Difference between preinstalled Windows 7 and clean install


Preinstalled Windows 7

Purchasing a new computer with Windows 7 preinstalled is, and will continue to be, very common in the home, office, and enterprise. This install method addresses the new system scenario and the system replace scenario. It is by far the easiest method of deploying Windows 7; however, administrators frown heavily on this method.

Most administrators will tell you that it is not recommended to use any preinstalled operating system. The issue with preinstalled systems is that the software manufacturers install by default. Most manufacturers will install additional software on the machine other than the required hardware drivers. This software is often called bloatware or crapware and normally runs by default, bogging down your system from the start.

Not only will the system have unsupported software but also it is the worst start to a standardized desktop environment in your organization. From an end-user perspective, this is the simplest method of obtaining Windows 7 in a working fashion. Therefore, most end users at home, home offices, and even small businesses will buy systems with a preinstalled operating system version, and run them in a production environment. If this decision is made then the correct edition of Windows 7 should be chosen before purchasing the system to ensure the correct features are available to the end user.

A positive point of a preinstalled operating system is that all hardware drivers are installed and working by default (or at least they should be working by default). Some of the software installed could prove to be useful such as antivirus; however, they will usually ask for payment after three months. Additionally, the manufacturers usually have the correct drivers on their respective Web sites.

Preinstalled Windows 7 licenses are OEM licenses issued by the manufacturer. As a preinstalled Windows 7 could be addressing a replace computer scenario, it would be required to load the user's data and settings on this new machine.

Windows 7 Clean Install

A clean install of Windows 7 is the most recommended method of installing Windows 7 as the hard drive will only have Windows 7 on the disk when the install is completed. This involves a new system scenario only. If the system contains another version of Windows and data and settings must be moved from the user's old computer to the new computer, it is considered a migration.

A clean install will, generally, be on a blank hard drive or involve formatting the hard drive during the setup phase. This ensures there is no other data on the system that could cause issues later.

A clean install involves booting the computer from the Windows 7 install media, not from within a current operating system. A clean install requires a Windows 7 retail full version license. It is possible to migrate with an upgrade license and format the hard drive.

Because a clean install will result in a Windows 7 default install, hardware devices and drivers may need to be installed post install. Microsoft has done a pretty good job at providing a large amount of hardware support, but it is possible that some devices might not work.

Legal Disclaimer

Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Articleinput.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.

Note: This article was sent to us by: Dean Raphord at 10042010

Related Articles

1. Storing and securing migrated data in Windows 7
Windows 7: Local vs. remote storage When creating the migration store, you can use ScanState to store it locally or remotely. Locally means you're storing the m...

2. VDI in Windows 7 more benefits than before
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has come a long way in the past few years. In short, VDI is the practice of hosting one or m...

3. How to create a bootable VHD in Windows 7
Create a Bootable VHD 1. Turn on the Windows Vista system and place the Windows 7 installation DVD in the system. When the system starts, select the option to boo...

4. Windows XP Mode can be a good solution for who considers Windows 7
Windows XP Mode Windows XP Mode is a virtualization technology that addresses a specific problem that prevented many people from moving from Windows XP to Windo...

5. How to publish applications from Windows XP Mode in Windows 7
1. From the Windows 7 host machine, click Start > All Programs > Windows Virtual PC > Windows Virtual PC. This will launch the Windows Virtual PC console. ...

6. Advantages of all three Windows 7 editions
Advantages of Windows 7 If you're wondering why Windows 7 is the pick of the Microsoft user - and why you should upgrade from an older Windows version, such as ...

7. The Windows 7 help system is the best of all Windows versions
Windows 7 Help System Windows 7 comes with the best Help system that has ever shipped with any version of Windows. It even has online components that you can re...