Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q875 - Optimization??

((EDIT: I just saw the X500 owner's lounge, I should have posted this in there... I don't understand how I missed that... -.-))

So, I recently purchased a Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q875, and I'm waiting for it to get here in the mail.

(Link to the Qosmio on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4&cm_re=toshiba_qosmio-_-34-114-804-_-Product)

Once I get it, I plan on getting a bunch of programs to test out the hardware and make sure everything is in top shape, and then I'm kinda at a loss for what I should do next.

I plan on making this laptop kind of my "main" computer. So I'll be running it quite often; at school, for gaming, etc. (I really want to try Total War games on it and see how much better it is than my current desktop...). I was curious about what I could do to optimize the performance, or make sure everything runs well on this Toshiba laptop.

Do you have any recommendations on what I could do?

Also: I've been informed (by peer review), that this laptop has a boat load of bloatware on it. How do I get rid of that?

And lastly (for now): I was curious if the Toshiba laptops could be trusted in terms of their cooling systems, or if I should get a cooling system for my laptop.

For some reason my friend absolutely hates Toshiba... I have absolutely no idea why, but... Can anyone let me know why he might not like Toshiba?

I don't want to regret my purchase, you know?

 

I'd say format it and do a clean Windows install as soon as you get it. Toshiba, along with other manufacturers, load the system with bloatware (useless stuff) that slows down the system awfully. However, be sure to extract the Windows 7 OEM key before formatting, that way you will avoid having to phone Microsoft etc etc. There are programs to do it, for example "Activation Backup & Restore for OEM Windows Vista and Windows 7" at directedge.us. If you think you'll be fine just uninstalling the bloatware, you're wrong, heh.

Then, download Hiren's Boot CD and use it to make partitions as soon as you format the laptop (2-3 would be OK; leave about 40GB for the partition that will hold the OS). Also, I'd say don't delete the hidden recovery partition that comes by default, just in case something happens.

And, I do recommend that you buy a laptop cooling device, with a big fan if possible: the bigger the fan, the more air it moves and the lesser noise it makes. Lian Li NC-09B may be a good option; expensive but really cool.

 

before you do anything.....

Create your restore DVD's. Look at the installed stuff , decide what is useful, what isn't.

Then, if you have your own Win 7 license, wipe and and build it your own way. Using what you learned with the "installed stuff check" earlier to help you decide which drivers/programs to reinstall.

 

Before doing a clean install:
#1, check the drivers installed; go to control panel, sytem, hardware drivers and list them down. You dont want to install the wrong drivers

#2. I assume you have 2 HDs on that Q875, dump all your data and apps on 2nd Drive - this will make it easier to install em later.


Personally I just done so with my Alienware M15x and once I had all my apps loaded in there, will start to do so also with Q850

 

Honestly, I'm completely at a loss for how to go about doing this. I just got my laptop. I'm actually using it right now, haha. I haven't installed anything important or gotten anything on it that I need, so I have no problem with applications being gone after this.

However, I've never done a clean install on a laptop before, so I'm at a loss for how to go about doing this. Can you direct me to a walkthrough, or tell me exactly how to go about doing this in a step by step method?

I'm one of those idiots, haha... -.-

I'm guessing that these are the steps I should take:
1)
"Activation Backup & Restore for OEM Windows Vista and Windows 7" at directedge.us

Use that to get my OEM serial.

I don't have the windows 7 cd, so I have no idea what to do after this, but I know that I should save what's useful and all that... When you say "restore cd" i'm guessing you mean a cd that has all that junk on it?

Check out my control panel before wiping it so I know what drivers to get before I re-do it...

Nah, I don't have 2 HD's on here, but I have externals, so I don't mind moving stuff over to that.

After that, I'm at a loss. Why do I need to make partitions exactly? (I don't mind keeping the recovery partition.)

 

You know, if you are "at a complete loss", you know the machine isn't that badly setup. Just remove the demos and crap and update your drivers and be happy. (Unless those demos are important to you or have some value.

 

If you cant do it yourself, you can always HIRE someone to do it for you.

 

If you dont have the disk just go here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=428068 and you can download the version you have.