Which is the best choice?

RonAshman · 23 Dec 2010

Hi all!

I'm posting this msg because I don't know what to do in this situation.
A friend of mine gave me his PC because it's running slowly and bla bla. He bought it 2 and a half years ago so a format/clean install should do it.

It's a notebook Acer Aspire 5720Z. I'd love to install Win7x32 or x64 but it's not listed as compatible in Acer's website and I ran the advisor and the problems listed were with software specifically from Acer.
In acer website there are SOME but not all the drivers for Win7.

Anyway, as I see it these are my options, but I don't know which would be the best choice.

1) Clean install of Win7 and pray that everything will work.

2) Format and install WinVista x32 Home Premium, which is the OS it already has.

3) Don't mess with the OS and just try to clean all the crap that's making it run slowly.

Option 1 would be the best. I just need to see where I can get Win7 in Spanish cause I can't install it in English.

Option 2 would be good too. He doesn't remember if the PC came with a set of DVDs and I checked and there's no backup in the hard drive to do a factory reset, so I should install it from a DVD. My question is: if I install WinVista Home Premium x32 (the one that it came with) can I use the same product key and it will be accepted as legal and everything else?

Thanks in advance!
Greetings ^^

richc46 · 23 Dec 2010

Thats an easy question
A clean install of Seven
But
Dont go out and buy the full retail buy the upgrade. We will show you how to install it just like a full retail if you have Vista installed already.
Ill get some reading material for you
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version[2]=General Tips
Suggestions for Proper Maintenance

RonAshman · 23 Dec 2010

Thanks for replying so quickly!

Alright I'll check that out and try it.
I have already done a clean install from a DVD several times, but never in someone else's PC. I don't want to turn it into a fancy paperweight.
I'm afraid to install because it's not listed as compatible in Acer's website.
Anyway, my PC is not branded (Compal IFT01) and I installed Win7x64 and everything worked out just fine.

Thanks again!

richc46 · 23 Dec 2010

Free Download PC Upgrade Advisor Windows 7 Hardware Programs Issues

Bare Foot Kid · 23 Dec 2010

Hello RonAshman, welcome to Seven Forums!

Yes you can use a Vista full installation DVD of the exact same version that the PC came with to do a clean install and use the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC to activate, though you may have to make a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch key but that's very easy, see this tutorial at the link below.

How to Activate Vista by Phone Activation

gregrocker · 23 Dec 2010

You can always run Acer Factory Recovery although it reinstalls the bloatware and useless duplicate utilities with better versions built into Win7.

So here are tips to Clean Up Factory Bloatware

And here are tips for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which includes the installer and everything else you need to get a perfect install.

Win7 installer is driver-complete. You don't need to worry about finding drivers, and I wouldn't swap out any that are given by installer or quickly updated via optional Windows updates.

If you try to clean it up and it still has performance problems, here are Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

RonAshman · 11 Apr 2013

I really don't know why I never ever gave a last reply to this thread, how rude.

I was going thru my posts and found it. I remember your help was very useful back then, so thanks a lot (better late than never)

gregrocker · 11 Apr 2013

No problem, Ron. All of the links have been completely reworked anyway into tutorials which I've now had the chance to update. You can see how we've evolved too.