Bloatware remove vs. semi-clean install

Well I finally got my 3-week old SZ650's hard drive replaced yesterday. First one out of the box had a complete failure. Anyhow...when I originally did the install, I used the semi-clean method. Because of the problems with the HD, I actually had to do a few re-installs...hoping that could solve it. ALthough I ultimately got it "99%" working with the semi-clean, there were a few things missing that iritated me (eg I was missing the "green light" smart network utility).

Anyhow after the HD was replaced, I decided to try the blotware removal method...worst case I could always go back to the semi-clean install since maybe just an hour lost.

I have to say, there's little if any difference after really tweaking following the bloatware remove (eg I've done some additional msconfig work after uninstalling unneeded apps). The startup once the desktop appears is a little slow in both cases, because I have a lot of "stuff" running...including NAV 2008 which we know is a startup hog.

And of course, everything else is (knock on wood) working as it should, so bottom line, I don't think the semi-clean install is really that worth it if you know what to install and tweak.

I probably have a bit less free space on the internal HD, but I have a 250gb external HD and after a year with the previous laptop that had a smaller drive, I had plenty of space free on the internal...just sure to keep archived movies, pics, etc on the external HD.

M

 

I tried semi-clean twice after I got my SZ670, but I finally gave up, and restored the whole C drive, and then did blotware remove. Now the computer runs fast and stable, 100% working.

I agree with you that the semi-clean is not worth it. You might get a little bit more (NOT MUCH, trust me!) hard disk space, but you will find a lot of things are not working very well, or sometimes working, but not always. The system is not stable, and Fn keys not working after wake up from sleep, and so on. You may need couple of days or weeks to figure out how to get everything working, but you may never be able to figure out how.
In terms of bloatware removing, if you know how to do things, and use the right tools, with some VISTA tricks, it is much better than semi-clean. The most important thing is eveything with your computer will working perfectly. You never need to worry about Fn keys,or some small but annooying things...

Anyway, personally, I would not recommend semi-clean method.
But I also ordered the P1 bloatware remover DVDs, I will try the P1 optimized system to see if it is really working 100%.

 

I cant believe you both have had so many problems with the semi-install. After doing it on my SZ680, the only annoying thing missing was the Vaio Camera Utility.

When you say bloatware removal method, do you mean just removing the bloatware one by one via control panel/program removal software?

Coolfire, if you can comment on the how that P1 DVD is working out. I am still reluctant to get it or not.

 

I had my FZ180E 2 weeks and right away I removed all the bloatware crap one by one and also removed unessesary crap from the registry startup section and instead of Nav 08 which I completely unistalled and removed, I installed Nod32 and my system boots a bit faster. All I see on the taskbar are nod32, wlan utility, touchpad, and sound icons, so for me it did speed it up a bit by removing the bloatware.

 

I think semi-clean install is waste of time. You can easily remove all the bloatware manually, clean up the registry and then defragment your hard drive. My FZ runs as fast as ever before after the manual cleaning.
I have only 49-53 processes running at any given time.

 

IMHO, a semi-clean install is better. You can read why in a quote on the first post of my semi-clean thread. But to each his own - I'm just glad you figured out what works for you.

 

I just did a clean install on my FZ180E using the using the Vista anytime upgrade disc that came with my Toshiba X205-9349 and instructions on another thread on this forum on how to backup and restore the Vista activation information got everything to work except that Sony does not have a download version of the Intervideo BD DVD player and now I cannot play my Blueray DVD's, but it starts up faster and the best thing is I have zero bloatware.

 

yep this works for me. I think your semi-clean install would be better if doesn't install the remaining crap like napster, some sony crap, etc. Anyway you saved 15Gb that's a lot. How does disk cleanup empty the system restore point files? I don't see anything like that when I open disk cleanup.

 

Napster and other bloatware left over by the semi-install can easily be removed. After a semi-install, removing leftover bloatware, cleaning out junk from services.msc and msconfig startup file, and removing all of sony's entertainment software - I have 61 processes running.

While I would love to do a clean install, I just dont think the problems such as missing notebook functions and extra cost for P1/Sony/Vista Upgrade DVDs are worth it.

 

While you are right that there might be additional cost for a clean install, there is no reason why you should be missing notebook functions after a clean install. They only case where that would be true is where you are installing a DIFFERENT operating system than one supported by Sony. For example on the FZ series if you try to do a clean install of XP there would be missing functions, since Sony does not support XP on the FZ series machine. But if you install a supported OS, Vista, then all the notebook functions will be available after a clean install.

Gary

 

Yes, 1 by 1 removal and cleaning up the processes that can't be uninstalled but can be stopped permanently.

 

You are absolutely right. After a good clean install, your notebook should run perfectly. What I was trying to pick at when stating about missing notebook functions is that some members can't do the clean install correctly and end up missing something or other as shown in some forum posts. When compared that with, IMHO, an easier semi-clean method, the choice tilts toward the latter end.

But judging by some of your posts ScuderiaC., you seem more than skilled enough to pull off a clean install without a hitch, so all the power to you. Me, on the other hand....

 

I have SZ360 and personally I like semi-clean install better than Bloatware remove.

 

We're good, I just wanted to be sure no one was left with the impression that a clean install would somehow leave them without some functionality of their machines.

Without a hitch, surely you jest! But that is why, if you look at my clean install instructions for the FZ machines, I periodically imaged the C: drive using Ghost, just in case of those inevitable "hitches".

Gary