Clean install needed?

My G50Vt-a1 will be coming in a few days, so I've been reading these forums like mad. This thread got me thinking I should do a clean install once I get the laptop, and remove the useless software that Asus seems to pack in. I've never done it for my previous Dell laptops, so I was wondering if it was really necessary, or if I should just uninstall them through Vista.

 

Well, re-installing will let you start off with a clean slate that you can be certain of. However, it takes a lot longer. Just uninstalling should get rid of almost everything, but there's no real way to be sure.

I've used both techniques, and both have worked equally fine for Dell, Lenovo and Compaq laptops. Honestly, you can start with uninstalling. If, at the end, it isn't as clean as you'd like, there's nothing stopping you from just doing a re-install.

Regards,

z.

 

It's always better to do a clean install since even after uninstalling a program, there is the possibility that some files still remain in the system. It's not that difficult to perform a clean install, but it will take some time. I'd recommend going through the process, especially on a brand new laptop and especially if you've never done it before (great learning experience).

 

I recommend doing a clean install. It will take you much longer but it will be worth it in the end. After you have done this you should use a program such as Drive Snapshot for example, to do a complete image of the clean system then again once you have everything you need installed. Takes me only 1 hour and 30 mins to image about 300GB of data (mostly installed games).

 

If you have never done a clean install, than like others say, now is the time to do it... You have no data to lose or worry about and if you run into issues thats what we are all here for.

Its not hard, takes a little time because some of the processes are slow such as waiting for vista to install. After that the rest of it will prob be about an hour to do it all.

So maybe in all 2-3 hours of time but for the vista part you dont have to sit and wait on it... You can do something else for an hour while it goes.


Also, I would recommend upgrading the bios before you do the clean install if thats what you do. This way everything starts off updated... The factory install will have a windows bios flasher. After you boot it up the first time, reboot it one more time to make sure everything is done setting up, than just download latest bios, run the program, flash it, than reboot again and than you can start the fun processes of reloading.

 

+1 for clean install. As David said, its a great learning experience

 

If you decide to go with XP instead of Vista for the clean install, don't forget you will either have to enable Sata compatibility mode in Bios or slip stream sata drivers into an XP CD. I opted to do this for my G1SN mostly because I have less problems playing many older games along side the new ones on my XP system.

 

Asus really isn't that bad with bloatware, I just uninstalled a few things I didn't want, like the facial recognition stuff. Saved a whole lot of time over needlessly formatting.

 

Thanks for the advice, guys. Just updated to the newest BIOS (207 to 209) and am going through the clean install right now.

This laptop is absolutely gorgeous!!!