New Laptop w/ Preloaded software, format and start from scratch (get rid of taskbar junk)?

[DDDavey]

I know that most systems, esp laptops come preloaded w/ a buncha useless software. Should I format upon getting this and starting over from scratch to get all the useless junk and memory hogs off? i can imagine there will be like 10 things in the taskbar running. How hard is a laptop to bring back up to working condition? I've done plenty of desktops.... THanks!

Dave

 

[skace]

Pretty much the same as a desktop, any software it might be missing after reformat should be packaged with the laptop. I have one laptop reformatted to linux and another one running win2k, neither had any special software required after innitial reformat. You may want to just tweak what they send you, kill a few apps and leave it already built.

Cya,
skace

 

[Oyeve]

My presario came with TONS of crap. The only useful stuff was the OSD and the Disqplay stuff for controlling DVDs. I live fine without it tho

 

[ddiccico]

before reinstalling i would delete everything from the startup folder, and check the registry run directory for unneeded stuff. see if that helps.

 

[DDDavey]

Cool sounds like a couple good ideas to try before going drastic...thanks!

 

[rigelproject]

Careful...there are some proprietary software (drivers) that come with laptops...I know...I loaded W2KP on a Presario 1800T and I had to rig it a bit to work...especially the video driver...
good luck...

 

[rigelproject]

Reformat...just...be careful...

 

[Link]

Get "RegClean" from JV16. Using the program you can get rid of registry entries for unnecessary stuff. You can also restore them if you want to.

 

[Joemonkey]

create another partition to use as storage, and save any drivers you may need on this partition. i'm sure you can get them off the web, and would be amazed if you couldn't. then if you want, you can format the main partition, and point to the 2nd partition when it asks for drivers.