Sager NP5720-V // Clevo M570A - full format/reinstall

Dear NBR staff + posters + readers,

Let me start by saying I've found NBR a great tool since I purchased my laptop back a few years ago (used your reviews to chose the model, retailer, and so on). /highfive

I've had my laptop now for several years. I've been VERY happy with the model, but have noticed that there are recurring lapses in performance lately. I believe the issue is overheating, meaning that I have to do a full (manual) clean up of the laptop from the inside. I've never done it before, and hence am looking for some reassurance.
- Has anyone done this?
- Anyone provide a link to a guide / pictures?
- Any specific watch-outs?

I've also taken it upon myself to use this 'opportunity' to do a full reinstall. BIOS upgrade, OS install from scratch, drivers, etc.
- if anyone has a nice go-to guide / quick-list for things to do to make sure everything goes smoothly, I'd greatly appreciate it. Wouldn't have to be detailed... just a helpful "1) back up firefox fav's 2) make bootable bios" etc. Especially the order of things to install (if this makes a difference?)
- does anyone know about a tool compatible (similar to EVEREST?) that would simplify the driver search? I've only found two links to drivers for my model:
(SAGER) sager notbook hopepage /information.php?information_id=7
(CLEVO) driverscolletion /?H=M570A&By=Clevo&dpage=1

- both the above links seem to have the latest drivers dated to 2005/2006. am I missing something? Are these really the best for every driver? Which ones should I get from the hardware vendor instead (nVidia? sound card? etc)

Regarding the OS install:
- I've been happy with WinXP til now, but would consider running Vista. Anyone have an opinion with regards to upgrading - specifically with my laptop in mind? It should be compatible... but the drivers seem so old, perhaps there might be some incompatibilities???

Thank you all for reading.
Any replies appreciated.

[Edit] had to remove URLs for postability.

 

If you could give some specs on your model, it would be a little easier to say anything about drivers But you can try to search the different hardware manifactures webpage, to see if they got newer drivers for your hardware, than Clevo and Sager

But for cleaning, that should be very easy, just take the buttom plate off and clean out the copperplatings with a cutton bud, some folded paper or a can of compressed air I would maybe be thinking about changing thermal paste aswell, which shouldn't be that difficult, tho better left alone if your aren't used to take apart laptops.

About OS, I would say stick with WinXP if your happy enough with it as Vista is a bit more demanding Also im unsure about compatibilities, if your not able to find Vista certified drivers for your hardware (check that before formatting )

 

Thanks for your reply.
I'll post specific model specs when i get home later on. I'm fairly sure I can find A driver for every piece of hardware, I just thought it was odd that the "latest" drivers were practically as old as the laptop itself. Or is that normal, that after a specific time, the drivers/bios is as optimal as it will ever get.
And btw, Clevo/Sager are the manufacturer... if I've understood right at least. I bought the machine from PCTorque (a reseller). Or did you mean the manufacturers of the specific parts (intel p4, nVidia, etc)?

Thanks for your reassuring reply on the cleaning as well. I've cleaned out desktops quite a few times before. Unplug, cotton buds/ lint free cloth, compressed air / vacuum (tho not too close! and no fan freespin!). I heavily doubt I'll be touching the thermal paste. Thats a little above how gutsy I'm feeling ;-)

OS - software wise more demanding (ie more tweaking capabilities) or demanding on the hardware/perfomance? If its a significant hog, I'll stick with XP for sure. But I figured if crappy inspirons can run it, so can 'desktop replacement'. Even with WoW and a browser running in the background

 

No problem mate.
Well, most manifactures stops updating drivers for a specific model when a sucessor is released or some time after the model is out of sale.. But what i ment with checking manifactures webpage, were the manifactures of the specific parts as intel, nVidia ect. they sometimes got newer drivers

Well vista takes up a little more memory than XP, also if eyecandy is left alone it can be somewhat demanding for the hardware. Just be sure, that the parts of the notebook got drivers for vista, else it can be a pain to get in running smoothly But yes, slower pc's can run vista. Know that as a cousin of mine, runs with vista on his MSI Wind netbook, which runs better with that than xp tbh, with eyecandy turned off ofc