> Is it even possible to buy a Windows laptop right now with only the OS installed?
Microsoft's Windows Installation Media Creation Tool [1] enables you to download a clean Windows 8.1 ISO that can be used to re-install the operating system and wipe out all of the preloaded bloatware on any PC.
To do the same with a Windows 7 PC, visit Microsoft's Software Recovery website [2].
From Windows 8.1 Update 1 onwards, there is a built-in PowerShell cmdlet called Export-WindowsDriver [3] that will backup all of your third-party drivers prior to reinstalling the OS.
On older versions of Windows, DoubleDriver [4] is a good alternative.
Once you have created a bootable USB flash drive from the Windows ISO [5], another useful tip is to create a folder called $WinPEDriver$ in the root of the drive and copy the drivers you backed up into here. Windows will automatically install the drivers found in the $WinPEDriver$ folder during installation of the OS.
Good list of resources, but I'd like to add that the Windows 7 recovery page doesn't accept OEM license keys. If you try to enter the key from the sticker on your laptop, you will most likely be told to contact your hardware provider. Which means you're stuck with their crapware installer.
Microsoft's Windows Installation Media Creation Tool [1] enables you to download a clean Windows 8.1 ISO that can be used to re-install the operating system and wipe out all of the preloaded bloatware on any PC.
To do the same with a Windows 7 PC, visit Microsoft's Software Recovery website [2].
From Windows 8.1 Update 1 onwards, there is a built-in PowerShell cmdlet called Export-WindowsDriver [3] that will backup all of your third-party drivers prior to reinstalling the OS.
On older versions of Windows, DoubleDriver [4] is a good alternative.Once you have created a bootable USB flash drive from the Windows ISO [5], another useful tip is to create a folder called $WinPEDriver$ in the root of the drive and copy the drivers you backed up into here. Windows will automatically install the drivers found in the $WinPEDriver$ folder during installation of the OS.
[1] http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-re...
[2] http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery
[3] https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn614084.aspx
[4] http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Double-Drive...
[5] https://rufus.akeo.ie/