Can I Install Fresh copy of Windows on New laptop?

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blaze2

Nov 3, 2021
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I have finally received a DELL 15 INSPIRON 5510

i7 11390H

16GB DDR4

1TB NVME

GEFORCE MX450

WINDOWS 11

Now I am not a fan of factory installed software and was wondering if I can simply download windows 11 myself, install a FRESH STOCK VANILLA COPY on it

will this cause issues? will I still have a product key or need to buy one?

compatibility issues?

Thank you
 
I'd be highly surprised if you couldn't, although I've never even considered Windows 11.

Make a USB installer via Media Creation Tool directly from Microsoft. Disconnect all drives other than the one to receive Windows. Boot the PC from the installer; delete ALL partitions when given the chance, follow the prompts and cross your fingers.

Back up anything that might be on the receiving drive that you care about. Probably next to nothing on a new machine.

Probably download all possible drivers from Dell first, although Windows may supply all you need.
 
Yeah, I am fully aware on how to install a new OS on this new machine

but my question (if it works)

is, should I

will I brick it, or mess up compatiblity... will there be any benefits... will the new OS end up being faster or slower etc...

I don't need DELL's factory apps
 
Clean reinstall is usually the first thing I do and recommend on a new laptop.

No need for a new product key as the install should auto activate aslong as you install the same version(home/pro) that came with the laptop.

You will need to install drivers. Those are available on Dells support site, although I'd get the video driver from Nvidia not Dell.

Clean install should be faster as it won't have the bloatware Dell installs.
 
Right

Really? we'll have to get drivers manually from the DELL website?

Windows won't find them? I fear I can't find it or something
 
There's always a remote chance of ending up in hell; I'd say very remote (1%?) that it would be something you couldn't figure out and fix.

Should you?

That requires a trade-off.

What advantage do you expect/hope to gain other than being able to say "I don't have that unwanted stuff anymore"?

Are you in serious need of more hard drive space?

Are you extremely interested in benchmarks of some type and trying to wring out the last percent of performance in some aspect?

I'd doubt you'd notice any difference in performance, but that doesn't matter to a lot of people. Like registry cleaning.....it's irresistible to some people and that depends on your individual nature.

If you just can't stand the status quo, then of course you alter the status quo.

Windows is very good at providing drivers. I'd get the NIC driver from Dell for sure in case you can't get on the net. Very unlikely you would need it.
 
I hope to get rid of bloatware and unecessary software from the factory version

In the last 12 years I have always installed my own version of windows because I was on desktop PC's that were bought without an OS

Yes I would like to be able to use as much of my 1tb drive as I can

and if I can squeeze out a 1% more performance, than why not, that is all
 
Then go ahead.

Slight chance of tearing your hair out, but if you can get on the net and back to this forum, in all likelihood you could resolve your issues.

Get the NIC driver from Dell. If you can get on the net, you can get back to Dell and download anything else you might need if anything doesn't work as expected using Windows drivers.
 
Well I have my desktop PC right here in case

I am not confined to the laptop

and can even transfer software between the two using my flash drive

why do you recommend getting the NIC driver manually from dell?

The support assist tool from Dell kind of helps with all this crap, but with an OEM windows version that will not exist anymore anyway so...
 
An OS reinstall should be no problem.

Get it running and activated first.

Drivers...look around at the Dell site.

Reinstalls happen ALL the time. Not like you're the first to do this with a new device.
 
blaze2 said:
why do you recommend getting the NIC driver manually from dell?
Click to expand...

There is a very small chance you will have internet connectivity issues after the clean install. I've never had the issue, but it has occurred.

If you can't get on the net, you are in a jam. The NIC driver is probably the most important driver after a clean install because you may well need the net to resolve issues. On the other hand, if you have some other issue, it's not an immediate show stopper.

But since you have another PC with net access to get back to Dell, do what you want.
 
Do they do?

usually people take the easy route by using the factory reset option from the manufacturer see

and yes I know people reinstall stuff, just wondering if maybe the machine was more "optimised" to run with the factory version

than with a stock OEM version

kind of like running factory android on a Galaxy S10 or using STOCK ANDROID which is usually considered to be far better
 
Right, should I remove the factory partitions as well since I don't need them

also, its been so long since I have last installed an OS

should I change the boost order for it to start with the usb media tool

or just select it once in the bios

because I remember sometimes it restarts at least once and "continues" the installation process somehow

I am also unsure how to boot on the usb drive, I need to look it up for this DELL model
 
You will see a choice early in the clean install to delete ALL partitions from the drive.

Say yes. That's what a clean install is. Install to an empty and unallocated drive.

You'll probably need to bring up a boot menu and choose your USB installer as the boot drive.
 
Well it seems I don't have the appropriate USB drive at hand, so just had to order 3 that will come in Friday...

I will continue this process friday...
 
I may also just get dell support assist app

it automatically downloads all drivers for your model

I can delete this dreadful factory app afterwards anyway wosrt case
 
Yeah, you can walk down the list of installed apps and get rid of a lot of it.

It's anybody's guess whether you will notice performance differences between:

1: doing nothing at all

2: removing applications you don't want one by one from a list.

3: clean install.

One of those may have greater appeal to your sense of tidiness.

Not sure, but you may be over-anxious about the risks of a clean install.
 
Definitely my sense of tidiness will feel best from option 3

It's all I've ever known since 2009

clean installs on new custom built desktops

and it worked pretty darn well
 
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