OEM Laptop factory recovery vs custom install

[shaqblogs2011]

I was wondering what are the advantages of having a laptop like Lenovo which the manufacturer gives having a recovery partition with ability to do a factory recovery.
As compared to a complete wipe and format of harddisk, re-structuring partitions and installing the OS with custom backup solutions like norton ghost.

I have a desktop and I'm used to customizing everything myself. I use norton ghost which i find reliable.
I have a laptop now in hand and unsure if I should format, re-partition and customize, or should leave it as given by the manufacturer with its own recovery?

What do i gain by customizing here? Is the recovery given by OEM reliable? I presume they will have lot of junk software installed, which i could uninstall.

 

[FALC0N]

OEM bloatware is the biggest issue with the factory image. I never use factory images. I always wipe and and do a clean install with prepurchased units.

You gain speed and long term stability with a clean install. OEM images , in my experience, degrade far more quickly than clean installs.

I would make a backup of the OEM image, just to be safe. I have never had to use it though. Back up the drivers as well. Makes the reinstall simpler.

 

[Alabalcho]

There might be a problem - most recovery images are just that - recovery, they don't provide installation media. So even if you find generic OEM version of Windows, you might not be able to use existing activation key.

And another problem: Some PC manufacturers (Sony is very bad here) don't provide drivers for the stuff in their laptops, so you will end with generic laptop where half of specific functions simply do not work.

Don't take me wrong - I am not a proponent of recovery images, I just want to warn the OP.

 

[FALC0N]

Any disk will work alabalcho. They are not hard to find.

As for the drivers, not an issue at all on desktops, and only a minor issue on laptops. As long as your reinstalling the same OS, it isn't a problem at all.

 

[shaqblogs2011]

I have a Lenovo G560 .

The drivers were what i was concerned. Cos the laptop does not have a cd with drivers. It has a recovery CD. Not sure if the drivers are in em.

@FALCON: Do I have to install same version of OS and same flavor? If current OS is Win7 Basic, cant I install Win7 Pro, from perspective of drivers? Sure the key wont work.

 

[FALC0N]

No. You can install any flavor of windows 7, assuming you have a license for it. Any variant Windows 8 would likely also be fine. Vista would probably work. XP driver probably isn't there at this point, but everything else should be fine.

Just back up the drivers before you attempt to do the fresh install

 

[shaqblogs2011]

How do I backup the drivers? Where will the drivers be?

Also, I have 2 recovery disks. Lenovo One Key recovery with system partition in it. This sounds like image of C drive. Which is probably same as the hidden recovery partition. Am I right?

I'm familiar with using the drivers from the Mobo CD or just searching on manufacturer's site .

Edit: I found a folder named drivers. Its probably that one. Need to confirm with my friend who is the owner of this laptop.

 

[FALC0N]

Manufacturers cd's and website are good sources. The reference drivers from the chipset manufacturer usually works.

The installed drivers on your system are stored at:

c:\windows\system32\drivers

Make sure to back Up that folder up. Run this program and save the system profile it generates:

www.belarc.com/free_download.html

That can be useful if your trying to track down a reference driver later. And save a copy of the restore image, just in case.

Once you have done all that, the actual is pretty straight forward. Those prep steps make sure that you can address any unexpected pitfall you might come across.

 

[shaqblogs2011]

I did a test install and it went well. All drivers were there in the laptop. Looks like it was provided by the OEM.

Will do a complete wipe, repartition and install.