Make your HP Recover Disks first, as you can extract favorite apps from them using this method:
Extract HP 3rd Party Software from RecovCD.URL
Then wipe your HD before clean reinstalling:
Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command - Windows 7 Forums.URL
Windows 7 installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Any drivers then missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer model.
Install programs slowly to gauge performance changes over time. Don't let any programs write themselves into your msconfig>Startup list besides AV and gadget (maybe IM) as they become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU.
When it is set up as you like, clean and order the HD using state-of-the-art CCleaner and Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers monthly. The save a Windows 7 backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again.