[Shoka]

This may sound like a really dum question, and I feel pretty dum asking it as I should really know the answer but here goes:

Im wanting to do a clean install on my laptop, but dont have a "legitimate" copy of an operating system, will the recovery cd's that i got with the laptop create a clean install?

[Steven]

Recovery discs will reinstall your laptop to factory state, i.e. how it was when you got it, bloatware and all. If you want a clean system, pay the mo-nay for XP

[Shoka]

Complete lack of ££££££, and my laptop has become totaly unstable.

Bit wary of "factory State" will the OS be there?

[Steven]

?

'Factory state' just means the default setup, i.e. the laptop will be returned to the state it was in when you first bought it. That's why I said bloatware and all. And yes, the OS will be there.

It's only a term. What problems are you having? Virus/spyware related or general windows trouble?

[bumper31]

Depends on the Recovery disks......

Some create a full OEM disk with supporting software on one DVD/CD

Others have the OS on one CD and supporting software on another or the source files on a recovery partition on your hard drive.

If the OS has a seperate CD then you should be OK, for a minimal install with OS.

But sometimes you may need the supplementary CD also, eg I had NEC laptop whereby the WLAN card would only work with the WLAN software installed, not just the driver

[pixelpixel]

'Factory state' is the state that your laptop came out of the box. This will also contain all the extras that you would have been given and also you will need to patch the system again.

I have a system that had a preinstalled 'Factory state' system and have only rebuilt the system once in about 3 years. Shortly after this image I done a rebuild.



The reason I stated this is that factory builds can be just as good as out of the box full retail. So you might not need to rebuild. Just reconfig / Backup.

What is happening in order for a rebuild ? System slowness, error messages ?

[Shoka]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

It's only a term. What problems are you having? Virus/spyware related or general windows trouble?

Thanks for clearing up the factory state thing.

Yeah discovered a few viruses last night, nothing hardcore that I couldnt sort out. Ive noticed just a general lack of performance recently, and thought id start from scratch again. Any ideas before i do? Ive done a defrag, got rid of all viruses, spyware and adware.

[Shoka]

Originally Posted by bumper31

Depends on the Recovery disks......

Some create a full OEM disk with supporting software on one DVD/CD

Itsa a sony laptop with 4 recovery cd's

[Shoka]

Originally Posted by pixelpixel

What is happening in order for a rebuild ? System slowness, error messages ?

Yes, and yes, my laptops about 3 years old as well.

Dont think mines got a pre-installed control.

[Figment]

Shoka ( hi neighbour Berkshire here too ) just a thought but have you downloaded windows deffender onto your laptop at any time ? if so I would uninstall it, reboot and see if the slowdown still exists as it can cause this type of problem I found.

[Shoka]

HI Figment, havent downloaded it no, so thats not it. Where abouts are you im in Bracknell

[Figment]

Originally Posted by Shoka

HI Figment, havent downloaded it no, so thats not it. Where abouts are you im in Bracknell

Oh well worth a shot, hope you get sorted. Reading here by the way.