Removing HP bloatware

[ChaoZ]

Just got a Pavillion and the amount of crappy software is incredible. I did a format using the recovery drive, but the bloatware is still there. I have a retail version of Win 7 Professional. Can I just use that disc to format, and use the serial key that came with the HP?

 

[postmortemIA]

probably not... your laptop has OEM version. You're good to try, nothing to lose.

Best you could do is remove app by app. Also some people make cleaners, I know there was one for Dell which became universal:
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

 

[RebateMonger]

It's not hard to just uninstall the unwanted software using the "Add or Remove Programs" control panel. Make a list of what you remove in case you have to do this again. I'd give that a try first. You can always do a reinstallation if you aren't happy.

 

[lxskllr]

It's not hard to just uninstall the unwanted software using the "Add or Remove Programs" control panel.

You'd think, wouldn't you? I got a lenovo that took a solid weekend to get rid of the Wordperfect installer that launched at every bootup, and had the tenacity of a virus. If I knew it was going to be as much hassle as it was, I would have wiped the drive :^S

 

[VinDSL]

I got a lenovo that took a solid weekend to get rid of the Wordperfect installer that launched at every bootup, and had the tenacity of a virus.[...]

Norton is like a virus too!

I fixed a friend's big-buck HP lappy, last year. Took me (like) 24 hours to figure it out.

She had removed the Norton trialware, when it started asking for (subscription) money. Or, so she thought.

Turned out that Norton winds itself into the Windows OS files. Even after you remove it, it's still there.

The fix was to search the Norton Web Site for a well hidden utility, that removes (ahem) Norton. LoL! Those rascals...

EDIT

w00t! I found it again. Wish it was that easy the first time... :awe:

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to remove your Norton 2006 product or later version.

The OP might need it... :sneaky:

 

[lxskllr]

Norton is like a virus too!

I fixed a friend's big-buck HP lappy, last year. Took me (like) 24 hours to figure it out.

She had removed the Norton trialware, when it started asking for (subscription) money. Or, so she thought.

Turned out that Norton winds itself into the Windows OS files. Even after you remove it, it's still there.

The fix was to search the Norton Web Site for a well hidden utility, that removes (ahem) Norton. LoL! Those rascals...

That pisses me off. There /may/ be a legitimate purpose for Norton. I could see that being useful to prevent a virus from screwing with it's files, but somehow I doubt that's the reason. A separate downloadable uninstaller should NEVER be necessary to remove a (legitimate)product from a computer.

 

[VinDSL]

I could see that being useful to prevent a virus from screwing with it's files, but somehow I doubt that's the reason.[...]

In her case, a dialog box kept popping up, every few minutes, telling her to subscribe to Norton, even though she had deleted it, and was running a freeware version of Avast!

Heh! It was driving her crazy...

 

[ChaoZ]

I managed to download an OEM ISO. It worked great using that method.

 

[Tbirdkid]

honestly, hp has gone the way of the dodo with that sort of stuff, but generally on their business class notebooks its not loaded with it. most of the home notebooks they load it up.

 

[Emulex]

just get a retail cd and install fresh - or borrow a technet cd. you can use the key on the pc or figure out oem (opatool) licensing. 32 or 64 bit you are entitled to use (but may not be entitled to support from hp/etc).

you will never get all of the junk off those images.

 

[RebateMonger]

You'd think, wouldn't you? I got a lenovo that took a solid weekend to get rid of the Wordperfect installer that launched at every bootup, and had the tenacity of a virus. If I knew it was going to be as much hassle as it was, I would have wiped the drive :^S

Bummer. My experience is mostly with Dells, where I've had little problem. Also, when i order Dells, I order them without the extra trial stuff when I can. The Dell Business computers can usually be had that way. With the last Dell Precision workstation, all I had to remove were the Dell Support popups and one other program that I don't recall.

 

[lxskllr]

Bummer. My experience is mostly with Dells, where I've had little problem. Also, when i order Dells, I order them without the extra trial stuff when I can. The Dell Business computers can usually be had that way. With the last Dell Precision workstation, all I had to remove were the Dell Support popups and one other program that I don't recall.

That lenovo was the worst I've had. Most of my experience is with Dell also, and those were never too bad. I guess in the end, I'd rather deal with crapware if it makes the computer cheaper, it shouldn't be difficult to remove though.

 

[wirednuts]

you dont have to use an oem cd to install to laptops. just use the win7 pro cd and key you have. let it fully reformat the os partition and install as normal. you wont be using the product key on the bottom of your laptop, unless its also a win7 pro key.