Why bother doing a clean install?

Hmm I've read that when it comes to HP a lot of people like to do a clean install.
Why so? Why can't the programs/files be deleted through the "Add or Remove Programs"?

 

Because registry trash remains. A system is as good as its registry.

 

Also there is a lot of crap installed that can't be removed through Add/Remove Programs such as the Sidebar Gadgets and a whole lot of other crapware.

 

Add/remove leaves a bunch of junk behind (registry edits, temporary files, etc.) and will slow your computer down.

Clean install is the way to go -- just backup your SwSetup folder. Follow orev's guide:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

 

Even though what the previous 3 posters said is true, I would suggest that the average user will still be quite pleased with the performance if they just delete the programs they don't plan to use.

 

I don't even bother burning the HP recovery disk, as I know I'll ALWAYS do a clean install...I just download the drivers from HP's website and burn them to a CD for backup purposes.

 

It helped a lot, for me at least, freed all that junk up including registry & temp files along with non-standard programs, plus it was a lot easier than I thought it'd be. I'm planning on doing it again this summer to speed it up again, way too much junk on it.

 

Uninstalling bloatware one by one will never be as good as a clean install. Uninstalls usually leaves remnants behind.

 

You you don't wanna be bothered with installing everything then I would just uninstall the programs then delete unnecessary directories. You can use CCleaner to clean up the registry. I find there isn't that much difference in speed between clean install and deleting programs. But if you have time then backup your SW Setup directory prior to a clean install since all the programs that came with your system are located there.

 

I also prefer a clean install, but it's still a mystery for me why I should backup the SwSetup.
Sure, I did copy it to a DVD, but that folder is possibly filled with even more bloat than the install!
Just look at that crazy size.

What can SwSetup give that HP.com doesn't have, except for maybe wallpapers?

 

Quickplay and all the other proprietary software.

 

Well it does give a source for all the drivers required for your particular notebook as long as your are installing the same OS.

Granted, one can eventually find all the drivers required on HP's or a vendors site but they are not all necessarily listed on the download site for a particular notebook model and can be difficult to locate. Also some software modules such as the fingerprint software are readily available there.

I did it just for peace of mind