So I won a new laptop last night....

[AustinInDallas]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...foCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=5312254

HP Envy M6-1105DX
At first I was only interested in selling it, but after playing with it today, I kinda like it.
Only gripe is launch speed of.....well everything. I have a ocz vertex 4 ssd in my desktop, so I cant deal with waiting anymore. Is there anyway to add an mSATA drive, or convert the DVD drive into a HD bay?

Overall its very nice for free. Nice build, back light keyboard(but keys make a noise that makes me think its cheap), and "beats audio" isnt impressing me, but for a laptop its all right.

edit: Im also wondering if a clean install of windows with out all the junk on it will help

 

[dave_the_nerd]

A clean install will almost always help.

 

[Gillbot]

When I get a new laptop, I typically pull the original HDD and put in another one to do a fresh install. Then if I get tired of it, I put the original drive back in so it's like new and ready for sale.

 

[Anonemous]

When I get a new laptop, I typically pull the original HDD and put in another one to do a fresh install. Then if I get tired of it, I put the original drive back in so it's like new and ready for sale.

^this^ I also like to keep it around for warranty purposes.

 

[AustinInDallas]

When I get a new laptop, I typically pull the original HDD and put in another one to do a fresh install. Then if I get tired of it, I put the original drive back in so it's like new and ready for sale.

with win 8, how do i go about putting windows on the fresh hard drive? Im turning over a new leaf and want to be legit

 

[Ketchup]

If you just remove all the junk software and clean out the registry you should be a good bit better. Just remember that 5400 RPM drive is only going to go so fast, but the 6 GB of RAM should help.

 

[wirednuts]

pull the dino drive out and put a samsung pro ssd in there.

 

[imported_bman]

with win 8, how do i go about putting windows on the fresh hard drive? Im turning over a new leaf and want to be legit

With Win8 laptops you do not need a key (UEFI), unfortunately Microsoft does not have Win8 Isos for download. I used the Win8 pro disk I had from my desktop build to install Win8 (non-pro) on my laptop after installing an ssd. So I am guessing you could just download an Iso from a torrent index and use that to do a clean install and it will be legit.

 

[capeconsultant]

^this^ I also like to keep it around for warranty purposes.

I am going to start doing this!

 

[wirednuts]

I am going to start doing this!

especially good cause most drives that come with lappys are low end, slow and dont last long.

 

[AustinInDallas]

is any of the cyberlink junk useful?

 

[Ketchup]

is any of the cyberlink junk useful?

I believe Windows 8 can do anything it can. There may be a couple codecs in there, but Divx should handle those.

 

[Sporinator]

pull the dino drive out and put a samsung pro ssd in there.

.......................................^^^^^^^^^^^...This!!

 

[AustinInDallas]

.......................................^^^^^^^^^^^...This!!

Is there any advantages to the pro other than write speed?

 

[jaedaliu]

costs more.

it'll last longer, but don't worry about that. You'll get plenty of usage out of a non-Pro.

 

[slayernine]

HP's are riddled with crapware, clean install definitely required. I do suggest making the recovery discs first so if you ever resell that you can put it back to factory.

 

[AustinInDallas]

I guess pulling out the HD and replacing with an SSd would be the best choice. I dont really want to spend money on one, but i did get the laptop free

 

[biostud]

Clone the HDD to a SSD -> swap drives -> remove crapware

save original hdd, if you're going to sell the laptop.

 

[Gillbot]

Clone the HDD to a SSD -> swap drives -> remove crapware

save original hdd, if you're going to sell the laptop.

with win 8, how do i go about putting windows on the fresh hard drive? Im turning over a new leaf and want to be legit

Do the above, or just create a restore disc per the manufacturers recommendation and use that on the new drive.

 

[Zap]

is any of the cyberlink junk useful?

Maybe. Which software? Cyberlink makes several. If it is DVD playback (or better yet, BD) then it is a keeper because Windows 8 cannot natively play back BD or DVD.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Maybe. Which software? Cyberlink makes several. If it is DVD playback (or better yet, BD) then it is a keeper because Windows 8 cannot natively play back BD or DVD.

can vlc?

 

[atpokey]

VLC can play bluray, but you'll need to grab the bluray library for vlc.

 

[mnewsham]

can vlc?

yes