clean install alternative??

Hi Guys,
I got a new laptop with plenty of junk on it and no software cds. I guess this is the new age.

If I uninstalled all that garbage that I don't want, and made a dvd copy of "my computer", would that give me a clean xp disk that I could install at a later date?

Also, do I need to run an uninstaller program to do it or will the windows uninstaller suffice. I am not as geeked up as I should be and fooling with the registry is too scary for me.

I just want my new laptop clean and blazing, I am also nervous about changing voltage etc... with NHC

thanks airspeed

 

the only clean install is when you actually do it. simply copying is basically the same thing as taking ur time to get rid of all the junk. I think you are out of luck with out the windows cd. unless there is a recovery partition.

 

Even if there is a recovery partition it's quite likely it will recover all the bloatware.

 

You could try downloading the correct xp cd and burning it. As long as you use your own product key to install the OS I think that's legal. You can then (or before hand and also put on a cd or usb stick) download drivers from the manufacturer's website.

 

hmm. thats true. maybe u can request a cd from your notebook maker if you complain about it.

 

Good luck with that! lol I doubt they'd do that but I suppose it's always worth a try!

 

Thanks Guys,
It's a Sony Vaio 330 and it does have a hidden partition. Well I guess I'll just live with the junk when I reformat, which I do about once a year.

airspeed

 

After you format and reinstall from your backup partition,this should place your laptop back to its original state. You can then use control panel to remove most of the software (ie bloatware) you dont want. Once you have everything set up the way you want it you can use programs like acronis disk image or norton ghost to copy the image to a backup media and if anything happens you have a great backup. There are several guides in this forrum to help you along the way. GL

 

if you have a valid product key, any xp disc of the same type(home,pro,mce) will work just fine. I had one of the first xp home releases, and last time I reformatted, I used a friends disc with SP2, put in my original product key, and had no problems

 

Thanks Guys,
Yes I do have a product key from my desktop.

Sounds like if I delete all the junk, I could have an almost clean copy of xp which I can burn to disk. That sounds good.

I imagine it takes time for companies to load thses computers. Why not just give us a disk and let us install what we want. It would be cheaper for them and everyone would be happy.

airspeed

 

you should have a valid product key from your laptop......a clean install is by far the best way to go, just deleting programs will not get you the same result as a clean install

 

Try this and this .

 

Thank you Ldude, way cool, lol

I tried this but I think yours is better.

I don't think mine touches the registry....