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.

    System Restore Vs Format/Clean install

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Charlie97L, Feb 20, 2009.

  1. Charlie97L

    Charlie97L Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    hey guys, i have a quick question... i'm running an xps 1530 (first run) with a 2.2 dual core, 4gb ram, 7200 rpm drive, and the 8600 GT card.

    i today ran a system restore to clean everything up, with a format. is that as good as a full format/reinstall of vista? it seems to be running pretty well.

    my main question is this... i've gotten back into WoW, and i'm having some hitching running it on max settings... should i have that issue? i feel like this should completely destroy that game.

    thanks! i'm trying to run it at 1280x800 btw.
     
  2. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    A true clean install is always going to be better than a System Restore. The difference depends on how crapped up your system was before the restoration. In general I've found that System Restore does an ok job of cleaning your OS, though.

    Dunno about WoW, but AFAIK, the 8600GT isn't all that powerful a GPU in the first place.
     
  3. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

    Reputations:
    486
    Messages:
    2,596
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    56
    think about using a program(like Acronis Image Home) to clone your OS partition after you install all your drivers, programs and software....

    next time u feel the need to reinstall, just backup, reclone and apply some minor updates.... i recommend about 50GB in OS partition, the rest as your user partition

    applying my cloned OS partition takes about 2 hours(its all automated though), then maybe another hour or so updating Windows/other programs/installing some new stuff

    u can run WoW on an integrated graphics.... dont wory about putting it on max settings for your 8600
     
  4. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

    Reputations:
    14,217
    Messages:
    15,406
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    466
    I just did a Clean Install on Sunday afternoon...And the results were simply *amazing* :D

    So, I'm all for Clean Install's when needed!

    Cin ;) :)
     
  5. Charlie97L

    Charlie97L Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    ok are there clean install guides? that was the idea when i started... but i couldn't get it to prompt to format before reinstalling vista.

    done xp a bunch of times, but this is the first time i've tried with vista.
     
  6. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

    Reputations:
    14,217
    Messages:
    15,406
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    466
    This is what I used when I first got my lappy! :D

    Dell Vista Laptop Reformat and Bloatware Removal Guide By, the Awesome Les! :D
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

    It was fairly easy, you just have to pay attention to what your doing! :D
    I had help from a dear friend on Sunday's clean install! The Art of Patience was clearly practiced the whole time! :eek: :eek: :D
    Cin ;) :)
     
  7. bikerboy94

    bikerboy94 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    319
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30