The HP Laptop Out-Of-The-Box Guide 2.0 for Windows 7

v3loc1ty2.0 · 11-07-2009, 02:18 PM

The HP Laptop Out-Of-The-Box-Guide Windows 7 Edition

So, you just bought a new HP laptop? Congratulations and here starts your journey of optimization.

1. CREATE HP RECOVERY DISCS, Do not do anything else in this guide without doing this. Creating these discs will allow you to restore your computer to a factory state at any time if you mess up. To create these discs, click the start orb, and type in recovery. Click the program called recovery disc creation, and follow the prompts. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, YOU COULD RENDER YOUR SYSTEM INOPERABLE IF YOU MESS UP AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT WITH A SIMPLE RESTORE. Also, back up your SwSetup folder (C:\SwSetup) to a DVD for original software and drivers (THIS IS REQUIRED if you have a fingerprint sensor/other special device that needs HP software - due to licensing problems, these programs will not be available on the HP site for download). If you do not backup SwSetup, and you need a driver from it, you will need to use the recovery discs to restore to factory to obtain these drivers/software.

1.1. Do you have a Windows 7 disc? If you need a Windows 7 disc, you can download one legally (see this thread for more info: LEGAL Windows 7 Download Links (Just like Vista before!!!) ) If you have obtained a disc proceed to step 2, If not, then go straight to step 3

2. If you have access to a Windows 7 disc (The original disc from step 1.1, NOT recovery discs from step 1) use this app to backup your original activation:

download: http://directedge.us/files/abr/ABRbeta.exe
source (scroll down to the beta version): http://directedge.us/content/abr-act...up-and-restore (thanks orev and justinkw1)

-make sure you keep the program and the backup file it makes on a flash drive or cd so that you can restore it once you reinstall
This will back up your original OEM cert and key, which will allow you to reactivate without the mess usually necessary to activate with the key on the bottom of the laptop.

Pop in the DVD/USB drive and install Windows 7

Once the Win7 has booted up after the reinstall, use the program above to restore your OEM activation.

Once you have done this, Proceed to step 4, as you do not need to uninstall any bloatware

3. If you dont have access to a Windows 7 disc, proceed with uninstalling HP bloatware:

See Post #2 for bloatware info

4. Now, since you have no anti-virus software (either because of a clean install, or uninstalling Norton) install your antivirus software of choice. Click here for a listing of reviews and ratings of anti-virus software.

Also, you can check out the Security and Anti-Virus Software subforum in the Windows OS and Software forum

5. With your computer cleaned and protected, its time for some real optimization:
First off, install any updates for windows.
Then follow this guide by Les (flamenko) to optimize your notebook.
And/ or this guide by jpzsports to optimize your notebook.
NOTE: Make sure you read thoroughly into these threads to get the best results. I would not recommend skimming the guide and then attempting to optimize. Following the procedures in these guides incorrectly could result in damage to your computer.

6. Install the latest drivers for your computer components (THIS IS A REQUIRED STEP IF YOU DID A CLEAN INSTALL). You can find these at http://support.hp.com, or you can use the various driver threads in this forum. You should especially get new drivers for your graphics card:
NVIDIA cards: http://www.nvidia.com/drivers, http://laptopvideo2go.com
AMD/ATI cards, use Mobility Modder with drivers from AMD’s website: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx, http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php

7. Now, with your computer running smoothly, install your software. If you need software, check out this thread: dbam987's Ever-Growing Free Windows Software List

8. Read up on keeping your notebook running well. Check out these guides:
Useful Guides in Post #4
Maintainance and Service Guide Links in Post #3

Once again, congratulations on getting a new notebook, and enjoy!

I will add more steps as I get the time.

Also, join the NBR HP Team

v3loc1ty2.0 · 11-07-2009, 02:19 PM

Bloatware guide (Thanks to TheCuriosity for help)

It is most beneficial to uninstall the bloatware using Revo Uninstaller (thanks to Serg)

Definitely Uninstall (IMHO these programs are the greatest offenders out of all of the bloatware):
• Microsoft Office Home and Student trial <--Replace with your own copy, or OpenOffice, unless you purchased the OEM version (which you can also download here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/back...s/default.mspx )
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint viewer 2007 - unnecessary with office
• Norton Internet Security (or something or other Norton) <--unless you absolutely want to keep using it, see info below about security programs
• HP Wireless Assistant <--unless you want to control bluetooth/wireless separately
• Activate Norton Online Backup <--there are better free backup programs with less bloat
• Acrobat.com <-- just junk
• HP Smart Web Printing <-- allows ordering of photo prints and stuff like that - no need for a program to do that
• My HP Games WildTangent <-- a bunch of trial games, not very fun

• HP Advisor <-- a program that is supposed to keep your computer updated and patched, just a nuisance for advanced users
• HP MediaSmart Software Notebook Demo - <-- app for demo computers at stores
• Slingplayer (HP MediaSmart tag may of been in front of it) <-- slingbox player for HP mediasmart
• SlingBoxWatchyourTVAnyWhere <-- Part of slingbox player
• Homepage Protection <-- prevents change of homepage in IE - IMHO this is actually malware
• HP Customer Experience Enhancements <-- see note above about HP advisor
• HP Setup <-- Installer for HP software components
• HP User Guides 0153 <--can be found as pdfs in my next post below
• HP Support Assistant <-- see note about HP advisor
• HP Update <-- see note about HP advisor

Programs you might want to uninstall (I recommend replacing these with your own purchased software, or even many free programs that are much better/have less bloat):
• Microsoft Works <--pretty much useless if you have Office/OpenOffice
• Adobe Reader 9.1 MUI <-- uninstall if you are going to use a different pdf reader
• QuickTime <--I recommend Quicktime Alternative
• Adobe AIR <--Uninstall unless you want to use Adobe AIR apps
• Corel VideoStudio12 <-- I would keep this only if you are a home movie maker and do not want more advanced software
• CyberLink DVD Suite <-- There are better free DVD burning tools, like ImgBurn
• Corel Paint shop pro photo x2 <-- There are better free photo editors, like GIMP or Paint.Net, or even Picasa
• Power2Go
• LabelPrint <-- keep if you are using lightscribe and don't have software like Nero or SureThing CD/DVD Labeler
• Powerdirector <-- see note above about corel videostudio
• HP MediaSmart Webcam - I recommend uninstalling all of the MediaSmart stuff, unless you use blueray or insist on having the webcam functionality of mediasmart - if you remove this, your webcam will still work in other apps - P.S. most of the functionality of mediasmart can be found in Windows Media Center
• HP MediaSmart Movie Themes - see mediasmart note above
• HP MediaSmart Live TV - see mediasmart note above
• HP MediaSmart Music/Photo/Video - see mediasmart note above
• HP MediaSmart DVD - see mediasmart note above
• HP MediaSmart Internet TV - see mediasmart note above
• HP MediaSmart SmartMenu - see mediasmart note above
• HP Touchsmart Applications - if you remove this, the touchscreen will still work, but you will lose the touch based Weather, RSS, Twitter, etc. apps (thanks to js2393)

Finally, delete any folders that are still present from uninstalled software (do this after a restart)

Done? Go to step 4 on the guide in post 1

v3loc1ty2.0 · 11-07-2009, 02:20 PM

v3loc1ty2.0 · 11-07-2009, 02:21 PM

Guides
Undervolting Guide (by flipfire)
Notebook Dummy Guide Articles
Guide to Cooling Your Notebook (By Chaz)
The Notebook Battery Guide (By chrisyano)
The Notebook Battery Guide (By Adam@NBF from notebookforums.com)

TheCuriosity · 11-07-2009, 03:12 PM

Rhapsody is also still present.. just not on the add/remove. can the Rhapsody and Rhapsody-related files just be deleted?

abaddon4180 · 11-07-2009, 03:46 PM

So what exactly do HP Setup and HP Use Guides do?

Serg · 11-07-2009, 03:52 PM

Nice guide there v3loc1ty2.0!
+rep, and if you dont mind, I will post the link to the HP Envy 15 Owners Thread.

TheCuriosity · 11-07-2009, 05:14 PM

abaddon4180, the HP Setup was literally that 4 step setup that your PC mad eyou go through before anything else when you first turned it on (with the animated hands taking you through registering, asking if you want to send info to HP or receive info, asking if you want the internet wizard to pop up etc)

It is actually in your start menu and if you click on it, the whoel thing pops up again. Not sure about the user guides

thebranded · 11-07-2009, 06:42 PM

If you do a fresh install do you lose the recovery partition? If you do is it restored when you use the recovery disc's?

Also is there a major (or any) performance difference between a fresh install and just uninstalling the unnecessary apps?

v3loc1ty2.0 · 11-07-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebranded

If you do a fresh install do you lose the recovery partition? If you do is it restored when you use the recovery disc's?

Also is there a major (or any) performance difference between a fresh install and just uninstalling the unnecessary apps?

I can't tell you about the recovery partition stuff because i deleted mine as soon as I made the recovery discs...
But, I can tell you that doing a clean install makes the notebook noticeably faster than just uninstalling things