Question about new computer

I am going to be receiving a new computer soon and I am curious about what the best way to go is to remove all the crap they put on it. I am also interested to know the best way to get my protection on the computer, from MG, while being unprotected online while downloading everything. Last but not least I am interested in reformatting the hard drive, most likely, to remove everything and am not sure how to set up a system restore partition (since I will erase the factory installed one). Is it possible to partition my hard drive so that I can use part of it just for storing certain things like pictures and stuff I do not need to access all the time? I have not used Vista so I am not sure how to go about all these things. Here are my specs. Thank you for the help.

XPS 630, Intel Core2 processorQ6600 (2.40Ghz,1066FSB) w/Quad Core Technology and 8MB cache
4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
Nvidia GeForce 9800GT Dual Scalable Link Interface
500GB NCQ SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache
48X Combo and 16X DVD+/-RW
Vista Premium

 

You should be pretty safe online with MG , Microsoft and your anti virus of choice (? Avast).

However if you want extra then two things before you start.

First,
you can still create limited user accounts in Vista. Do this and go online as a limited user for your downloads. Then log off and log back on as administrator for installation. You can also stay as limited user for installation if you are prepared to keep supplying the administrator password.

Second
enable Windows Defender in Vista and open Software Explorer.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/d360ec81-0dd6-480f-a180-746dc6a12f001033.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/softwareexplorer.mspx

 

I love 'PC Decrapifier' I have used on a few new systems to get rid of all the pre-installed 'trials' and such.