New HP dv7t- Vista "Clean" install OR just try to remove bloatware?

I've got a new HP dv7t ordered with Vista Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed. As always, the excitement of getting a new computer is tempered with the thought of all the "cleaning up" to be done out of the box. =(

I've always gone thru the tedious, frustrating process of uninstalling each unwanted program, then trying to delete various files that were unwanted. Somehow a few stubborn files or remnants of uninstalled programs were impossible to remove and haunted me forever! It's also a process that takes several hours and countless reboots.

I'm wondering if a "clean install" of Vista might be a viable option instead? The HP will arrive with Vista installed and no hard copy (CD/DVD) of the software. I plan to create the Recovery Disc as recommended.

My question is- can I use the Recovery Disc that I create to perform a clean install of Vista? Or will using the Recovery Disc simply restore the hard drive image back to factory settings (including the crapware I'm trying to banish)?

If that is possible, would it be a wise decision to take that route? Or should I just take a Xanax and reserve the first few hours using my new toy to uninstall programs and delete unwanted files? This would be the first time having Revo Uninstaller to delete all of the registry entries related to programs I don't want. Revo also seems to be very good at "bullying" those items that otherwise won't go away! =)

Which is the smarter, safer way to go? I'd appreciate any advice!

 

1) The recovery disc will restore your OS with bloatware and all.

2) I would recommend using vLite (assuming you can get a copy of Vista) to slipstream all of your drivers as well as fully automate future Vista installations; you'll only have to do it once and it will probably save you a ton of work in the future.

 

Here we go again....

Say you have a cup a of water...with feces in it...which would you rather do

1.) Get a completely new cup of water
or
2.) "Pick" out the feces...

 

HP has an option on the Support & Downloads page to "Order CD-ROM Recovery Discs"- is that any different than the one I'd burn myself?

If not, how might I possibly get a "clean" copy of Vista?

 

^ They're probably the exact same thing, but worse; the order would consist of several CDs instead of one or two DVDs if you burn them yourself. HP might also charge you for shipping.

The easiest way to get a copy of Vista is possible if you go to a college/university; they usually have agreements with MS and offer full licenses at greatly reduced prices.

 

I'm sure this has been discussed (ad nauseum), but after a few pages of reading various topics, I had a migraine! A "Sticky" on this subject would be a God-send folks like me!

Very effective analogy...disgusting, but effective! =)

 

Garbage. It all seems to be garbage. Start from scratch and do not plan on using any of their software. I have tried both ways and still do not like the performance. If you have the fingerprint reader that is the main issue when starting from scratch. The software for this is the only problem I had when starting with a OEM Vista disk. Anyhting else just post. I would love to get the fingerprint software. Anyone have it?

 

well... when you put it that way...

 

If you dont have or cant find a Upgrade Anytime Disk, this is what you can do, I have used this method on a new HP laptop and it works, but its tricky and you may have to do this type of install a few times for the simple resaon you have to open folders and find out what type of software is in it, here goes.

What you want to do is get to the sw_setup folder during the install procedure and delete the bloat/crap and what the hell this this ware

You Have the HP restore do the format and then the windows install starts, you will see the hp install screen and so forth.
Hit your windows button on your keyboard and you will get your Start icon at the bottom left, hit start, computer and you will see the virtual partion, open it and go straight to the sw_setup folder, and this is where you are going to find all your drivers, bloat/crapware and other stuff, if you recognise a name on a folder and you dont want it, delete it, Im not sure what Norton used for their folder but you have to open them up and have a look inside, once you have determained what is what, you start deleting the folder to the recycle bin, larger files will take longer, stuff like HP Games folder will get rid of the cyberlink, HP core (but you have to open it up and have a look around) this way you can get rid of Hp Health running in the background, some of the files are huge, so it will take a while before its transfered to the recycle bin, you can try deleting the install or setup exe within the folder and that might work, remember time is crucial here, the problem here is if you delete the wrong thing the setup will finish with it still within the virtual partition, so look for HP restore files and leave them, Im not sure the file names anymore but you will have to figure them out, the bottom line is, this method will install less of the crapware and if your happy with that, you just do a regular unistall with whats left, this method is not that easy, but it will work, I still recomend a clean install from a Anytime Upgrade Disk and the Orev licence transfer, but if you cannot do the clean install you can try the way I just stated

 

I say just remove all bloatware with RevoUninstaller.

 

Erase and install. I do it on any machine I buy. Nothing extra, unless you add it.

 

props to bestbuy for getting rid of all the bloatware for me

 

Oh God. You paid GeekSquad to do that for you?

 

I recently had a situation where Vista was corrupt beyond recovery but my data was still accessible. This post details how I was able to use the HP recovery disk to install a vanilla version of Vista with very little tech effort (except it does take some time so be prepared).

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board/message?board.id=OSandSW&message.id=5493

 

LOL.

sorry.

I vote for clean install, then install all the drivers and programs YOU want.

 

Clean install is the best. There are various stickies in each of the brand forums but in general.

1. Obtain proper drivers and a Vista installation disc. (not manufacturers reinstall disc)(Worse comes to worse, you can torrent but check your MD5 hash to make sure it's a clean iso and not tempered.)
2. Back up activation certificate and key using ABR ( http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore
3.Reinstall Vista w/o entering product key but select the version that you had before. (This is critical. If you install a different version, it won't activate.)
4. Once you're in windows, run activation_restore.exe to restore your activation.
5. Install programs and drivers.

It may take time but you'll notice a performance increase over a bloated machine or uninstalling the programs.