Just got a new laptop. Should I reformat? (pic of installed apps)

[release213]

I just received my Lenovo laptop today. It is running Windows 8 and only thing I've installed so far is Office 2013. I didn't seem to see too many bloatware.

Which of these should I uninstall?

Should I reinstall Windows 8 anyway?

 

[RampantAndroid]

It's a force of habit for me, but I always flatten a machine the second I get it. Well...I didn't flatten my macbook...

As long as you have another machine and a USB drive in case Windows doesn't include an ethernet driver for you, flatten away.

 

[G73S]

Lenovo provide the least bloatware loaded OSes

Just uninstall McAfee, then use the McAfree Removal tool after rebooting to clear out the remaining remnants

also uninstall SugarSync and you're done

You didn't even tell use the model of your laptop to help you with the drivers

PS: do not update to 8.1 until you ensure you update your drivers from the Lenovo download page of your specific laptop model otherwise you may end up with a non-bootable or slow laptop

 

[release213]

Lenovo provide the least bloatware loaded OSes

Just uninstall McAfee, then use the McAfree Removal tool after rebooting to clear out the remaining remnants

also uninstall SugarSync and you're done

You didn't even tell use the model of your laptop to help you with the drivers

PS: do not update to 8.1 until you ensure you update your drivers from the Lenovo download page of your specific laptop model otherwise you may end up with a non-bootable or slow laptop

The model number is s400, if you can advise on driver updates or anything

 

[corkyg]

I would uninstall McAfee and SugarSync. I would install CCleaner and run it afterwards. If everything works as advertised, I see no reason to pursue flattening for the sake of flattening.

 

[G73S]

The model number is s400, if you can advise on driver updates or anything

I found 2 models, you have touch or non-touch?

 

[sweenish]

Lenovo provide the least bloatware loaded OSes

That honor actually goes to Vizio, as they install zero bloatware/extra software. I forget what it's called, but they're taking advantage of a MS program.

 

[G73S]

That honor actually goes to Vizio, as they install zero bloatware/extra software. I forget what it's called, but they're taking advantage of a MS program.

What's Vizio? never heard of em

 

[corkyg]

What's Vizio? never heard of em

They are currently one of the few remaining OEMs in the USA. Costco has handled their products for a few years. They are good.

http://www.vizio.com/

 

[r0n]

Laptops bought through Microsoft Store also has very little bloatware.
Make sure to make recover discs before you make any changes. Getting a recovery disc from lenovo is a pain.

 

[r0n]

They are currently one of the few remaining OEMs in the USA. Costco has handled their products for a few years. They are good.

http://www.vizio.com/

VIZIO needs to work on there TouchPad drivers . They suck. Other wise pretty decent hardware

 

[release213]

I found 2 models, you have touch or non-touch?

I have the touch version

 

[Virgorising]

It's a force of habit for me, but I always flatten a machine the second I get it. Well...I didn't flatten my macbook...

As long as you have another machine and a USB drive in case Windows doesn't include an ethernet driver for you, flatten away.

"Flatten!" Never heard this; I LIKE IT.:biggrin:

Another fab thing about Optiplexes, given they are made for business and institutions, no "flattening" is necessary.

I get you LUV yr macbook.:biggrin:

 

[G73S]

sorry the S400 Touch Driver download link, every time I click it, nothing happens.

 

[Virgorising]

sorry the S400 Touch Driver download link, every time I click it, nothing happens.

Did you start here?

http://download.lenovo.com/express/ddfm.html

Synpatics Touchpad Driver for Windows 8.1 (32-bit, 64-bit) – IdeaPad S300, S400, S400 touch, S400u ... Learn more

Version
: 17.0.6.8

Synpatics Touchpad Driver

Windows 8.1 32bit
Windows 8.1 64bit
16 Oct 2013
-_______________________________________________

When I click on the driver above, assuming it's the one you want, it starts downloading immediately.

 

[silicon]

As was mentioned get rid of mcafee and sugar sync manager.

 

[RampantAndroid]

"Flatten!" Never heard this; I LIKE IT.:biggrin:

Another fab thing about Optiplexes, given they are made for business and institutions, no "flattening" is necessary.

I get you LUV yr macbook.:biggrin:

It's a term I picked up at my company, and reinstalling is really simple here with PXE boot set up.

That said, my view is that a PROPER machine comes with Windows installed and all needed drivers. If you don't game, simply run Windows Update for drivers. If you game, look for better GPU drivers. My view is that I trust the Windows installer and not the image that the OEM has created (since we all know OEMs have custom Windows images.)

 

[Virgorising]

It's a term I picked up at my company, and reinstalling is really simple here with PXE boot set up.

Well, I like it and I stole it.() Far better than what I say: "debloat.'

That said, my view is that a PROPER machine comes with Windows installed and all needed drivers. If you don't game, simply run Windows Update for drivers. If you game, look for better GPU drivers. My view is that I trust the Windows installer and not the image that the OEM has created (since we all know OEMs have custom Windows images.)

I would generally agree. But I get my Optiplexes used on ebay: I choose the chip first, add this and that, and so, sometimes have to hunt for drivers, or, as when the system I am on arrived, spend half a day finding drivers for my fav old workhorse HP printer to function with W7 64-bit. Which, incredibly, I managed to do.

I am even offended by the puerile games MS bundles with its OSes. They comprise the only bloat I can't get rid of. And I tried.

PS: Where did the OP go????? Last we heard he could not download his touch drivers; finding them, at my end it was a no brainer. Not that I let them finish, cause I can't use them, of course.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I am even offended by the puerile games MS bundles with its OSes. They comprise the only bloat I can't get rid of. And I tried

Go into Add/remove programs (Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features) and click "turn Windows features on or off"

There should be a games checkbox there. Or use an enterprise SKU, they have no games.

OP: If you have Windows 8 already, 8.1 is free to install as well; install all updates from Windows Update (you need KB2871389 and KB2917499 specifically) and then go into the Windows Store; you'll see 8.1 in there. It adds a lot of good content, and Microsoft has 8.1 Update 1 on the way - it leaked already.

 

[Bateluer]

Before you reformat it, check up on the Windows 8 license for it. On my Acer, the W8 key is stored in the UEFI. Even if you pull the key from the W8 registry, I am not able to reinstall W8 from any MSDN or retail ISO media, it gets a key mismatch error before you're even given a chance to enter a key at all. I had to torrent an OEM W8 ISO to do a clean install. Not sure if Lenovo does it the same way or not, but if they do and you reformat without creating a restore tool through Lenovo's software or having an OEM W8 ISO handy, you'll be unable to reinstall Windows 8 period. Even if you drove down to Walmart and bought a retail W8 package.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Before you reformat it, check up on the Windows 8 license for it. On my Acer, the W8 key is stored in the UEFI. Even if you pull the key from the W8 registry, I am not able to reinstall W8 from any MSDN or retail ISO media, it gets a key mismatch error before you're even given a chance to enter a key at all. I had to torrent an OEM W8 ISO to do a clean install. Not sure if Lenovo does it the same way or not, but if they do and you reformat without creating a restore tool through Lenovo's software or having an OEM W8 ISO handy, you'll be unable to reinstall Windows 8 period. Even if you drove down to Walmart and bought a retail W8 package.

That shouldn't be true; you can blow away the MSDM if you want to, or use something like Belarc Advisor to pull the key out.

Once you know what SKU the key is for, you can use that installation media to reinstall on a formatted system.

A key mismatch suggests you used the wrong sku or version.

 

[Virgorising]

Go into Add/remove programs (Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features) and click "turn Windows features on or off" There should be a games checkbox there. Or use an enterprise SKU, they have no games.

I do that immediately. But it does not delete them from the OS. Not to worry, I have learned to live with them.

 

[G73S]

Before you reformat it, check up on the Windows 8 license for it. On my Acer, the W8 key is stored in the UEFI. Even if you pull the key from the W8 registry, I am not able to reinstall W8 from any MSDN or retail ISO media, it gets a key mismatch error before you're even given a chance to enter a key at all. I had to torrent an OEM W8 ISO to do a clean install. Not sure if Lenovo does it the same way or not, but if they do and you reformat without creating a restore tool through Lenovo's software or having an OEM W8 ISO handy, you'll be unable to reinstall Windows 8 period. Even if you drove down to Walmart and bought a retail W8 package.

When installing Windows 8.1, any key won't work, even a key from a retail box. There are default installation keys (google it) which are used just for the sake of installing but cannot be used to activate

once you are in Windows, you use your key which you got earlier to activate. that's just the way it works

Also, before one formats, he must know whch edition of Windows he has

Here is a simple way to find out.

How to find out which version of Windows 8 I have?