Dell Vista Laptop Reformat and Bloatware Removal Guide

ok i'm midway through doing this, Its going ok, but I thought I should let you know - i'm crapping myself. I hate this stuff!!!!

why oh why cant they come sans bloatware!!!?!!

rev

 

Good job going for it Revmatt. Please do let us know how it goes for you and if you have any problems.

 

Still going ok so far thanks Darthsat!

A question with regards dell applications and utilities install (as per page 1, stage 11) I have 3 input drivers, all for the integrated webcam:

rev. A03
rev. A04
rev. A01

in that order.

I'm guessing I only need the latest one, or do I need to extract all three?


EDIT
QUESTION2)

The default GPU drivers on teh CD are for the nvidia 8400mGS -

I've installed these.

Do I need to go and update them to suit my 8600MGT?



thanks!

rev

 

well now.

Things have gone wonderfully for me so far, and I can only reccommend this guide to people like me, namely total noobs - as an easy way to remove your bloatware, thanks Les!

In answer to my own questions above:

1) I've reinstalled GPU drivers frmo dell website, but my experience rating has dropped from 4.7 (as it was out of the box) to 4.6.
I know its minor - but could there be any reason why?

more questions as they come to me!

thanks again for this guide and your ongoing help!

revmatt

 

It could be that the nVidia drivers that you downloaded now are a different version from the one that came preinstalled. This version may be more stable on your machine, at the expense of a few fps in games. I wouldn't worry too much about the windows experience score.

 

Actually I'm still getting the BSOD even though I installed the driver for the Intel Matrix Storage Manager




EDIT: on the m1330 actually

 

You might want to get the 174.31 drivers, I read some good feedback on those. Those are the ones I will be installing when I get my m1530.

 

I'm a bit of a noob - could you be more specific?

I installed, from the dell site, drivers which were appropriate for the 8400GS or 8600 series GPUs -

where would I find 174.31 drivers and how would I install them (remember i'm a nublet please be specific!)



rev

 

The website, http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/ , features many drivers that work with your video card. Some of them offer slightly superior performance for gaming. If you see in the site, the 16x and the 17x series drivers offer slightly better gaming performance(may increase your windows experience score), but I stick to the 15x (156.69 version) drivers because I find them to be the best for notebook stability. It is not necessary to go for these drivers, as the Dell ones that you downloaded are sufficient for most everything.

 

I apologize up front if this has been answered and I missed it.

Is it possible to take an XPS with Vista, wipe the drive and just install a less power-hungry (and more familiar) XP SP2? What are the potential BIOS and driver issues? I assume I'd lose the nifty media direct 3 ability.

I only intend to use my laptop for Office 2003, internet, and a couple of games, such as Age of Empires III, so Vista seems to provide a ton of features I don't want or need at the expense of system resources.

Please correct me if I'm not giving Vista its due.

Thanks!

PS: You might wonder why I chose an XPS over an Inspiron if I wanted XP; the answer is the lighter weight of the XPS, primarily (and the withdrawal of discrete GPU on the Inspirons). I'll likely have to lug my laptop around on business quite a bit for the next 2 years, and that pound and a half or 2 pounds might be oppressive on long walks to/from/in airports.

 

Thnx for the great info Les,

Just got my new m1530 earlier today and finished doing what you wrote and i can already tell its a little quicker

thanks for your work

 

I just got my m1730 and have run through the MD and Vista install steps. However, I can not seem to get rid of the recovery partition. MD only lets me allocate up to 333 gigs for the OS. MD takes up 2 gigs. I'm left with about 37 gigs that I can not touch. How can I delete the recovery partition?

I'm running a raid 0

 

I've also run through this with my m1530 but I screwed up and repaired it (or so it seems!)

I repeated the first step a few (4 or 5) times as I was trying to get a third partition of around 60G purely for storing music files, so I wouldn't have to back up and re-install them if I did another rebuild. During the process of getting the size right my HD became corrupted, and the Vista install would slow on the "Windows is loading files" screen and the progress bar would grind to a halt.

I tried XP instead, and this installation disc could not find the HD.

After a bit of googling, it turned out to be a hardware fault where I'd corrupted the partition I was trying to install on, and Vista would not recognise the HD, but it didn't show any error messages. I had an Ubuntu live CD knocking around, so decided to give that a try to reformat the whole HD using gparted. This was clutching at straws, I'll admit, and while I couldn't reformat the drive, I could delete the C: partition and reuse MD to recreate it.

Vista then reinstalled absolutely fine afterwards, but as I'd only owned the laptop for about 10 hours I was a bit scared as to what I'd done, and it was a worrying few hours.

I'm generally impressed with the M1530, as it's faster, sturdy and lighter than the I8600 it's replacing, but man, how cruddy are those speakers?

 

It's coming down to the point where everytime I restart, I get the BSOD, even though I installed the correct files.

 

I am getting a dell laptop soon. Would it be ok to use a bootable hard drive killer disc to erase the whole drive and all the partitions, then install Vista and the drivers from scratch using the discs that come with the laptop? I know I'd lose media direct and the recovery partition, but I don't want them anyway.

 

I am just about to reformat, and as it turns out my m1330 doesn't have the media direct cd. How important is it to use the mediadirect cd when reformatting it?

 

Hey darthsat did you manage to compile that list of driver downloads for the xps 1330?

sorry to be a pain...and thanks for the help

 

lilnicole, here you go. Most of these are up-to-date and sufficient performance specifically for your m1330. You will need all of these (based on the list you gave me with what your m1330 has), except for the bluetooth driver if you don't have Bluetooth on your laptop. The Dell quickset application gives you on-screen displays for screen brightness and audio volume.

Intel Chipset Driver

Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver

NVidia Video Driver

WiFi Driver

Ethernet Controller Driver

Dell Touchpad Driver

Memory Card Reader Driver

Fingerprint Security Driver

Sigmatel Audio Driver

WebCam Driver

Dell Quickset

Dell Bluetooth Driver

 

that is such a big help. thank you very much darthsat

since i did the reformat I've noticed that the computer does not wake up from hibernation...do you think that once I download all of these drivers then the problem might be solved?

 

Does the sleep function work without problems?

 

not sure... if i leave the computer for 15min and come back and just hit a key it will resume the screen. but if i close the lid, or hibernate through the start button then the only way to get it back on is to switch the computer off and then on from the power button....i have tried all the tips on the how-to-geek page but have had no luck
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/re-enable-hibernate-option-in-windows-vista/

 

Guys,
Here is my plan, I would like your ideas to see if I'm headed right way.

Have new XPS M1530, w/ 200gb HD, 3 gb Ram

Want to reinstall just Vista and eliminate bloat but also Mediadirect
Then dual boot with Ubuntu ( this part I undertstand)
I have been reading that Dell has a hidden partition that is connected to the Mediadirect button and it will screw up the partitions, is this true?
Is it best to low level format prior to new install (to fully clean HD)?
Having a dead button instead of Mediadirect is not an issue as possibly I can reconfig it at a later date.

Plan would be
30gb Vista
20gb Ubuntu
2gb Swap
Remaining as ext3 home to be shared between Vista & Unbuntu

Comment and suggestions welcomed

Thanks for ya'lls good work

 

My Vostro 1500 arrived last night, and I'm confused and disappointed - particularly with the MediaDirect issue. Thank you Les, for posting such a complete tutorial. I am newer than a newbie.

I don't like starting things without knowing about them first because I don't like it when programs add all sorts of nonsense I don't want, didn't ask for, particularly if the run in the background/at start up when I didn't know about it. MediaDirect seems like this type of monster. I looked last night all I could find were panicked threads from people who tried to get rid of it rendering huge problems with their system/OS. I don't want that.

I am not a "media" user. I use the optical drive for back up. But I work with pretty large files (psd, etc) so I want that process seamless, efficient and uncomplicated. I have always burned cds by right-clicking on the D drive to make a folder, dropping the files in and clicking on "Write these files to CD". I don't like bells and whistles, especially if I didn't want them or know I was getting them.

Don't like and will never need any media functionality without booting windows. Do I need MediaDirect to do the basic things listed above, or is it needed for other OS functions that aren't obvious?. I don't like bloat, especially if I only find out about it because I notice it running at startup or in the background. Will MediaDirect bully its way into being the default program? Roxio did this on another computer and no matter how many times I disabled its various components, it would override that every time I restarted which was annoying because it would only try to erase files I wanted to write to CD, but it would not copy them. Pretty useless.

Is there a way to disable MediaDirect before the last resort option of following your tutorial? I have NO confidence I could do it correctly. I did not select an additional partition when building (customizing) my laptop, so I'm not sure if that is important in regards to the partitioning part of the tutorial.

Sorry for the long post, I really don't know what I'm doing and I would love some advice.

My system (not sure if I am wording this right):
Processor Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 4MB (Merom)
OS: Vista Home Premium
15.4" LCD WXGA+ TLF (AUO) (very disappointing)
9C battery
No camera
No security software
No online backup or PC transfer
Nvidia 128 G86
Dual in-line Mem 2GB 667MhZ, 512

Were it not for the sub-par display (wrong choice obviously) the massiveness of Vista and having to get MediaDirect I would be thrilled considering its a budget laptop. Thing is built like a truck which is good because I really work my machines for all their worth.

 

all sorted the sleep and hibernation- dell support was a big help..thanks again darthsat you've been very helpful and patient with all of us

 

Dell CD-Key is not letting me activate online. When my Dell arrived first thing i did was format and install windows vista 64bit. I used the same CD-Key that on the bottom of the notebook, there was no problem with installing.

But I can't activate, i get a message that this type of CD-Key is not valid for online activation, call microsoft.

Anyone else get this message?

 

The Mediadirect applicatioin by default has its own partition, and is in fact tied to the quick launch button on the laptop's media panel. I also saw no use for mediadirect, so I just deleted the partition and thus mediadirect is gone. I have a dead button on my laptop now, but I don't really mind it. It creates 3GB of unallocated space post-format after you delete the mediadirect partition. You can do whatever you wish with this unallocated space.

 

Well you obviously will not be able to retain the mediadirect application post-reformat without the disc. The disc is used to see the partitions at the first phase of the process, and also to install the application onto the mediadirect partition after windows is setup. If you DON'T NEED mediadirect anymore, you can proceed with the reformat without the disc. You can use the vista disc to delete partitions if need be.

 

Darthsat,
Thanks for the reply. There is some talk that when you just high level format and disable the mediadirect button as you describe it is still alive due to a hidden partition and will mess with boot partitions. If you push this button on your machine, does anything happen or is it actually inactive. There are several threads in Ubuntu suggesting that a low level format is needed to get rid of this hidden Dell partition.
What are your thoughts?

 

Sorry, but would it be ok to use a bootable hard drive killer disc to erase the whole drive and remove all the partitions, then install Vista and the drivers from scratch using the discs that come with the laptop? I know I'd lose media direct and the recovery partition, but I don't want them anyway.

 

I'm not familiar with using it, but if you are just worried about those partitions, your machine doesn't need either the mediadirect or the recovery partition. I have mine setup with both of them deleted.

 

Thanks darthsat.
What I mean is, say I get a Dell and totally wipe the hard drive, delete all the partitions, just a total erase. (I want to get rid of media direct and the recovery partition).
Once I do this total erase, could I then do an new install of Vista from the Dell disc that comes with the computer? And the Microsoft licensing and everything would work?
Thanks again

 

Hi

I like ur explanation but i got a porblem here.

After I choose the new Partition for the C Drive I put the Windows Vista CD and do what u say, I get like 3 options. The first one just to install Windows and the second one to press F8 for advanced options for the first option and the third one i just forgott it. Anyway when I press advanced options my laptop always get shut down. I was just wanted to know what kinda of options are their available but I ignored it. After installing the windows the laptop get shut down. This thing happend always, I tried now to do that again but I always have the same problem. I guess my laptop have a big problem or what do u think?

 

Sam, just before your computer shutdown by itself, was there a large blue screen that appeared on your monitor for a few seconds?

 

darthsat,

I assume that the Laptop Reformat portion would also work if you had just replaced the stock Dell drive with a new one, and wanted to format the drive and build the system from scratch. (minus bloatware)
That way the original Dell H.D. could sit on the shelf and be re-installed if necessary.

So your procedure of booting from the MediaDirect 3.3 CD would also be the first step when powering up after installing a new Seagate Drive.

Correct? All other steps would follow, just as you have listed. Correct?

thanks

 

Yes, after deleting your current partitions, you can use the included vista disc to install vista onto a new partition. Vista can then be re-installed.

 

Thanks alot!

 

I have just ordered a 1525 with Vista Premium and can't wait to re-install it when I get it. But I'm worried it doesn't come with the Vista media dvd. When ordering, I noticed that if I ordered Ultimate, it did list the windows media dvd, but when ordering premium the windows media was not listed.

My order has the following relevent items in it:

Dell(TM) Media Direct
Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium - with AERO experience
Dell(TM) MediaDirect DVD Kit
System Driver DVD Kit
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Software Driver
Dell(TM) PC-Restore Included

Am I up the creek?

If I don't have the media - I still want to repartition my C: drive so C: is say 40GB and have another ~180GB partition for all my data files. If I repartition C: and do the PC-restore from the restore partition, will it undo the partitoning? And can I repartition by booting off a restore dvd if I create one? Or will a simple "shrink" of the C: volume in disk management work if thats one of the first things I do?

 

Ben, you should definitely receive a Windows Vista premium DVD with your notebook. And if it is not there, you can call and tell them it is not there and they will send you it.

 

It worked today. I dont know how, but it was not shutting down like yesterday. Anway I didnt finish the whole setup but I'm currently on it.

 

Good to hear.

 

i'm reformatting to vista right now. Is it supposed to take a long time @ the completing installation phase?

 

Depending on your machine, it could take up to 15 minutes as a worst-case successful scenario for it to finish that step.

 

the system is in my sig. If it should only take 15 min... then something is wrong. What should i do restart?

 

Ok fingers crossed! Although...does it make any difference that I'm in Australia, ordering from the dell.com.au site?

 

Hey

I have now do a complete re-install and SP1 came up so result and no bloatware, I have managed to put media direct, webcam and fingerprint reader on.

How do I know if I have installed the correct drivers, My system seems to be ok, but do not want to miss important things.

Have done so far :

Nvidia.
wireless
audio

Is there any more important ones?

Thanks for the walk through, this site is great.

 

Go to your Control Panel/device manager. If there are no yellow triangle exclamations there, your good to go.

 

Easy as that.

Cool dude.

I love my M1530 Even more now, that there is no crap on it.

Thanks for taking the time Les

 

i did another clean install crossing fingers for no BSOD

this time i actually took the time to do it

 

Your BSOD is most likely the result of not installing your AHCI driver properly...let me know and I will write up a sure fire method if thats the case.

 

Less, how long does the "completing installation" phase usually Take. I'm installing vista now and it's been stuck on this phase for a good 45 minutes.