What is the the difference between the PCSpecialist Windows install and a clean install done by customer

[David689]

What is the the difference between the PCSpecialist Windows install and a clean install done by a customer, with up to date graphics drivers? I know the forums have numerous times advised a clean install and my personality is such that I like the idea of a clean install anyway. But I am having a conversation with a friend who asked this question and I don't have the technical knowledge to answer this question.
Thank you.

 

[SpyderTracks]

What is the the difference between the PCSpecialist Windows install and a clean install done by a customer, with up to date graphics drivers? I know the forums have numerous times advised a clean install and my personality is such that I like the idea of a clean install anyway. But I am having a conversation with a friend who asked this question and I don't have the technical knowledge to answer this question.
Thank you.

If you buy a license from PCS, they will install windows and configure it for you, so all you have to do is run windows updates when you receive it.

If you order without a license, then obviously you have to do you own setup.

 

[davhun]

What is the the difference between the PCSpecialist Windows install and a clean install done by a customer, with up to date graphics drivers? I know the forums have numerous times advised a clean install and my personality is such that I like the idea of a clean install anyway. But I am having a conversation with a friend who asked this question and I don't have the technical knowledge to answer this question.
Thank you.

If you buy Windows, PCS will install Windows and any required drivers but the installation needs to be finalised by you. By that I mean you have to finalise it with your user name and any personal features such as whether you use a Microsoft account (or not) and where your user files should be. Some people prefer these to be on another drive.

 

[Scott]

I would personally wipe it and start again regardless. My reasoning for this is I want to know what driver versions are installed without having to apply updates. I like clean slates so that if any issues present, I know exactly what software was installed on the system and what can potentially be causing conflicts. Things get missed as well, you can end up chasing your tail if someone else installed the software on your rig and forgot to do one thing, or correctly configure one power setting.

In actual fact, when I get a new system I actually do around 3 or 4 clean installs. The first is to make sure everything works and then start running some stress tests and benches (day of arrival performance). Then I wipe it entirely and go for some performance runs. Then I wipe it entirely and find where I think the happy medium is for a daily runner, then I wipe it entirely and configure it exactly as I found was the happy medium.

Not many are as extra as I am though. But, the point still stands that I would always wipe it regardless. Same goes with shop bought Laptops or anything else. I want to set my own baseline.

 

[ubuysa]

In terms of what's the difference, the answer is none. As long as you do the clean install properly you'll end up with a fully working system.

One thing you MUST do in both cases is run Windows Update after the install, or as soon as you recirve it, until no more updates are found.

Regardless of whether you buy with or without an OS there will be a bootable Windows system on there (used for testing). I STRONGLY advise booting that system first, and use that system to fully test the PC to be sure it's all working before you install your own copy of Windows (if you choose to).

 

[David689]

Thank you for helpful replies so far. Sorry - I should have said that I am talking about a machine purchased without a Windows licence - I was wondering about the testing Windows that PCS ship it with compared to the system that a clean install done transfering a licence from an old machine.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thank you for helpful replies so far. Sorry - I should have said that I am talking about a machine purchased without a Windows licence - I was wondering about the testing Windows that PCS ship it with compared to the system that a clean install done transfering a licence from an old machine.

The testing windows is just that, it's not fully setup and can't be used as a platform. You would have to clean install your own copy.

 

[David689]

The testing windows is just that, it's not fully setup and can't be used as a platform. You would have to clean install your own copy.

If my friend tried to use it as a platform what problems might he encounter?

 

[Scott]

If my friend tried to use it as a platform what problems might he encounter?

There is no answer to that question unfortunately. He may encounter none. If the system was used exactly as received with no installations then no conflict would present. If the system was used and software was installed there could be a conflict presented.

There are far too many variables to answer. Your friend can suck it and see if they wish. The biggest danger here is that they get 6 months down the line before introducing something that causes an issue and then they have to backup and reconfigure everything done over the past 6 months.

There are also performance considerations. Certain platforms/systems need certain performance configurations done to ensure the best control of temps, fans, boosting, etc, etc, etc. The list can be infinite really.

 

[ubuysa]

I still don't understand why people buy a PC without an OS and then happily run a completely unknown OS which they happen to find on there?

It's like buying a flight with no in-flight meal and then eating an unknown meal you just happen to find under the seat!

 

[TonyCarter]

I still don't understand why people buy a PC without an OS and then happily run a completely unknown OS which they happen to find on there?

It's like buying a flight with no in-flight meal and then eating an unknown meal you just happen to find under the seat!

Well, if the person in the seat behind happens to have pushed their bag so far forward that you can reach it, they better hope there's no food in there

 

[David689]

There is no answer to that question unfortunately. He may encounter none. If the system was used exactly as received with no installations then no conflict would present. If the system was used and software was installed there could be a conflict presented.

There are far too many variables to answer. Your friend can suck it and see if they wish. The biggest danger here is that they get 6 months down the line before introducing something that causes an issue and then they have to backup and reconfigure everything done over the past 6 months.

There are also performance considerations. Certain platforms/systems need certain performance configurations done to ensure the best control of temps, fans, boosting, etc, etc, etc. The list can be infinite really.

Thank you for your patient answer. My friend also says thank you.
He is now going into it with his eyes open.

 

[David689]

I still don't understand why people buy a PC without an OS and then happily run a completely unknown OS which they happen to find on there?

It's like buying a flight with no in-flight meal and then eating an unknown meal you just happen to find under the seat!

I once found an airline meal in a bag in the pocket of the seat in front of me - unfortunately it was pre-digested - it was a full sick bag.

 

[JackCato440]

In terms of what's the difference, the answer is none. As long as you do the clean install properly you'll end up with a fully working system.

One thing you MUST do in both cases is run Windows Update after the install, or as soon as you recirve it, until no more updates are found.

Regardless of whether you buy with or without an OS there will be a bootable Windows system on there (used for testing). I STRONGLY advise booting that system first, and use that system to fully test the PC to be sure it's all working before you install your own copy of Windows (if you choose to).

Completely unrelated to the original post but when you say there's a bootable windows preinstalled does that mean one where it's like "please activate windows" etc. Looking to get a system from PCS soon but don't want to spend the big money on the OS, also i have a PC already that has windows and from what i've read the key transfers between PC's as long as i long into my microsoft account on the new one?
Does this mean i can just boot into windows on the new PC (without selecting to purchase the windows key) and it'd activate using my old one?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Does this mean i can just boot into windows on the new PC (without selecting to purchase the windows key) and it'd activate using my old one?

No, as above you'd have to clean install and then license it. You can only use that license on one PC at a time, so it would deactivate on the old computer, unless it was still on in which case you wouldn't be able to license the new one.

 

[JackCato440]

No, as above you'd have to clean install and then license it. You can only use that license on one PC at a time, so it would deactivate on the old computer, unless it was still on in which case you wouldn't be able to license the new one.

I plan on scrapping the old one anyway.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I plan on scrapping the old one anyway.

So yeah, you'd have to clean install your own copy on the new machine.

 

[JackCato440]

So yeah, you'd have to clean install your own copy on the new machine.

What i mean is like, would i be able to log into my microsoft account and download windows updates from the system or would i need a usb and go through putting the boot stuff in that etc, never had to do any of this before so just confused.

 

[SpyderTracks]

would i need a usb and go through putting the boot stuff in that etc, never had to do any of this before so just confused.

Yes, that's what a clean install is, you have to install from scratch.

If you're buying without windows, you need to know how to install and configure the system, if it's not done correctly, you'll get issues with stability and poor performance.

 

[JackCato440]

Yes, that's what a clean install is, you have to install from scratch.

If you're buying without windows, you need to know how to install and configure the system, if it's not done correctly, you'll get issues with stability and poor performance.

Ok thanks for the clarification, I assume if i buy the windows 11 key and it's installed there won't be problems with logging into my current microsoft account and it will gain the new key?