The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Should I clean-install or just upgrade?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by simon885, Mar 8, 2005.

  1. simon885

    simon885 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    hi,
    My Dell 700m comes with Winxp Home and I want to install winxp pro.
    Should I format the harddrive and install or just run upgrade? Which one is better? 700m has a <driver folder> in the harddrive. Is that all I need if I want to format and install?

    Thanx
     
    simon885, Mar 8, 2005
    #1
  2. Samwise592

    Samwise592 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    189
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i would, to get all the junkware off. it gives me a clean slate fealing, but if your computer dosent come with a driver restore cd i would say that its not worth the toruble

    Compaq Presario R3000z
    AMD Athlon 64 3400 - 2.2gHz
    1 Gig DDR
    15.4BrightVew (1280x800)
    100 Gig 4200Rpm
    nVedia GeForce 4 440 - 64MB
    8x Super Multi w/Multi-layer
    802.11b/g, Bluetooth
     
    Samwise592, Mar 9, 2005
    #2
  3. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,415
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I prefer a clean install. It is more time consumimg though.






    I know things, things that could get me killed


    Thinkpad T41:
    * 1.6Ghz Pentium M * 768Mb Memory * 40Gb Hitachi 7200RPM * Panasonic UJ-845-B DVD+RW *
     
    ZaZ, Mar 9, 2005
    #3
  4. gecko

    gecko Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    313
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I never trusted upgrades. I do clean installs. Takes lots of time though.
     
    gecko, Mar 9, 2005
    #4
  5. Aero

    Aero PC/Mac...Whatever works! NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    733
    Messages:
    1,919
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    yea ill be doing a clean install on my new notebook when i get in on sunday [ ;)]
     
    Aero, Mar 9, 2005
    #5
  6. wasztar

    wasztar Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I would back up important files, format a hard drive and install operating system. It is more secure and you can get rid of all junk files you have collect over months. Before you connect to internet I would install an antivirus software and a firewall software to make sure that your computer is safe. Than update your winxp pro.
     
    wasztar, Mar 9, 2005
    #6
  7. DeathMoJo

    DeathMoJo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Make sure, if your not provided with a resource/drivers cd, and go on Dells website and download all the necessary drivers, firmware updates, utilities that you need for your system,burn them on a cd, so after you do the clean install you have all the drivers to update all your components.

    *Dell Inspiron 9300, P-M 1.86ghz 533mhz FSB, 1GB DDR2 533mhz ram, 17inch UXGA+ screen with TrueLife, 256mb Nvidia GeForce 6800, 60gb 7200rpm drive, XP Pro SP2, WiFi*

    *Sony MDR-G74SL Headphones for music and gaming, best 40 dollar pair i have ever bought!*
     
    DeathMoJo, Mar 11, 2005
    #7
  8. chandlerjea

    chandlerjea Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Find the drivers and CLEAN INSTALL!

    Sharp AL27, Athlon 64 2700+ 60Gb hdd, 512Mb mem, 64Mb vid, superbright lcd. DVD +-/RW. Great choice for business use.

    www.pc-proz.com
     
    chandlerjea, Mar 11, 2005
    #8
  9. pr5owner

    pr5owner Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    backup format reload defrag, only takes 1.5hrs

    2 hrs to get it to how you want it :)

    -->Asus M6BNe | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB PC2700 Micron Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 64MB | 80GB Samsung 5400 RPM 8MB Cache | Gigabit LAN | CDRW + DVD Combo |
    -->Compal CL56 | Pentium M 1.6GHz Dothan | 1024MB Ram | Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB | 60GB HDD | 10/100 LAN | DVDRW |

     
    pr5owner, Mar 15, 2005
    #9