Big Al wrote:

Does this type of repair install remove all the vendor bloatware? Sony
Vaio?

Also, if done, how many of the extra partitions can be deleted and used
for C: expansion.? My wife's laptop has a lot more than the 1
reserved or UEFI. I'm almost sure it's the previous win 8 image and
maybe a partition for the vendor repair program, you were able to hit
some key at bootup and get the OS to launch a boot diagnostic.

Al

For "adventuring", I recommend starting with a spare storage
device and install an OS that way. Does it work ? Is there
anything special about the unit (Secure Boot perhaps) ?
You're not necessarily keeping this OS install, merely
"scouting the situation" and "looking for bears in the woods".

It would be helpful to have proof that the unit is not
booby trapped in some special way. for example, if the laptop
is a business machine with a Pro SKU on it, it might have
more security features (i.e. you'll be doing a repair install
over top of BitLocker - the BitLocker has to be decrypted first).

You can certainly try a backup followed by some bashing with
a hammer and a Repair Install. That will still require storage
somewhere (for the backup). And you run the risk at some point
in that exercise, that something jams up on you.

It depends on which you trust more. Carefully tucking the original
drive away, which you know works. Or attempting backup and restore
and hoping that the emergency boot CD to do a restore with,
actually boots the machine.

With sufficient safety measures in place, go right ahead. But
do one or two practice installs first, and sneak up on it.

Paul