When you receive a new work laptop, like a Lenovo X1 Carbon, do you prefer to just use the factory-installed software, or do you wipe it and start fresh? I initially thought that most people wouldn't wipe a pre-configured laptop since it's set up for use. However, I'm curious about what you all do when you receive a laptop with a factory image that hasn't been personalized yet. As a sysadmin, do you load a fresh image or trust the factory settings and just configure it?
5 Answers
For me, it’s a full wipe every time. I just can't deal with pre-installed junk, whether it’s a new laptop or an old one being reissued. A fresh install lets me set it up just how I like it!
Absolutely, you should wipe and reload! Modern laptops come loaded with so much bloatware that it’s worth the ten minutes it takes to install the OS fresh and set everything up the way you want. Plus, you can easily push out apps remotely afterwards.
Yeah, even if it’s just Office and McAfee, it’s better to start clean than deal with those unnecessary programs.
Yeah, definitely wipe it! Even with enterprise images, there can still be some unnecessary stuff lingering around. I prefer to have total control over what’s installed on my machine.
There’s always going to be something that doesn’t fit how I like to work, so I just go for the wipe.
If it’s a higher-end model like Lenovo, I’ve found they often come pre-loaded pretty cleanly, though I still like to check first. But I can see why people prefer to wipe and ensure a proper setup.
I think it really comes down to the organization’s policies. Some companies have a standard image that they push out, and if it’s set up properly, I won’t bother overwriting it. But if it's just a factory image without custom security or software, then I would wipe it.
That makes sense! Standardization is key to making sure everything works correctly and securely.
Totally agree! It's way better than uninstalling a bunch of crap later.