilion consumer notebooks come with a lot of excess software pre-installed.

Note that uninstalling applications does not completely remove them . . . they will leave behind registry keys, folders, Start menu entries, and so on. With a clean install you don't have to worry about that.

 

How do I go about that? HP didn't send me any software with my computer...

 

This guide should work for you:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

I strongly recommend a clean install . . . your machine will be cleaner and faster.

Congrats on the notebook by the way.

 

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I built my own desktop gaming computer about 2 1/2 yrs ago and sort of remember how to do a clean install. This link http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-1.htm jogged my memory.

I have a few questions though:

-HP did not send me a Windows 7 Disc. Do I need to go to the Windows Store and purchase the disc? (your link says you can buy it for $15)

-How should I partition my laptop? How does HP usually partition their computers? I have a 300GB HD. Should I make 2 separate partitions?

-Is it ok to delete all partitions?

-After the clean install, what about the hardware? Like my ATI Graphics card or my sound card? Will I have to go to their websites and find the latest drivers (Huge pain in the A$$ , if my memory serves me right)?

I looked on ATI's website and they did not have any downloadable drives for my Radeon 4530

has anyone successfully clean installed windows 7 and find all of the drivers needed with ease?

 

have you created the recovery disks yet?

 

No, I haven't, but I will before I do a clean install. I just need to get a hold of a Windows 7 Disc.

 

Any Windows 7 disc will work (make sure it matches your version i.e. home premium) - if any of your friends bought it you can just use their discs. Just make sure it isn't an OEM-specific disc i.e. from Dell or something.

 

Alright yea, thanks for your help Charles

 

What version of windows 7 did it come with?

 

you're gaining nothing by delaying the creation of the recovery disks and (potentially) exposing yourself to an unrecoverable situation; a wholly unbootable hard drive and no bootable recovery media at hand.

 

Home premium.. Though, doesn't every Windows 7 disc have all 3 versions on it, it's just the product key that determines which version you bought? Anyone mind loaning me a Windows 7 disc?

Very true, didn't have time yesterday but will do that in a few minutes. Thanks

 

Can you not use a DVD-R to back up Windows 7?

 

if you need a windows 7 disc, you can download it from here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=428068

 

Thanks, I'll try it. I finally was able to back up my computer on a DVD-R

 

Make sure you are creating the RESTORE discs using the HP Recovery Manager. I say this because of your use of "on a DVD-R" (singular, as in 1). It will most likely take 3 DVD's to create the Restore Disc set. If your Restore set only consists of one DVD then you do not have a complete functioning set.

DVD+R's are prefered but if your DVD-R's creation verified then you should be OK.

 

Yea, I made a BACKUP with 1 DVD-R. I have 9 more DVD-R Discs. So I will need at least 3 DVD-R Discs to make a Recovery set? Is there anything else I need to know before I try to make this RECOVERY set?

 

Just keep popping in discs as it prompts you.

 

Which mean that for that period you don't lose anything. And after all, you have to have some security system on your computer to operate it safely. Besides, a computer devoid of all programs wouldn't be of much use now would it? Anyway, how would you know what you don't like/want until you've tried it?

I wouldn't just dump everything willnilly before " could determine what's what. Some bloatware just might end up being of some use to you. Remember, one mans bloatware is another mans treasure.

 

hmm.. I tried it using DVD-R discs, but it keeps ejecting my disc toward the end of burning the first DVD-R. I put in another blank disc but it just starts the recovery over from the beginning. I used 3 blank DVD-Rs but it is still stuck on Recovery Disc 1 of 3. Should I try using a DVD+R or something else?

 

Yes, from the posts I have read people have had more favorable outcomes creating a Recovery Set using quality DVD+R's than DVD-R's (myself included). Try using quality DVD+R's from companies such as Sony, HP, TDK, Verbatim, instead of store brand or Memorex.

 

WOW, I never heard of this, you mean you can actually download Windows 7 as long as you have an OEM license and it will work?

v3loc1ty2.0,

OFF TOPIC I noticed in your sig you have a DV7? How's the heat on that notebook?

 

Yep it works perfectly, especially if you use orev's guide that is stickied in the windows forum

my dv7 runs quite cool, it averages around 40C idle and 60s/70s while gaming (COD4)
lol but im biased thanks to my super hot (literally) dv9543cl