Clean install or manual fix? My last job turned into a real head-scratcher.
So, this customer had a PC so slow it made dial-up look fast (seriously, it was painful to watch). I usually just back up data and do a fresh Windows install because it's quick and cuts down on repeat visits. But this time, I poked around and found a ton of bloatware and a driver conflict causing most of the trouble. Some techs swear by the wipe method for consistency, while others say digging in builds better client trust, even if it eats more time. I saved their custom settings by fixing it manually, but man, it took forever. Where do you all stand on this, go for the sure thing or hunt for the root cause every time?