Bloatware go bye-bye?

They're pulling the same crap at Circuit City. This type of "business" is the same as "Planned Obsolescence" it is basically selling something twice...something you didn't need the first time!

I remember reading that Sony (I think it was, anyway) started offering a service to clean up the "bloatware" from their standard OS installs on their laptops for $40 a while ago.

Gotta admit, it's a devilish scheme. They get paid for putting the stuff on it to begin with, then they get paid for taking it off.

If a good kick = $1, I'd have no problem paying...

 

Actually I read that the kickback that the typical large OEM receives for installing this stuff in the first place is interestingly enough ... $40.

All in all the "Planned Obsolescence" of the PC industry means you pretty much need to replace your PC every couple of years anyway. I've learned my lesson and will never buy from a major OEM again. For me in the future it's www.ibuypower.com or something very similar.

It's nothing new for stores to offer cleaning services like that. As mumble said though, if it's a concern to you, the better choice is to go with an enthusiast or local system builder who won't put the stuff on to start. The small-business machines from the big-name OEMs may come clean as well though, if you simply must go with them.

you know, advertising on something i don't pay for (regular broadcast TV and radio) is understandable. but when i could be paying anywhere from $400 to $1500+ for a new PC, it's ludicrous that it comes with bloatware at all. absolutely rediculous. i really think it should be illegal. i'm there are a few capitalists out there who'll be quick to defend it in some way, but think of it like this. if roadside advertising were directly reducing your engine's fuel efficiency, would you stand for it?

i suppose that's where 'voting with dollars' comes in. bloatware was a big part of the reason i started building my own computers. the other big aspect was my last purchasing experience with dell. it was exceedingly difficult to find any detailed technical information about the computer i bought, such as: processor stepping, motherboard chipset, RAM speed, hard drive model, and PSU manufacturer.  when i did find that information out., i realized just how many corners OEMs like Dell can cut.

after building my first computer, what i did realize is just how much software comes on those systems -- both good and bad. it never occurred to me i'd have to pay for software to play DVDs, for example. that put me in the position of having to decide what to use, and since i'd already made it a point to scrutinize all my hardware purchases, i did the same with software.

it's the kind of effort most people don't have the patience (or time) for. when i told my boyfriend that i built my own system, he asked if i'd build one for him when he got the money. i told him sure, but that i'd want to go through my recommendations with him so he was making an informed purchase.

I build my own machines, so this isnt an issue. 

 

Even if I did something silly like buy from Dell though, what's to prevent someone from just formatting the drive and reinstalling Windows?  Surely thats within the capabilities of most users.  Then you're only left with the standard Microsoft bloat, which is frankly a much bigger concern.

nothing, of course, except maybe losing some of the useful pre-installed software. but many people seem to think installing Windows is some form of rocket science, not ot mention those who have an ingrained fear of the BIOS screen.

i'm guessing you know there are also guides on the web for removing (at least) some of that stuff. i'm pretty sure if Geek Squad started offering to slim down Windows, Micro$oft would be up in arms.

Though probably for the extra calls to their tech support it would generate I wouldn't trust Greek Squad (or any other place, really) to mess with my Windows install. Hardware is one thing, it either works or it doesn't. Software is another beast.

Some of those turds on Geek Squad don't know their arse from a hole in the ground. It's a complete sham. Waste of money and time.

that's true, but that's also why i create regular restore points. i've also been meaning to buy a cheapy hard drive for nothing but windows and a few basic programs (so if i do muck something up, i don't lose every program installation as well).

on the subject of hacking windows, you can also add functionality to windows that a particular edition isn't supposed to support (such as the RAID5 for XP).

It's like CompUSA charging $30 to install an already purchased memory "upgrade". I just feel sorry for those that just don't know any better.

In my case, laziness. Plus, I did get some useful Adobe software that comes in handy once in a while.

 

As for Geek Squad and the like... well, I don't trust anybody at my computer unless I'm watching them.

 

In other cases, it would be OEM and/or MS policies that mean that a new box comes with neither OS-only media nor a contractual obligation to help the owner restore the hardware to an OS-only condition.

OEM EULA only states you can't put it on another pc.  No stopping you from reinstalling OEM.

People are either too lazy or too stupid.

Problem is...pre-built machines never actually come with a Windows disc, hell some don't even come with restore discs, you have to make your own. So if you actually do want to wipe it and do a clean install...you have to buy Windows yourself.

Same.

I used to buy retail PCs (usually HPs) and could always do the basics like change/add memory, swap video cards, etc.  Then I got sick of it, spent a bit of time teaching myself how to spec out PCs, and now I will only ever use high quality PCs I spec out and build myself (putting PCs together is cake, it's speccing out the parts that's the trick).

In some cases you might not get a windows DVD with your ultra cheap PC - reinstalling might be a support option only.  (My dad has a problem with his retail piece of crap recently and had to pay extra to get an install DVD and had to have it sent to him).  Or they provide a modified installer that installs the crapware with no option to not install it.

I've never had a problem with disabling stuff I don't want, customizing windows, or removing components I don't want.  It's not like harddrive space is a problem these days so I don't care if windows takes up a few gigs.

 

 

Ouch.  Well, I suppose if you must buy a Dell or an HP, make sure to pick up a Windoze disk and do your own installation. Its perfectly simple, just mind numbingly boring.  But then you have peace of mind, and aren't tied to a single machine.

 

I got my mom a cheapie HP once (oddly, while you can build a quality computer much cheaper by doing it yourself, those type of places  can actually sell *crappy* computers a bit cheaper than you could assemble them for) and it was so loaded with garbage the performance was terrible.  I went through my normal Windows de-bloating/optimizing routine and I couldnt figure out what half the background services running were, above and beyond the normal windows garbage.  I looked for a reinstall disk and it turned out you could only resintall from a partition on the HDD...probably with all the same garbage on it again.  I just nuked the whole thing and loaded it up with a spare XP home I had floating around and it ran fine.

 

All the computers I've had built if I didnt do it myself  were done by smaller independant builders, and they all came with OEM OS disks.  I would recommend this route over Dell.  I reinstall OS if the machine even looks at me funny, so I can't imagine being without installation media.

I always do a clean install regardless if it's a PC I built, or one like my HP laptop.  I see no reason to pay for something as easy as doing it yourself.

As a member of technet, I've had the opportunity to read the EULAs of all Microsoft OS's (Well, all their products really)

All that happens is that the company liscenses the product from Microsoft.  The main issue is, while all the Microsoft EULA states is not to install it on another pc, retail pcs use OS's as a 'pocket padding' type of thing, installing this crap and knowing full well if you try to warez/torrent it, it would be illegal.

If you have a retail pc, and a xp (of the same type), or any vista disk, put the thing in, install it (make sure it matches), and just enter the passcode for the OS.

Here's the thing.  Putting bloatware on your pc is not a contract or an EULA.  Why?  Because you pay to take it off.

Hum... No edit.

If they were under contract they wouldn't be allowed to remove the bloatware.  It's just a way to get money from idiots.

I should confess that I haven't bought either of my last two PCs. The last one I bought was the first off-the-shelf box I'd bought in quite a while and the first time I learned it was even possible to sell a PC without install media for the OS.

I liked the lazy idea that commodity PCs might have meant saving me some of the time it used to take to get a new box nicely configured. I should have known better.

But the main reason I posted this and linked the article was that I was interested in responses from other, more "pro," folks in IT-land and whether y'all think we might actually be seeing a *positive* aspect of commodity PCs, namely the mass user base getting knowledgeable enough to properly scoff the ad-fest that so many "new PC experiences" seem to be these days.

Could we actually expect to see most new PCs in big-box stores come with just an OS (and maybe the OEM's idea of a PC health and support package)?

And I want my freakin' edit button back.

I find that the edit button usually appears if you switch over to another SD site real quick.

 

 

For those who want to get rid of bloatware on Propriety machines (dunno why anybody 'd wanna buy one), head over to Majorgeeks WWW Link and get Decrapifier.

Here is some info from the developer....

"The PC Decrapifier will uninstall many of the common trialware and annoyances found on many of the PCs from big name OEMs. Below is the current list of software and items that the PC Decrapifier can detect and remove. You get to see the list of items it detects and then choose what will be removed automatically.

The user can select exactly what is uninstalled from the list below

QuickBooks Trial
NetZero Installers
Earthlink Setup Files
Corel Photo Album 6
Tiscali Internet
Wanadoo Europe Installer
Get High Speed Internet!
Internet Service Offers Launcher
Dell Search Assistant
Norton Ghost 10.0
Norton Symantec Live Update
MS Plus Photo Story 2LE
MS Plus Digital Media Installer
McAffee
Norton Internet Security
Google Desktop
Google Toolbar
AOL US
AOL UK
MusicMatch Jukebox
MusicMatch Music Services
Wild Tangent Games (Dell/HP Game Console)
Norton AntiVirus 2005
Norton Security Center
Norton AntiSpam
PC-cillin Internet Security 12
Corel Snapfire Plus SE
Yahoo! Music Jukebox
Vongo
Office 2003 Trial Assistant
Norton Protection Center
HP Rhapsody
ESPN Motion
Dell URL Assistant
Orange Internet
Digital Content Portal
Yahoo! Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Norton Internet Security
muvee autoProducer 5.0
AOL Install
Run Registry Entries
Desktop Icons
Startup Menu Items
Reset IE Home and Search Pages
Corel WordPerfect
Roxio RecordNow
Sonic DLA
Sonic Update Manager
Sonic RecordNow Audio
Sonic RecordNow Copy
Roxio MyDVD LE
Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003
Quicken 2006
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
Microsoft Office Activation Assistant 2007
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 14
Roxio Express Labeler"

Why pay to get crap removed when this is freeware and does exactly what they (manufacturers) charge 440 - $50 for.

Hope somebody finds this of use/help to clean up their machine.