benefits of clean install

does performing a clean install of windows to your laptop improve performance?

i know people do it to remove bloatware that came with factory settings, but i heard briefly from a youtube video suggesting that even performance (3dmarks, pc vantages) and overall gaming is better after performing a clean install.

 

Great Question, I am running pretty much stock drivers and nearly all the apps that ASUS loves to preinstall. My 3D marks are at least 10% less than others (with similar configurations & hardware) that have done the clean win 7 installs.

 

I personally prefer to perform a clean install on a machine when I get it.

It is the best and quickest way in my opinion to fully get rid of bloat ware, trials, and other services manufacturers install on your new PC.

Even when you uninstall many of this bloat ware; files are still left behind in the registry and other user folders. Manufacturers may even add their own services which can slow down performance.

Is a clean install needed? No.

Do I recommend it to really enjoy a clean system? Yes.

It is your pick. Do you feel the machine is "cluttered"? If so then do a clean install. If not then just enjoy your new PC!

 

The bloatware on my VAIO would cause my system to boot up already using 46% of my 4GB RAM. I got it down to 22% on a clean install and 30% after my programs were installed.

 

I think it really depends... intrestingly enough, in my experience, especially with XP, a clean install was actually slower than a factory install....

-> And on Vista/Win7 it doesn't really matter once you tidy it up.

i.e. get rid of the google infection - also remove any apple-software contamination

 

So you have a few left over registry entries - so what? - Doesn't really matter at all on Vista/Win7 - if you really do want to remove them, try CCleaner BUT check every entry manually.

 

It's hardly about the registry entires.
Even after you remove most (if not all bloatware), certain services might be left behind, and unless you go into details of the manufacturers software and services, you probably won't be able to find them all.

It also depends from laptop to laptop.
On some machines, removing bloatware without doing a clean install will bring it back up to full speed.
On others, removing bloat will have an effect but may still feel sluggish for some reason until you do a clean install.

In my case... I just first use a pre-installed machine to find all the relevant drivers names/number before doing a clean install (to make sure I can make all of the devices operational in case Windows misses it).

 

Benefits of a clean install?

1. No bloat.
2. No annoying screens that ask you to activate a trial.
3. No stupid software that duplicates features of your OS.
4. No annoying error messages after you've removed the bloat.
5. You gain some drive space from removing the bloat.
6. You are in control of exactly what you install on your system.
7. No need to worry about a company (HP, Sony, Dell) monitoring your system usage.
8. When something goes wrong, you know exactly what you installed on your system (I hope) and can debug it.

 

Exactly.

That sums it up. Agreed.

 

oh i see....

see heres the problem. i have laptops with windows 7 home premium, some ultimate, some professional, some 32 bit, some 64 bit. And backing up the OEM requires that i use the exact same version and bit count. I dont have these windows cds/dvds so i cant even perform a clean install even if i wanted to.

The one i need most right now is windows 7 HOME PREMIUM 64 bit. Anyone know a way/place to obtain just the iso or disc free of charge? Or would that be illegal? When u purchase windows, ur only paying for the product key right? How does every1 get their hands on the appropriate windows 7 disc for their laptops and perform clean installs? there must be some popular place and legal method for this stuff.

 

You can try obtaining another disk from your laptop manufacturer.

Also you can try this method... but the links may be down:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/428068-legal-windows-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

 

thanks a lot for the link, very useful