Newbie-Opinions on Clean v Custom Install

[ChubbyTubby]

Hi. New to posting but have been reading the forum for a couple of weeks.

I'm still a little confused on what I should do, so I thought I would register and see what opinions y'all might have.

Here is the setup.

I have a HP 6180t Desktop, 64 bit with Vista installed. Just bought it in July so I got the free HP upgrade to Windows 7.

In everything I have read, it seems a totally clean install is the best way to go. However, on the HP site, it gives the options between upgrade and custom install. Now, they act like the custom install is the same as clean, but I understand it is not, since it would create the windows.old folder when a totally clean install would not.

My machine came with Vista installed and all I have for backup is the recovery disks I made(I also have an image but the recovery disks are straight from the HP Recovery partition) . I have a extra hard drive(D:/) that is a recovery partition installed by HP. I do have two external hard drives which I'm using to backup all programs,etc.

OK, here is my confusion. If i was to just do the custom install, do you think it would be much worse than trying to do a totally clean install? In other words, from what I can understand, the only difference is the windows.old folder is created and if I deleted that after the install I would essentially have a "clean" install.

I'm a little weary of trying a totally clean install since HP does not give instructions for that and I'm afraid my warranty will not be valid if I do. But if the custom install is not deemed to be as foolproof (or as foolproof as you can get) to work best, I can try the clean install.

Thanks for the help and if any of that is not clear, let me know.

 

[richc46]

i think that most would agree that a clean is better than an upgrade. Is a clean better than a custom, well that is another matter. I think that they are both equally good. If you do a custom the windows.old is created than the drive is wiped clean. How is that different than you doing it yourself? I just did a custom Yesterday, no problems and its up and running 100%. I think that sometimes we can become obessessed with the inconsequential. If you do a custom, when you are done you have a completely new OS, with all the sins of the past gone; no more virus, no more spyware, no more computer slowing down; what could actually be left behind. But, the final analysis is subjective. Takes no more time, and there will be no problems if you have a full back up of the entire OS, before you format. Oh yes, one more thing I installed my copy and I love it. I know that you will too. If you are coming off Vista, no big changes, just a lot more convenience, little more speed and more security and those little friendly "cute features" that make "puting" fun.
enjoy.

 

[gregrocker]

If your run Win7 UPgrade from teh desktop, you can choose UPgrade for an in-place upgrade that reinstalls your programs, files and settings, or Custom which puts all your files in windows.old folder.

If you boot from Upgrade disk, you can choose CUstom to get Advanced tools to delete, create and format partitions.

My only question before giving you the standard advice about recovery partitions is whether the Upgrade disk HP sent you is a standard MS Win7 Upgrade, or some special version burned by HP. If it is a MS Win7 UPgrade disk without extra HP bloatware on it, then:

Since you have made your Vista recovery disks, you do not need to save the Recovery partition which will most likely become disabled after installing Win7 anyway. Those disks are how you would reinstall, as well as proof of prior OS for Upgrade.

Be sure to use Win7 Backup Center to save externally a backup image of your finished job which can reimage your HDD (or a replacement) flawlessly in 15 minutes, making reinstalls are a thing of the past.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Humpty Dumpty once said "When I use a word, it means exactly what I choose it to mean, no more and no less".

So you have to realize that words get tossed around loosely.

As MOST people use the terms:

A clean install is the preferred method. You would have to reinstall your programs.

The Windows 7 install screens refer to "custom install", which as they use the word is a synonym for clean install.

Most people use "clean" and "custom" interchangeably. Clean is the original term.

The most common term for the other type of install is "upgrade" or "upgrade install" or "in-place upgrade". This does takes longer, but with luck you won't have to reinstall your programs.

The standard advise here and elsewhere is to stay with a clean aka custom install, unless you have an over-riding reason.

I have no idea if your concerns about an HP warranty are valid or would qualify as an over-riding reason.

 

[wallyinnc]

In other words, from what I can understand, the only difference is the windows.old folder is created and if I deleted that after the install I would essentially have a "clean" install.

Welcome to the forums ChubbyTubby

The answer to your question above: No.

An upgrade or in-place upgrade (thanks ignatzatsonic for the good clarification) will preserve your programs and all the junk associated with them that build up in your registry file. A clean install would clean the slate. The pain is that you have to reinstall all the junk...

 

[ChubbyTubby]

If your run Win7 UPgrade from teh desktop, you can choose UPgrade for an in-place upgrade that reinstalls your programs, files and settings, or Custom which puts all your files in windows.old folder.

If you boot from Upgrade disk, you can choose CUstom to get Advanced tools to delete, create and format partitions.

My only question before giving you the standard advice about recovery partitions is whether the Upgrade disk HP sent you is a standard MS Win7 Upgrade, or some special version burned by HP. If it is a MS Win7 UPgrade disk without extra HP bloatware on it, then:

Since you have made your Vista recovery disks, you do not need to save the Recovery partition which will most likely become disabled after installing Win7 anyway. Those disks are how you would reinstall, as well as proof of prior OS for Upgrade.

Be sure to use Win7 Backup Center to save externally a backup image of your finished job which can reimage your HDD (or a replacement) flawlessly in 15 minutes, making reinstalls are a thing of the past.

First, thanks to everyone that replied. Much appreciated. Now, on this reply, how would I know if the HP Upgrade disk is a regular Windows 7 or a special HP version? I don't see anything on their site that states it would be anything other than just the regular disk but wouldn't put it past them that it could be. Wondering if there was a way to check? The only additional software they are giving is something called an HP upgrade advisor disk. Which checks the BIOS, and supposedly has the HP drivers on it. It's mainly for the upgrade option but I don't see why I couldn't use it after a clean install if there are drivers I can't get from the Windows 7 update. (I've already went and downloaded Windows 7 drivers from HP's site anyway) The only thing that concerns me about doing a clean install is that HP doesn't give instructions for that but does for a "custom" install, which they deem a clean install. Yet, it states it will still have the windows.old folder. The concern is that the disk they sent will either not be able to do a totally clean install or by doing one my warranty will be void. If I go ahead with the clean install and it doesn't work, I could still reinstall my Vista from the recovery disk and then do another "custom" install, don't you think? Kind of a backup plan. lol

 

[ChubbyTubby]

sorry about not spacing that response, must have something disabled on this computer.

 

[richc46]

Why not just make a copy of your HD (you can use Acronis, et al) to an external HD. Then if you ever need it, you can just copy it to your HD, again. You of course would have a copy of Windows 7 that can be copied to the HD. Doing it that way, you can format your HD (if that makes you feel better) and there would be no need for concern.

 

[gregrocker]

If your run Win7 UPgrade from teh desktop, you can choose UPgrade for an in-place upgrade that reinstalls your programs, files and settings, or Custom which puts all your files in windows.old folder.

If you boot from Upgrade disk, you can choose CUstom to get Advanced tools to delete, create and format partitions.

My only question before giving you the standard advice about recovery partitions is whether the Upgrade disk HP sent you is a standard MS Win7 Upgrade, or some special version burned by HP. If it is a MS Win7 UPgrade disk without extra HP bloatware on it, then:

Since you have made your Vista recovery disks, you do not need to save the Recovery partition which will most likely become disabled after installing Win7 anyway. Those disks are how you would reinstall, as well as proof of prior OS for Upgrade.

Be sure to use Win7 Backup Center to save externally a backup image of your finished job which can reimage your HDD (or a replacement) flawlessly in 15 minutes, making reinstalls are a thing of the past.

First, thanks to everyone that replied. Much appreciated. Now, on this reply, how would I know if the HP Upgrade disk is a regular Windows 7 or a special HP version? I don't see anything on their site that states it would be anything other than just the regular disk but wouldn't put it past them that it could be. Wondering if there was a way to check? The only additional software they are giving is something called an HP upgrade advisor disk. Which checks the BIOS, and supposedly has the HP drivers on it. It's mainly for the upgrade option but I don't see why I couldn't use it after a clean install if there are drivers I can't get from the Windows 7 update. (I've already went and downloaded Windows 7 drivers from HP's site anyway) The only thing that concerns me about doing a clean install is that HP doesn't give instructions for that but does for a "custom" install, which they deem a clean install. Yet, it states it will still have the windows.old folder. The concern is that the disk they sent will either not be able to do a totally clean install or by doing one my warranty will be void. If I go ahead with the clean install and it doesn't work, I could still reinstall my Vista from the recovery disk and then do another "custom" install, don't you think? Kind of a backup plan. lol

Don't sweat the drivers. YOu will be amazed at how good Win7 is with the latest drivers, almost all of which will be installed with Win7 and a few following up in the first Windows Update. You can always back up your Vista drivers from windows/system32/drivers.

It sound like they are sending you a clean Win7 Upgrade disk, but you can check for sure by browsing it to see if it has the standard 7 files boot, efi, sources, support, upgrade, autorun, bootmgr, setup, then scrutinizing any extra files.

The additional disk they promise is probably apps like Works, adobes, java and drivers, and bloatware. Go with the Win7 installer/update drivers unless you confirm better. You seem to have the ability to bypass their bloatware which they may try to sneak past you since it provides a big part of manufacturer's profit margins nowadays.

 

[ChubbyTubby]

Thanks, Greg. I'll do that check and use the tutorial from this site. I've already read it and it was easy to understand

Rich, I am going to do what you say about making an image of the HD before I start. I've got Macrium Reflect to do that. So, with the recovery disks, the image of the HD, I should be covered in case of a mistake. lol

Thanks to everyone for clearing up some stuff for me. This is my first time changing OS's and just over thinking things. Y'all have calmed my nerves. lol Thanks again.

 

[richc46]

Thanks, Greg. I'll do that check and use the tutorial from this site. I've already read it and it was easy to understand

Rich, I am going to do what you say about making an image of the HD before I start. I've got Macrium Reflect to do that. So, with the recovery disks, the image of the HD, I should be covered in case of a mistake. lol

Thanks to everyone for clearing up some stuff for me. This is my first time changing OS's and just over thinking things. Y'all have calmed my nerves. lol Thanks again.

I have to agree with the prior member, stay calm and just enjoy. I was looking forward to my preorder of 7 since July. Well the disc arrived on Monday, but I was over thinking and decided not to install it for a while. I am not too knowledgable in the computer field, but I learn things quickly. Let me suggest to you just what I did. I went to You Tube and actually watched step by step, so I would know exactly what to expect. I read comments in the forum and read the tutorials. Well, first thing on Tuesday, I had breakfast and began the installation (clean). No problems whatsoever. Just take your time be sure of what you are doing and enjoy.
Just a few unexpected inconveniences. I had to reinstall office 2007 excel and word) (make sure you have all your program DVD's, with the product key number). Well, I did not even think about it, but I was bombarded with updates. Then even though I checked the HP website to make sure they had the drivers for a printer, when I actually hit download, I got the message coming in Mid November. Bottom line, if I could do it and I am an old timer, you can do it. Just go slow step by step. Best of luck and enjoy.

 

[gregrocker]

With the image made beforehand, you can try the cleanest of all installs, booting from disk, choosing Custom>Advanced tools and deleting all partitions, creating one big new one, formatting and installing.

If you can pull needed apps/drivers off the second disk they provide by browsing, fine. If not you can get the staples Adobe flash/reader, Java runtime/possibly free reader, good anti-virus (Avast free home is lightest/best IMHO) from the web and might not need to run that disk since it will probably hold bloat.

At any point where you feel you need to start over, just reimage your HDD in 15 minutes.

Afterward be sure to make another image (Win7 Backup imaging is fine here) to save to an external so reinstalls will never be needed. I make a primary partition on my HDD to save a copy for easy detection if I need to boot Installer to recover from image, bit it's good to save externally in case of HDD failure.

 

[ChubbyTubby]

Really appreciate all the help. Been very helpful.

I did go to youtube to watch actual installations, so along with the tutorial, I should be good to go.

Only one, hopefully last, question.

After I click on the custom install, for a totally clean install, I want to format my disk drive that I'm going to be putting Windows 7 on, right? One video I saw did that along with the tutortial, but another video didn't.

I click on the drive/partition(I only have one partition on my C drive), click delete, then click new(which will set up the system partition also-this was on one video where it automatically seemed to set up this partition) and then click on the unallocated partition and hit format....then continue on?

That is the way I understood it(and the tutorial shows) and just want to make sure. I'm scheduled to get my disk today so hopefully this weekend I'll be able to do this.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I recall correctly, you never see a choice for "format", but formatting is automatically done in the background during the installation.

 

[gregrocker]

After I click on the custom install, for a totally clean install, I want to format my disk drive that I'm going to be putting Windows 7 on, right? One video I saw did that along with the tutortial, but another video didn't.

I click on the drive/partition(I only have one partition on my C drive), click delete, then click new(which will set up the system partition also-this was on one video where it automatically seemed to set up this partition) and then click on the unallocated partition and hit format....then continue on?

That is the way I understood it(and the tutorial shows) and just want to make sure. I'm scheduled to get my disk today so hopefully this weekend I'll be able to do this.

Yes, you've got it right.

Later, you can go into Disk Management, shrink your one Win7 partition down to make new partition(s) as you wish.

For example, I make a Primary partition for Recovery Image, then have Windows Backup Imaging save an image there for easy detection if I need to reimage my drive. But it also needs backing up to an external in case of HDD failure.

Many like to make a data partition where they store their files separately from the OS.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[ChubbyTubby]

Thought I would drop back by and let y'all know that everything went good. Got my update disk on Thursday and did the clean install yesterday. Everything seems to be fine. Had a little trouble getting my outpost firewall recognized by the windows security center at first but I think I didn't have the latest version of the firewall. Downloaded it and reinstalled it and now its recognized. Other than that, no problems to speak of. Thanks a bunch to everyone that helped me on this thread. I'm sure I will be checking this forum out for anything new. And if I have a problem with W7, this will be my first stop. Just an excellent job by everybody. I really, really appreciated it.

 

[wallyinnc]

Thank you CT for the feedback