AlienRe[skin]. Should I uninstall this?

I uninstalled Dell DataSafe from my M11x r1 because it often prevented me from switching to between Intel and nVidia graphics. That's inexcusable for the default software load on a system that was all about switchable graphics! Anyway, when needed, I was able to restore the factory image using Dell's customizations to Windows 7's Recovery Mode. I can't see how I could even use Dell DataSafe if I had a catastrophic HDD failure because it's not like it would be there on the new HDD for reloading the backup image!

Anyway, now I have an r3 and it's clear to me that AlienRespawn is just a re-skinned version of the same thing. Because GPU selection is now Optimus-controlled, I have no way to tell if it is causing a problem (no switcher dialog to see a complaint). Even if they fixed that, I still can't see how it could ever be useful once you have the image on disc(s) and it boots with the PC by default for no reason (it shouldn't be doing anything), so I'm inclined to uninstall it.

Is there any reason to keep this crap? The only reason I can see for it being on here and set to start with the system is to advertise for their premium backup services, which I will never need/use. To rob my PC of resources just so that I am aware of their offering is inexcusable from a gaming/performance brand.

 

fresh instal...


do it.

 

I'm no stranger to fresh installations and will do so eventually but I do want to familiarize myself with the model-specific software first so I can know if any issues are introduced.

Well, AlienRespawn just updated itself... something Dell DataSafe never did for me. I actually wonder if it would have re-skinned itself had updates worked.

At least it seems that they got rid of that AlienSense crap.

 

To be honest I did not clean install when I got my R2, I just went to MSconfig and unchecked just about everything, which includes most of the Alienware stuff. IF I happen to need it in the future its there, it just does not run in the background and does not bother me at all.

Worst case scenario you can always use the disc that came with the laptop to emergency restore it so there is no need to a hard disc backup in my mind.

 

I haven't uninstalled it yet but I see that the logo has a "6" on it in various places (tray icon, background, etc). Why? I saw some "How do I raise my protection level?" thing trying to promote their premium product, so I think it's the "Protection Level" That's obviously some arbitrary metric they made up and it looks like they stupidly forgot to explain it or make it clear that that's what the number was. There isn't any kind of label or tool-tip to label it. STUPID!