Advice on Getting a Windows 7 computer

[gpatrick]

Didn't know where to post this.

Should I get a preinstalled system with Vista and upgrade it or get a preinstalled system with windows 7.

Forgive my ignorance
On pre-installed system will it be 64 bit or 32 bit systems or both?

I would like to install the operating system myself. I like systems with quit fans. I would like cdrw and dvd player (Combo is fine).

I will need a pci or USB modem. (I am still on dial-up)

Will an old crt monitor work (VGA input)?

 

[QuackPot]

Usually preinstalled systems are 32bit or at least my laptop was Vista 32bit Home Premium.

 

[whs]

I would wait a few days (until after OCT.22). Then you can buy a Windows7 system. That way you don't have the hassle of upgrading.
32 or 64bit is a question of the amount of RAM you'll get. Nowadays, many systems come with 4,6 or 8GBs of RAM. Then they also come with 64bit. But for less than 4GB of RAM, a 32bit will do.
The CRT will work, but it is a nuisance. Get a nice package with a 22" monitor. The best is on black Friday. 2 years ago on black Friday I got an HP package with 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD and the 22" monitor and and all the other bells and whistles for $480.

 

[gregrocker]

Def wait til you can buy it with Win7 preinstalled. However you will be facing the bloatware monster with any pre-installed computer you buy, and I would worry about how much that will bite into Win7's snappy performance. Plus, you can never fully remove the biggest bloats like Symantec and Office trial pre-install without special tools which often leave System Files corrupted and unfixable with sfc /scannow.

This issue was previously negotiable when companies like Gateway/eMachines provided a clean copy OEM disk of the OS and an apps disk to pluck your Works, drivers, adobe, etc. from. Now the profit margins are so slim that most manufacturers enforce the sponsored bloatware by refusing to supply or support clean OEM reinstalls. Most savvy users find an OEM disk of their version and do a clean install, getting drivers from the computer's product download web page, gettings Adobe reader/flash, Java runtime or free reader from the web or borrowing a Works disk.

So while the idea of a new computer (like the great little Acer dually 3 gig Nv8200 slimline my friend got at Best Buy last week for $400) is exciting, the idea that the greatest invention since the computer - Windows 7 - would be compromised by manufacturer bloat is nauseating.

 

[Jacen]

If it were me I would buy one with Vista installed and get the upgrade media. I did this with Vista and was able to do clean install on all my Vista computers to get rid of the bloatware with the Vista Upgrade disk.

In my opinion, this is the best way to keep your computer running smoothly. When I did a clean install on my laptop I gained an extra 10GB of space that Dell has preloaded on the recovery CD.

I have used the Vista Upgrade disk with 3 dells and a Toshiba with no issues.

I am not sure if the Windows 7 upgrade disk will be similiar but I would think so. I doubt each OEM is going to have a special media disk for each system.

 

[gpatrick]

I read on a website. That Microsoft was going to issue special oem disk to places like Dell, emachine, HP etc. This new disk for windows 7 home/pro. It is just tied to the mainboard and it does not count hardware at all. As long as you don't replace the mainboard, you can reinstall as many times as you want. The product key and cd would be tied to the mainboard. I guess oems didn't want that.

On the Symantec issue. I had an emachine with xp preinstalled. I was able to clean out all of symantec registry key. I did have to start xp in safe mode and take ownership of the keys, so I could delete them.

I just hope W7 has the same custom features xp has. (I already this asked in another thread). I like windows classic desktop and classic start menu.

 

[Lee]

Gateway still provides a clean OEM disk (anyway it did for my FX-7026).

All the information that has been departed to you is excellent, wait until Oct. 22, to buy a new system. Then if you do did help in getting the blot ware off come back to the "Seven Forum," and all of us will give you hand getting it cleaned up along with running smoothly.

 

[Jacen]

I know this strays a little off topic but what about this scenario.

He buys a computer whenever he feel like. Then if he has a friend that has the full retail version he can just install the retail version with no key. After the version is installed, he can activate the program with his OEM key.

Anyone think that would work?

 

[Tews]

No ... it wouldnt work ... there is a difference a retail key and an OEM key... the OEM key is a VLK ( volume license key )...

 

[gregrocker]

If it were me I would buy one with Vista installed and get the upgrade media. I did this with Vista and was able to do clean install on all my Vista computers to get rid of the bloatware with the Vista Upgrade disk.

In my opinion, this is the best way to keep your computer running smoothly. When I did a clean install on my laptop I gained an extra 10GB of space that Dell has preloaded on the recovery CD.

I have used the Vista Upgrade disk with 3 dells and a Toshiba with no issues.

I am not sure if the Windows 7 upgrade disk will be similiar but I would think so. I doubt each OEM is going to have a special media disk for each system.

Jacen, I was thinking maybe the manufacturers would ship Windows 7 upgrade disks with their bloatware included, since they get a big part of their profit margin now from those sponsored bloats. But if it is a clean Win7 upgrade disk then that would be a much better situation and now would be the time to buy!

 

[gregrocker]

Gateway still provides a clean OEM disk (anyway it did for my FX-7026).

All the information that has been departed to you is excellent, wait until Oct. 22, to buy a new system. Then if you do did help in getting the blot ware off come back to the "Seven Forum," and all of us will give you hand getting it cleaned up along with running smoothly.

Lee thanks again for the useful info. Gateway/eMachines (which also provided the clean disk) is a great company and I am concerned about whether new owner Acer will change that. My friend called Acer and got the same HP/Toshiba spiel about how they won't support clean installs or supply clean OS disk, although they offered to send free recovery disks since he called within 90 days, which is good since we deleted the recovery partition and reinstalled Vista clean from my eMachines OEM which ended chronic blue screens.

When talking with these guys you have to speak hypothetically since they will void your tech support warranty for clean installs, another good reason to keep their recovery disks in case the machine needs to be supported or for factory restore in case of sale, etc..

 

[gpatrick]

Gateway still provides a clean OEM disk (anyway it did for my FX-7026).

All the information that has been departed to you is excellent, wait until Oct. 22, to buy a new system. Then if you do did help in getting the blot ware off come back to the "Seven Forum," and all of us will give you hand getting it cleaned up along with running smoothly.

Lee thanks again for the useful info. Gateway/eMachines (which also provided the clean disk) is a great company and I am concerned about whether new owner Acer will change that. My friend called Acer and got the same HP/Toshiba spiel about how they won't support clean installs or supply clean OS disk, although they offered to send free recovery disks since he called within 90 days, which is good since we deleted the recovery partition and reinstalled Vista clean from my eMachines OEM which ended chronic blue screens.

When talking with these guys you have to speak hypothetically since they will void your tech support warranty for clean installs, another good reason to keep their recovery disks in case the machine needs to be supported or for factory restore in case of sale, etc..

They could still provide the software on the disk. (AST did that with windows 95). This way people could install what they want.

Wouldn't it be better to do what the customer wants and make a sale, then don't do what the customer want and not make a sale? I tend to buy from computer shops for just that reason.

 

[gregrocker]

Wouldn't it be better to do what the customer wants and make a sale, then don't do what the customer want and not make a sale? I tend to buy from computer shops for just that reason.

Sure it would be better for us, but these are corporations and we know what direction those are going now. They get paid a huge amount by vendors like Symantec, eBay, disk burners, etc, and get price breaks for OEM's from MS for including pre-installed Office trial - all of which makes up perhaps MOST of their profit margin.

The result for consumers is cheaper computers and makers they have become unfriendly toward clean reinstalls, since their vendors want their bloatware enforced as much as possible on these machines for as long as possible. For inexperienced users this results in performance degradation of up to 90% due to free-riders on RAM, registry corruption, etc. It has made me a clean-reinstall hobbyist who loves doing each one like a puzzle, watching friends and family's computers go from stuttering to lightning fast.