I have a 64 bit HP DV7 laptop with Vista 64 bit installed
What would be better? an upgrade to windows 7 or a clean install, I heard that a clean install will really run a lot better, what are the differences if any? Thanks
The differences are that you must reinstall all of your programs with a clean install, whereas an in-place upgrade leaves your Vista programs, files and settings in place and reinstalls the OS. It also allows corruption from the Vista install to carry over into Win7, as well as various compatibility issues which can come into play.
Most tech enthusiasts prefer a clean install, but if you want to try an in-place to begin, then wait until you have more time and experience to clean reinstall, you also have that option.
When you are ready to clean install, get the cleanest possible install by booting from the Win7 installer and formatting the HD before install. Keep your ethernet plugged and select "Connect to the internet during install" to get updates/drivers during install. More will come from Windows Updates after install.
The installer is pretty much driver-complete but you may need some apps/drivers from the Support Downloads page for your computer model, Adobe (flash, Reader) and Java (runtime, free Ofc Suite) websites.
Will my 64 bit system run any faster and smoother by doing a clean install versus an upgrade? if so how much?
Also since I am no computer expert, I have inadvertantly changed settings in my task manager ie-services, thinking I could speed up my computer but instead I have messed many things up and now it runs slower and now has issues, is there any way I can reset my computer back to like a "default" background settings/overall windows settings? or would it just be better to run a vista recovery disk before I do an upgrade to windows seven, my recovery disks were made before I did any tweaking of my computer, how do I do a recovery? thanks
The time to have recovered from the messed up settings was soon enough after it happened to do a System Restore to a date point just before the mistakes were made.
You can run sfc /scannow which will check the integrity of system files, but not reverse the messed settings.
Even running a repair install, which is the same as an Upgrade btw, of the Vista would carry over any bad settings as does an Upgrade from Vista to Windows 7.
I think based on your revealing this, I would recommend you clean install with formatting. It always is a better install with better performance and the only real way to overcome corrupted settings.
Back up your files/bookmarks/email, gather your program installers/disks, then boot from the Win7 DVD, select "connect to the internet during install" to get latest drivers/updates during install > Custom install > Advanced drive tools to delete all, create New partition(s) as you wish, then format before install. This is as clean as you can get.
Then when it is set up and running as you like, make a Win7 Backup Image stored externally (and in a Primary formatted partition if you like) so that you never have to reinstall again, just boot from the DVD to reimage the HD or a replacement in 15 minutes.
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