A Laptop, Crapware and Windows.

[-Psy-]

Got a nice Acer Aspire laptop for Christmas and it's great except it has a load of useless crappy software on there. I can't uninstall a lot of it so I thought I would format but I don't have the original disc.

So I was thinking of either buying XP Home or Vista Home Premium - both OEM but the laptop came with a Windows Anytime Upgrade disc. :S

Now, I assume that I would be able to simply format and install Windows fresh on this laptop with no driver problems whatsoever right? RIGHT?

If I can, great, there is nothing like a freshly formatted PC. (geeky ya)

 

[MRG]

Yes. Both are very simple to install. You are off to a good start knowing that you need to format before installing the OS, because as you know, if you just install a copy over the old OS, all the crap is still installed on your HDD taking up space. Space you wanted to free up in the first place. Simply boot from the CD/DVD and you'll be on your way. You could do a dual boot too if you want both OS installed, which might be a good idea until ALL the bugs are fixed in Vista. This way, you have WinXP to game with & have full compatability for your regular programs & then Vista to play with to keep yourself current with it's interface. There are countless guides on how to do this on the net or you can follow the guide I submitted here awhile back.

Enjoy your laptop. Acer makes pretty darn good ones. You can also call them and they will send you the reinstall CD/DVD. Just tell them you got a virus or keep getting the BSOD. The thing is, they will prob have you burn a special "recovery disc' & "applications and drivers" disc from the currently installed OS that will ONLY work on your laptop. So you'll not be able to carry over the OS to another machine when your laptop becomes too old & slow. Which might be ok for you now, I don't know. This is Microsofts deal with vendors to lower the price of the OS that comes with new PC's or Laptops. Also MS way of trying to limit Pirating. From what I have read, it'll take like 2 DVD's and up to a dozen CD's, but since I haven't done it, i'm not sure, though, why it would take so many is beyond me. Just be sure to have plenty of each on hand before you start. Contact ACER @ http://panam.acer.com/AcerPanAm.html

-MRG

 

[-Psy-]

I haven't bothered to use the "eRecovery" utility as it installs all the Acer crap which I don't want in the first place.

Assuming that I can find XP compatible drivers, I should be fine?

EDIT: It would appear that they do offer XP drivers.

 

[Operational]

They didn't give you a Windows disk? Was it second hand? Either way you shouldn't have to buy Windows, check the laptop somewhere on it there must be a Windows sticker with a serial key on it. Borrow or copy a friends legal copy of Windows and use that serial key when installing.

Check the Acer website for drivers and, assuming you find everything you need, go for it.

 

[Pesmerga]

There are probably tools out there designed to uninstall those "uninstallable" programs.

 

[-Psy-]

They didn't give you a Windows disk? Was it second hand?

No and no. There is a serial number on the laptop for Vista Home Premium and, as I said, I got a Windows Anytime Upgrade disc that came with the laptop. Not sure how the hell it's going to be any help though.

 

[nofx]

You could always try this temporary fix:
Start > Run > msconfig > Startup
Then disable everything you feel is nonessential.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Laptop off the back of a truck, just admit it!

 

[-Psy-]

Yeah. So, anyway, I've got XP on this laptop and now it's super quick but I have only one more question.

How can I split the Windows partition so I can install all my programs on a seperate partition?

 

[Operational]

You should have made the partitions when you were installing Windows, the option is near the start, you make the partition for Windows and leave the rest as empty space until Windows is installed.

Then once Windows is installed enable Administration Tools by Right hand clicking on the Start button -> Properties -> Customize -> Advanced -> Scroll to the bottom and tell it to Display the Administrative Tools.

Then go Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management. From there you'll be able to setup the second partition (I'd go take a look at this screen now just to familiarize yourself with it)

The alternative to the above is getting a program like Partition Magic, which allows the resizing or partitions to set it up for you.