Just got my new Inspiron700m...

RecklaZ

Senior member
Mar 13, 2001
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My new I700m just arrived and as i'm updating drivers and downloading programs like winzip and aim I was wondering what is the first things you guys do or download as soon as you get a new desktop or labtop(after reformating).
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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format the harddrive and install a new copy of WinXP Pro.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
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Most of us probably do the same routine...format and then install stuff. Some have bothered with a completely self-run slipstreamed install CD, but I haven't.
 

yezhou

Senior member
Sep 13, 2004
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Remember to burn the backup copy of your OS first. Then reformat with it, it'll install the OS with the drivers, but without all the bloatware. Also, call up Dell and ask them to give you a real copy of the OS CD + drivers, etc.

As for myself, before anything, I install antivirus+firewall first (before connecting it to the internet). Then install whatever else I need.
 

RecklaZ

Senior member
Mar 13, 2001
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Originally posted by: yezhou
As for myself, before anything, I install antivirus+firewall first (before connecting it to the internet). Then install whatever else I need.

Im in the process of this, recommend any good antivirus+firewall combos?
 

Blazin Trav

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Dec 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: RecklaZ
My new I700m just arrived and as i'm updating drivers and downloading programs like winzip and aim I was wondering what is the first things you guys do or download as soon as you get a new desktop or labtop(after reformating).

Personally I load porn onto it, I don't know about you.
 

mchammer

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
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Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be preloaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!
 

mchammer

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
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Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.
 

mchammer

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
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Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.

So why not delete the shortcuts and forget about it?
 

tami

Lifer
Nov 14, 2004
11,588
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i reformat and then i install the necessities.

btw, winrar is better than winzip. :)
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.

So why not delete the shortcuts and forget about it?

You're in a Computer Forum...and you just said that?
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.

Yup, not necessarily the disc space at all. it's cleaning out all the things that dell has set up to startup on their own (and not necessarily right away; some program pop-ups/notices won't appear until a few days later). dell reminders, "try this program!" pop-ups, several neutered demos with ads to buy, and i can't say for sure about others but i detected 1 known spyware (yeah, i ran an av and spyware scan just after i started up out of curiosity). wipe it clean and you're in control with efficiency of a fresh install and no nags.
<------Dell 8400 & 600m
 

mchammer

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
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Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.

Yup, not necessarily the disc space at all. it's cleaning out all the things that dell has set up to startup on their own (and not necessarily right away; some program pop-ups/notices won't appear until a few days later). dell reminders, "try this program!" pop-ups, several neutered demos with ads to buy, and i can't say for sure about others but i detected 1 known spyware (yeah, i ran an av and spyware scan just after i started up out of curiosity). wipe it clean and you're in control with efficiency of a fresh install and no nags.
<------Dell 8400

How about MSCONFIG? You could disable the stuff from starting. Your notebook may have custom functionality that would be a pain to track down drivers for.
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
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Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally posted by: HN
Originally posted by: mchammer
Why bother with reformatting it if its new? Then you need to go find the chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc.

because depending on which division you ordered it from, it may be loaded with a bunch of crap. and what do YOU do with real crap? you wipe it clean!

What kind of crap do they put on it? Do you really need the disk space that bad?

not so much disk space as it is "FREE 8 YEARS OF AOL!!!" and useless crap you dont need.

Yup, not necessarily the disc space at all. it's cleaning out all the things that dell has set up to startup on their own (and not necessarily right away; some program pop-ups/notices won't appear until a few days later). dell reminders, "try this program!" pop-ups, several neutered demos with ads to buy, and i can't say for sure about others but i detected 1 known spyware (yeah, i ran an av and spyware scan just after i started up out of curiosity). wipe it clean and you're in control with efficiency of a fresh install and no nags.
<------Dell 8400

How about MSCONFIG? You could disable the stuff from starting. Your notebook may have custom functionality that would be a pain to track down drivers for.

If it were that easy, spyware/adware would never be a problem. I'm not saying what dell puts on is as insidious as that, but you're just more sure that it's absolutely, positively clean. and rather than doing it somewhere down the line after you realize you should have cleaned it out and where you're concerned about backing up things since you've been working on it, might as well just do it from the get go. just my reasoning but it's a moot point since OP wants to know what people do after reformatting. cheers.

[For dell drivers, they're all consolidated onto one place, you just have to put in the service tag number (or even just the model number) and it'll take you to a page of drivers/software specific to that model. ]