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Help! New XPS 17 arriving today

post #1 of 6
7/19/11 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 

I'm trying to figure out what I should do when my XPS 17 arrives today.  I've looked at various places online and there seems to be a split in whether it's best (or necessary) to reformat the HD and reinstall Windows 7.  My system isn't coming with a Windows 7 recovery disk (it would have somehow delayed the shipment 6 weeks!), so I'm not sure what my options are there.  I'm going from older XP computers to Windows 7 (which I'm unfamiliar with), so I'm not sure whether it has a feature where you can create a recovery disk within the program itself.  

 

Otherwise, I'd like some advice on a checklist of what I need to do right out of the box - do I get updated drivers from manufacturers' websites or from Dell, etc.  I'd appreciate any thoughts on the best way to make the most of my new time-waster...

 

Thanks!


Edited by zilla - 7/20/11 at 8:07am
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post #2 of 6
7/20/11 at 6:48am
Any time a laptop gets shipped back to me I dont reformat. They usually do a decent job with a clean reinstall or image.
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post #3 of 6
7/20/11 at 7:34am
Thread Starter 

I should have been more clear - it's not a computer I've had before, this is a brand new one.  Looking for advice on how to get things started in the right way.

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post #4 of 6
7/20/11 at 8:22am

The computer should come in perfect shape with OS discs already included. Recovery discs that come with computers usually have the bloatware included, too. I wouldn't worry about it. Re-installing the OS is perfectly fine without a recovery. 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #5 of 6
7/20/11 at 8:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zilla View Post

I should have been more clear - it's not a computer I've had before, this is a brand new one.  Looking for advice on how to get things started in the right way.


My personal steps - working wonders for many years and on many comps ...

- create a set of recovery disks
- update everything (Windows and drivers) from the net, automatically - don't bother with manual updates
- create a restore point (or more as needed)
- disable start up processes and services that I don't use everyday
- remove stock antivirus software and replacing it with a good free one like Microsoft Security Essentials - my fav at the moment

cheers ...
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post #6 of 6
8/27/11 at 7:50pm

Once you get the computer and  if it does not have the Windows 7 OEM DVD, call Dell and tell them you want one and they will usually ship you one for free.

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