The best way to Delete Dell Bloatware?

I just recently got my first laptop from Dell. It is loaded with bloatware, ranging from all sorts of isp providers, games, and who knows what else...

What would be the best way to delete all of the bloatware?

 

Get an OS CD from Dell and reinstall Windows. That's the only way you'll get it all.

If you have an OS CD of your own, you can use that as well. Just disable the SATA in the BIOS, install, then re-enable SATA.

When in doubt, check out this guide.

 

I second reformat. That is by far the cleanest, easiest and fastest way to do it. I didn't have to change anything in the BIOS to re-install Windows.

 

That is entirely possible, that you do not have to worry about BIOS options. It depends mostly on the chipset, processor, and hard drive that is currently in the notebook. It also depends if you are using your own XP disc (or Dell's) and if you have an XP, XP SP1, or XP SP2 disc.

I'm not trying to scare anyone there, but I just wanted to point out that several factors are involved here. Nothing to worry about regardless of circumstances.

Feel free to try it without changing anything in the BIOS. However, if for some reason the XP installation process freezes during the load-up procedure (before you are able to select any options), it is most likely going to be because that BIOS option will need to be toggled.

Once you get past the load up and you can see your hard drive in the partition chooser (manager), you'll be home free.

And if something does go wrong, that's why we are here!

 

Thanks!!

While reading through threads on other forums, I found a guide on how to get os cds and drive cds from dell by contacting them through E-mail. I have had a bad experience with calling them(desktop got the blue screen of death about 3 years ago and I had no idea what was going on) but I am a poor college student so I had to stick with Dell when buying a laptop. However, they are pretty descent computers

Thanks again for the information!

 

If you live in the USA, you can always chat with them (choose technical support). Generally, I choose this option cause it is much easier but you do have longer wait time. Try to use it during off-peak hours.

 

I always format/reinstall the new laptops. I'm hoping my D420 is true to the reviews and doesn't show up loaded with extra junk.

 

I have found chat wait times to be in the 6-15 minutes range. The phone is simply unbearable.

My last chatter though, kept sending me messages intended for someone else. Kind of annoying.

 

the phone really is unbearable. 2+ hours on hold and actual talking made me so frustrated it was amazing. I also got the unintended messages on chat a bunch..plus I had one on the phone and one on chat both telling me the opposite thing about sending me a OS cd

 

Even though I am probably going to reinstall the os and the drivers... is there another option?

What would happen if I just manually uninstalled each program?

And there is a program called Dell Decrapifier that is used to delete these programs... anyone heard of it? I am on another computer so I dont have the link right now.

 

The decrapifier supposedly doesn't work. I've had users try it and the junkware is still there. There are only two options - either format or remove the programs in add/remove programs in the control panel. If you remove them, it will still leave registry keys and folders, so you'll need to get a good cleaner. This will take the same amount of time as formatting, and in my opinion, this does not completely clean your system.

Removing the software is good for users who aren't familiar with formatting, but if you've formatted XP before, then I suggest to go that route. This way, after you format and get all of the drivers loaded, you can use Norton Ghost or another program of your choice to make an image of the drive. If you have to reformat in the future, all you have to do is use the image you made with Norton. You won't have to go through the hassle of formatting again.

 

You really just have to reformat. I just got my replacement E1505 and, it's just incredible how they ship these things.

Over 70 processes running with an out of the box boot! Over 400MB ram in use! AOL trial. Some SQL Server trial. Office 2003 Trial. McAfee trial.

Windows popping up every 30 seconds warning me, prompting me, inviting me, trying to register me, but mostly just bugging me.

It's a hassle, and it's going to take me all day to get reformatted, get all my software re-installed, etc, but, it just has to be done.

 

Why not just uninstall the junk? I did that and it seems to be okay w/o any residual stuff left over.

 

I just don't like factory installs and a clean start seems preferable to uninstalling.

I get a fresh format, a fresh registry, etc.

I guess to clarify, installing the OS is not that big a deal, that takes 1-2 hours. I just have a lot of software to install (Adobe CS2, Studio 8, 3d apps, Office, Firefox, etc) That's what really takes me a long time. To get all that stuff installed, get my Start menu organized, get all the updates installed, reboot 100 times, etc.

**** passwords are exercises in dexterity...

XHSDH JHSDF*6 ISFIU5(7 FIUJ EIF7# EROPJDFLK$%4G OPUE$9@

Error! Wrong Password! lol

 

is it sad that I've got my XP Corp Key memorized? That should tell ya something.

 

LOL...I'm sorry to hear that. I'd definitely recognize my XP & Office keys, and I'm not too far away from being able to recite them myself.

Sigh...

Actually, the count just gave me an idea. Use the key (or a portion of it) as a password...

 

I myself reformatted just yesterday. But here
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=48490
MarkMcK talks about uninstalling the crapware in some detail.

 

The one thing that really bugs me with dell right now(not enough to not order my D420 though) is the fact that on their servers they oad their own wallpaper for the login screen. The only way to remove it is through the registry. Thats just not cool on a server.

ps night....since I can't PM I'll post it here. Sorry about that sig thing, the site I was hosting my sig at decided to play a joke and change all linked pictures to something. I never even saw what it was.

 

Use TweakUI to change it safely.

 

doesn't remove it still. It is an easy fix once you know where to go but its just one more thing. Generally it wouldn't be a problem either except the fact that I work on a bunch of servers remotely and that just kills time logging in.

 

I was wondering if I used the Windows Backup program to back up the entire drive right after reinstalling XP and the drivers and software on my computer, is it just as good as using a ghosting program like Norton?

 

I am not very tech savvy, so completely installing an OS would be somewhat difficult for me. I know the basics to computers and its hardware and some intermediate stuff and thats about the extent of my knowledge.

But is the option of just uninstalling things not that great at all and would the time spent wiping the hard drive clean be well payed off? And all other options please talk about them as well! Thanks for everything guys

 

Personally, the time is well spent for getting rid of the junkware. Most dell laptops start out at 70 processes, and by formatting, they come down to 40 processes.

I really don't know of any other options besides those two. If you want to do the formatting, I can walk you through it on MSN/Aim/Yahoo. It takes about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish, and I go through the whole process with you and make sure that XP is working properly with no errors. If you are interested, send me a PM.

 

I can't find that option to disable SATA. I'm usign a cd of my own and maybe that is the solution for me. i'm getting BSOD when trying to reformat.

My BIOS version is A03.

Thanks

 

The Dell 1705 is on my list of potential buys, so I stumbled into this thread. Can you get rid of all the bloatware through a combination of Spybot/Adaware/Hijackthis? I know Spybot lets you look at all the startup processes and you should be able to kill everything?

 

I just took the time to uninstall all the crap that it shiped with, did some reg searching/tweaking after that and its now running like a bullet.

Also used Adaware and trendmicro houscall.

 

You can stop the processes, but they're still installed. It's better to uninstall the program itself. That way, it can't decide to start again on it's own and won't cause conflicts with anything else.

The best solution is always to start fresh, but uninstalling can do a pretty good job too if you don't want to format.

The problem with what I and others call Junkware is that it's legitimate programs, but annoying and often useless programs. So it's not caught by adaware and company.

 

I received my E1505 yesterday and it came with OS install disk and MediaDirect 3 reinstallation CD. without even loggin into factory installed OS, I booted from MD CD and formatted everything. This process also partitioned the harddrive accordingly.
Then i installed the OS, drivers and Media Direct 3. Whole thing took less than an hour..

This looks like the best and cleanest way to me. I strongly recommend this to new buyers....

 

It really is.

For people afraid to do this, just make sure you have an extra computer, even if you have to borrow one for a couple of hours. We're here to help!

It's not that hard.

The basic process, is:

1. format hard drive (format the LARGE partition, not the smaller ones!)
2. install OS
3. install drivers (available on Dell website)

 

wow. I went against my gut and just paid the price. HA. Dell D420 came in yesterday. Spent last night and today getting it all setup. ~15gb of programs installed. Got it all setup o nthe domain. Everything done. I install my last program. within 10 minutes "system is shutting down do to service error, please close programs and log off" many issues later and I'm running a chkdsk on it right now. I sohuld have just formatted it first thing like I normally do. Ugh. This sucks but at least there was no needed data on it. Just really hoping there isn't sometihng wrong with the hardware or hard drive.