Need some help going from Vista to 7.

NoelDP said:

madcratebuilder said:

Troyzer66 said:

*Should probably mention that I have a copy of Norton ready to go once I'm up and running with Windows 7 and I can use Dreamspark to stock up again on all of the software I'll have lost so I literally want EVERYTHING gone.*

The best thing you can do with that is give to someone other than a friend.

I agree wholeheartedly - Norton software tends to cause more problems than the things it's there to prevent!

Really? This is news to me. I don't run Norton on anything so I have no experience. Why is this? I got a 2011 version discounted in a local supermarket for 4 euro. Seemed like better than having nothing.

gregrocker said:

Follow the illustrated steps in Clean Install Windows 7.

Always delete all partitions during install using Drive Options in Steps 7/8. Then create and format New there, or if you have no partition scheme in mind just highlight Unallocated Space and click Next to have the installer do it for you.

In addition read over these steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
which are the same for retail and collect everything that works best so you will end up with a perfect install, and keep it that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

Finished, seems to be all okay now. I just let Windows do it's thing and now I have no partition. It's all pooled together. Are there any real disadvantages to this?

linnemeyerhere said:

No not really. I would consider installing only MS Security Essentials and Malwarebytes both are free and giving that a go unless you just have your heart set on Norton as some of my friends do. It's not that Norton is bad but it's a heavy program that IMHO doesn't pull it's weight.

It's CPU/RAM heavy? I'm working with limited hardware here. But the reason why I wanted to start over is I had a serious amount of viruses. Loads of these weird processes in the task manager consuming huge amounts of RAM. I just want to make sure I don't get anything like that again. I'm already in the middle of getting MS security essentials.

linnemeyerhere said:

Understood and don't forget to add Malwarebytes ! Remember you are the first line of AV and Malware defense ! So update daily and run scans often, did you re-install on a SSD? Also did you install 32 bit or 64 bit version of W7?

I don't think my hardware can support 64 bit and I wasn't bothered going out and spending money on parts. Ditto for the SDD. I'm already 1,400 euro into building my epic gaming rig so frankensteining my laptop wasn't really on the agenda. Just wanted a browsing workhorse.

linnemeyerhere said:

OK so then you're running 32 bit. I would get a cheap 4-16gb class 10 usb thumb drive and dedicate 2-4gb of it to ReadyBoost. After a couple of days you'll notice and enjoy a little snapper machine on the cheap.

Call me an idiot, but I don't understand what you mean. What is a thumb drive? Is it just a micro SSD?

Troyzer66 said:

linnemeyerhere said:

OK so then you're running 32 bit. I would get a cheap 4-16gb class 10 usb thumb drive and dedicate 2-4gb of it to ReadyBoost. After a couple of days you'll notice and enjoy a little snapper machine on the cheap.

Call me an idiot, but I don't understand what you mean. What is a thumb drive? Is it just a micro SSD?

A USB Flash drive.