Best way to remove "Bloatware" from new laptop?

[fjmeat]

I see http://www.decrap.org/. Has anyone used this?

Is there a better alternative?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Are you opposed to a clean install?

 

[fjmeat]

Are you opposed to a clean install?

yes. helping a friend who just bought a new laptop. he rejected my offer for a clean install.

 

[Ketchup]

I would do it manually myself. How would you know what they define as bloatware is the same as what you define as bloatware? Some programs with the manufacturer's name on them are quite handy (display for keyboard functions, as an example).

All one would have to do is remove what they don't want/need from Programs and Features, so it's not exactly rocket science were are dealing with here.

 

[fjmeat]

I know. The way HP bundles its bloatware crap into items (recycle bin, webcam, fingerprint scanner, etc)... I'm concerned that using the windows uninstall program feature might erase drivers and/or some of the laptops hardware features won't work properly.

 

[fjmeat]

The new HP Laptop is only weeks old, and has 8GB RAM. It is considerably slow. Especially when surfing the net with a single tab open.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

How many non-Microsoft services are running 5 minutes after a boot?

I've heard that HP isn't quite as bad at bundling crap with their machines as they were a few years ago. I've never owned an HP.

If he outright refuses a clean install, you don't have a lot of choice. You can go with Decrapifier (or one of its competitors) or do it piecemeal as Ketchup suggests, then go through it with something like CCleaner. Then try to run down anything cuckoo in services or startup.

Is it supposedly a relatively high performance laptop?

I'd probably make an image of the C drive as it sits or at least be sure you have some known good way of restoring to factory state if you foul up when trying to clean it up.

 

[ArisVer]

I would check for malware and viruses.

 

[PliotronX]

IDK how that one differs from this one, but I've had good luck with PC Decrapifier. For crapware that is not willing to go easily, I love Geek Uninstaller. I find its interface much more intuitive and just as effective as Revo.

 

[fjmeat]

I would check for malware and viruses.

Did that. No threats found.

 

[fjmeat]

How many non-Microsoft services are running 5 minutes after a boot?

I've heard that HP isn't quite as bad at bundling crap with their machines as they were a few years ago. I've never owned an HP.

If he outright refuses a clean install, you don't have a lot of choice. You can go with Decrapifier (or one of its competitors) or do it piecemeal as Ketchup suggests, then go through it with something like CCleaner. Then try to run down anything cuckoo in services or startup.

Is it supposedly a relatively high performance laptop?

I'd probably make an image of the C drive as it sits or at least be sure you have some known good way of restoring to factory state if you foul up when trying to clean it up.

Not performance, just a "work" machine. I'll create a restore point then try some of the sites PliotronX mentioned.

Thanks!

 

[Paladin3]

I use PC Decrapifer just to speed things up. If I don't know what the particular bloatware is I use my Google Fu to find out. Manually turn off services I won't use and the machine is ready to go.

A clean OS install can be better, but then you need to track down drivers. And the manufacturer may actually have installed a program or two that are useful. <~~~Hahaha, that's a joke!

It sure is a shame that manufactures deliver systems to customers that are significantly slower out of the box than they should be.

 

[PliotronX]

I use PC Decrapifer just to speed things up. If I don't know what the particular bloatware is I use my Google Fu to find out. Manually turn off services I won't use and the machine is ready to go.

A clean OS install can be better, but then you need to track down drivers. And the manufacturer may actually have installed a program or two that are useful. <~~~Hahaha, that's a joke!

It sure is a shame that manufactures deliver systems to customers that are significantly slower out of the box than they should be.

I know, right!? Countless expired Norton and McrApee AV just bogging down the system and becoming adware, backup notifications, app stores, special offers, fleabay links, umpteen manufacturer programs nobody uses. Pretty much the Intel chipset package and a fingerprint sensor driver will take care of unknown drivers, at least with my own systems Ill reload the OS. So worth it.

 

[schmuckley]

Wipe it and install stripped Windows.