I want to install Windows 7 on the wifes Laptop. It's an HP Pavilion 1225. New last year. The main question i have is, these HP's come loaded to the gills with HP "proprietary" programs and stuff.... If I simply "upgrade", all that crap remains. However, if I do a clean install, all of it goes away. Is there anything they install, that it really needs??? I don't think so, but with all the stuff on there,,,, it's hard to know/tell?!?!?! Am I safe dumping it all, and GOING clean?? That would be MY preference, but I want to be sure!!
Hankpersonally, the first thing I do when I get a new PC is install a clean copy of windows to it. It's not that difficult to visit the vendors site and DOWNLOAD the proper drivers (which are the only "proprietary" things you really need).


Of course, this means you won't have any included applications, like Office, if they came with the laptop.That's what I thought, Mine was a custom built CLONE, nothing on it but what I WANTED. Never had to "redo" one of these HP's with all the garbage on it. So I'll do the clean install. "Pre installed stuff isn't an issue. Thanks, HankMake sure, your computer is Win 7 compatible: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b544e90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15Trust me she won't miss any of the pre-installed if you were to do a wipe and a clean install of 7...

Just make sure you grab all the machine's appropiate drivers from the manuf. site before starting.