a new Dell desktop -now what?

tankard_2

I am about to take delivery of a new Dell desktop.

Having read all sorts of stories both good and bad I am wondering what to do as soon as I have the machine out of the box. What precautions should I take.

I am thinking along the lines of:
making a *factory backup*
removing all the tute/!!!!!! that Dell load on their machines

any ideas...???

thanks,

CHR15

Assuming you have restore disks with it, there is no real point in making a backup, it is all on the restore disks anyway.

Getting rid of all the extras would be a good move.

If it were me though!!

I would simply boot it with my own OS disks I already have, reformat the PC without even looking at it, and install my own OS/ progs with what I want on it.

Not saying it is for everyone, there will be lots of drivers to sort out.

tankard_2

CHR15 wrote: »

... there will be lots of drivers to sort out.

Hello CHR15

Yeah that's the bit that bothers me

Any suggestions on how to manage the risk...

espresso

Decrapify it.

x_Wilco_x

If your not confident removing all of the rubbish dell add to their PC's via add/remove programs there is a piece of software called the dell decrapifier which will remove it all for you - never used it but am sure if you google you will find it...

Mizz_Pink

Bring it to our shop and we will set it up for internet, load free anti virus and spyware software protection etc for £35

We no longer build pc's so we offer this set up service and its proven to be really popular especially with the novices.

alared

You won`t need to make a "factory backup" on a Dell and you won`t get any recovery disks.

"Restore to factory settings" is partitioned on the hard drive of all Dells.

Most unwanted programs can be removed from "add/remove"
The stubborn ones by downloading freeware called "crapcleaner"

tankard_2

Some good stuff coming in - thanks folks

I know about the PC Decrapifier. Used it before. It works well. Thanks for the recommendation. And a link is always most helpful here.

I also use CCleaner. I like it.

Any more suggestions please...

Millionaire

tankard wrote: »

Some good stuff coming in - thanks folks

I know about the PC Decrapifier. Used it before. It works well. Thanks for the recommendation. And a link is always most helpful here.

I also use CCleaner. I like it.

Any more suggestions please...

If its Comes with Vista just put the Vista Reinstallation Cd and boot from it (F12 i think)then Reinstall Vista.

I had to recently do this on a new harddrive as my previous one started failing and was surprised that the reinstalation has all sound, display drivers etc already. and works great minus all the dell crap.

It reinstalls with just Vista features so totally removes the crap that dell load on it so you wont have remenants of programs youve removed and reisntall also only took 1/2 hour.

tankard_2

tankard wrote: »

Hello CHR15

Yeah that's the bit that bothers me

Any suggestions on how to manage the risk...

Thanks Millionaire
I still don't think that will deal with the issue about the Drivers.
btw I'm not touching vista for at least a year - this new machine is XP Pro

CHR15

You can boot it up as normal when you get it to make sure its all working.

Get on the net and download some third party software to back up all your drivers:

http://www.driver-soft.com/

There are a few apps which do this. I have used Driver Genius in the past and its been fine.

Back up all your drivers, (especially the network driver) and reinstall the OS as you wish.

Once the drivers have been identified you can either restore them from the back ups you made earlier, or better still, search online for updated drivers (because you now know what you need)

Just make sure you have your network drivers so you can get on the net after your OS install.