Re: How long does it take to re-install Vista and the Dell programs/drivers?
- From: "Hank Arnold (MVP)" <rasilon@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 04:19:05 -0400
void.no.spam.com@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
My dad was browsing the other day, and called me over to the
computer. Firefox had somehow gone over to onlinexpscanner.com (which
I have discovered is a spyware site) and downloaded an executable
file, and there were prompts to run some code. I closed all the
browser windows and deleted the executable file.
Now I am wondering if my dad may have inadvertently installed any
spyware, before he called me over. I could spend several hours
running a bunch of scans, or maybe I can just reinstall Vista and the
Dell Drivers CD? How long would all that take? There are even old
posts in this newsgroup where people said their computer runs faster
after doing a reinstall of Windows, than it did when Dell shipped it
to them.
Definitely try some of the advice given here about running scans (especially from Safe Mode). Just about every AV provider has an on-line scanner. It will sure be faster than rebuilding the system. From our description, it doesn't sound nearly bad enough to force a rebuild...
Remember, rebuilding a system consists of a lot more than just installing the OS. You have to first backup all your personalizations and documents. The you must download & install all the Windows (& Office?) updates. Then install all the additional software (and believe me, there is more than you think), customize them, restore your Favorites and Documents, etc.
I've done it so many times, that I can just about do it in my sleep. It takes me about 3- 4 hours o get a usable system and about a week before I've finished restoring all my customizations.
One trick I've used is to have two "boot" partitions. I start with the C: drive as my boot drive. D: ad my programs/files drive and E: as a blank drive. When I want to rebuild, I just install on the E: drive. This allows me to build the new boot partition while allowing me to continue do do "normal" work until the new drive is ready. Then I change the default boot addition to the new one. the "old one is now available for the next rebuild....
The good news is that you will be guarantees a noticeably (or even significantly) faster system, Many of us "Geek" types will rebuild our systems 1 or 2 times a year.... Dell, like other OEM's installs lot of of software that many of us consider "bloatware". A correctly rebuilt system will always run faster than a Dell built image....
--
Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
.
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- How long does it take to re-install Vista and the Dell programs/drivers?
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