Dell/Alienware applications

I'm planning a clean windows 10 pro application on my, yet to be received AW17 R4. I have used both Dell laptops, Dell Desktops, and an Alienware laptop in the past. I know that all the computers st my office (all Dell) are re-imaged, mainly for support services, and to prevent any updates. Any updates are done, by support, when needed.

I am collecting my drivers (mainly from the AW site). Which, if any, of the "applications" is safe to use? Or, are they all just typical Dell bloatware. It was, of course, Dell bloatware that drove me to learn about clean windows installs, as well as my detour to OSX for several years.

I have been looking over the @Phoenix guide, and have learned a lot.

And many thanks to the efforts of @iunlock and others to get some resolution to the overheating issues. I was in despair there for the first week after ordering, and then reading here. I'm glad now I did not cancel my order, and better understand the delivery delay. I'm now stoked even more.

 

Do a clean windows 10 install using Refresh Windows tool you download. Install basic drivers. Anything alienware/dell related is bloat, unless you like to configure RGB lighting w/alien FX

 

You need to install Alienware command center to change AlienFX and OSD drivers, rest is bloatware.

 

AW OSD driver is bloat too. Installed it and uninstalled it and saw no change in FN+F key commands

 

Is there any non-bloatware program to do the alien FX light control, and control the macro buttons on the left side of the keyboard.

Still not sure what the OSD is (on screen display?)

 

Yea on screen display. No, there's no other mainstream software that can do it. AlienFX is proprietary software designed specifically for alienware laptops. Comes with Alien Adrenaline or some crap (TactX?) that helps you configure macro keys. I don't use macro keys so I left Command Center uninstalled.

 

All the Alienware bloatware are actually tools to help you manage your laptop, or to help Dell provide support in the event you should call in to Dell for assistance. Some of it gets in the way a little, but most of it takes up very little resources. My last Dell system had an AV (McAfee?) that was darn near impossible to remove and kept reminding you to subscribe to updates (for a fee) every 30 minutes, TWO different .pdf viewers that each wanted to be your default document viewer, an image management suite that made it even harder to find your images and assorted other "free-trial"s that did nothing but get in your way at every opportunity, so much crap that something as simple as opening a word document took way too much time. What comes pre-installed on the Alienware is practically invisible, by comparison. Having said that, AlienFX is probably the only utility i use, and I have deactivated or uninstalled almost all the others.

 

AW OSD app requires admin privilege for it to work perfectly.

 

I deleted everything Dell/AW related from mine, except for the Command Centre