Removing bloatware... two choices

There has been a quite a few request like this...

Here are two ways to do that:

First, the very best way to remove bloatware is to REFORMAT the HD and resintalling the programs you want.
1) With Windows XP, you need to figure out which file system you have on your hard drive - either NTFS or FAT32. (Once you have established this go to step 2a or 2b.)

2a) If you have NTFS, you need to wipe the drive with a special technique. Click here to learn that.
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/reformat-NTFS-XP.html

2b) If you have FAT32, you need to wipe the drive with a special technique. Click here to learn that.
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/reformat-FAT32-XP.html

3) Next you need to reinstall Windows XP. Reboot your computer with the Windows XP setup CD in the CDROM and let it boot into the Windows Setup screen. Let it load all the drivers. Then choose option 1 and start the clean installation. When it is done, reboot the computer.

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Second choice would be removing the bloatware manually. Just deleting the folders or just using the "add/remove" in the control panel don't work as there are still files scatter in the registry.

There are three sources for start up programs: the Startup menu, the Windows
registry, and the services.
1) Click on the Programs, and then click on the Startup. Right click on item
and then Delete.
2) Click on Run, type in regedit, and then enter. This will bring up the
Registry Editor. Browse into the location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run, rename the
Run key into something like RunCrap.
3) Go to Settings, then Control Panel, then Add/Remove programs. Remove all
of the junk or trial version software such as AOL, McAFee, ....
4) Re-boot the computer.


You can also use programs such as this:
Get the freeware program CCleaner and use that to remove unwanted Registry entries.

I hope this helps!

 

ccleaner is not good for cleaning registry. use registry mechanic or tuneup utilities 2006.

 

Ill try this when i recieve my dv2000 thank you much !

 

CCleaner was the reason I had to recently reformat...

 

any ideas night ? on what wiould be the most effective way to entirely reformat a newly received laptop from say, dell/hp.

 

lol what happened?

 

I don't trust any of those registry cleaner programs. The registry is very delicate and no way no how do I trust those tools to be making changes there. I repaired my mom's friend's Dell PC that was running s-l-o-w-l-y because of one of those things. (I thought it was just because Dell had stupidly sold her a mere 128MB of RAM. Whoops...)

The most effective way of removing bloatware is a full reinstall, which just isn't worth it for most people. I reinstalled my dv9000z, replacing NAV with AVG Free, etc. With HP no longer supplying clean install CDs that's more difficult, though someone posted a link to instructions on how to create one (I haven't tried that yet).

 

Too bad AVG is about to discontinue its free anti-virus.
As for bloatware, msconfig and windows defender are good places to start with.

 

Tuneup utilities 2006 is a excellent program

 

All you experts probably know by now if you use ANY registry editors/programs, that you must be careful and do backups. The registry can be very touchy... one mistake and poof... problems.

 

They're all potentially lethal. Recommending one over another is like asking someone if they'd rather be shot or stabbed.

 

Removing bloatware is really pretty simple. You don't need all the drama, smoke, and mirrors.

1. Remove apps the add/remove in Control Panel. (You can remove them all at one time.)
2. Reboot.
3. Do a search for folders with any of the app names (like mcafee, symantec, norton, musicmatch, aol, etc.). Delete them all.
4. Use an app like Toni Arts Easy Cleaner (free to use) or Macecraft's JV16 Powertools (free to use for 30 days) and search for unnecessary folders. Delete them. Empty the recycle bin. Reboot.
5. Create a backup of the registry. Easy to do:

6. Using Easy Cleaner or JV16 Powertools, do a regular scan of the registry (not an agressive or advanced scan). When prompted to backup before deleting, choose yes.
7. Reboot.

This has been my standard way of removing bloatware for years, and I've never had a problem. Not saying it can't happen. You need to be prudent and know what it is you are deleting. Both Easy Cleaner and JV16 (normal scan) pretty much only pick up dead entries in the registry (invalid paths, no program by that name, etc.)

It takes 15 minutes vs. however long it takes to do a reinstall of the OS. And, since a lot of us get NBs with repair/reinstall partitions, we end up getting the bloatware back anway.

 

Corrupted registry...couldn't even boot to safe mode either so no repair options there.

 

If it was only the registry that was affected that might be true, but crap is left all over, from "Program Files" to "Documentation and Settings" (all users) to the "Windows" directory which is a favorite destination for leftover files. If you're cleaning up after a lot of apps that were deleted, that can be time consuming and there's no guarantee you'll get everything.

Slipstream the latest updates and your favorite apps into whatever version of XP you're running using "RyanVM" "NLite" or "Slipstreamer" and set it up to do an unattended install. For me it takes less than an hour to reinstall and I know the system is clean. Once you're familiar with the slipstreaming process, keeping your OS version up to date is pretty easy.

 

Good thread, thanks for the info

 

Ditto the above and will add that instead of using the "recovery" disc's, and or partition that will put all the bloatware back on, Do a fresh install, then use GHOST, or ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE to create your own "recovery" discs/partition.

To me when "restoring" I want all MY apps back, with everything configured... not a system restored back to as-shipped condition.

While the recovery discs are better than nothing, their main use is when calling HP for "support" to verify that you have a HARDWARE problem...
(Run restore and don't install ANY programs, or connect to the "net" and the problem is still there= hardware failure, either that or a software/hardware conflict that the mfg has overlooked. )
Either case = a return of the unit for servicing if your past your 21-day return window, or a return of the unit outright if you still have time remaining on your return window...

I'm of the mindset that any defective unit should go back to HP, with you getting a brand-new unit,,, HP dealing with fixing the problem.

WHY?
The more units they get back, the more likley they are to address "issues"... and the more they get back, with them having to take a loss means that they will take more time in R&D next time... instead of pushing models to market half done/ and or use better quality components, better quality control.


.

 

That's why I posted the steps I use pretty clearly. I do address the leftover files and folders. Toni Arts or Macecraft are both able to remove those files. And a simple search will also pick things up.

Good option. Only problem is keeping your slipstreamed CD up-to-date. How many folks regularly run (or even update) virus programs? Or clear their caches? Or are even aware when their OS has been updated? How many people even backup their systems? Keeping track of software updates to apps like AV, Adobe, games, etc. is another layer to keep track of.

Sure, there are folks who do all of the above. Most people get their NB home and just want to get going. I would also guess most people aren't going to do an updated slipstream every week or month.

My option of cleaning up the bloatware works very well and keeping a backup of the cleaned up system keeps you in good standing. Not saying this one option is better than another, but this is another option that works very well and has worked for me on a number of different PCs and NBs.

 

There lies the problem for the average user. While you or I might get away with stopping a cleaner from removing cryptic registry entries because we know what they really are, and are needed, most PC users probably wouldn't. And all it takes is one wrongly removed entry and your registry is toast. Leaving that decision up to a reg cleaner doesn't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling.

In addition, sometimes entries are removed from apps that you don't use regularly and problems won't show up for days, possibly weeks.

As for backing up/restoring the registry, the average user wouldn't have a clue as to how to proceed. I seriously doubt they even know what the registry is and what files comprise it. Here's an idea as to what they are up against to do a restore:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Hell, I don't even want to do, and I've been through the process before.

And regarding outdated virus defs and prog updates, they don't need to be regularly updated. After a fresh install, I just dl the latest spyware/trojan/virus list and I'm good to go. Prog updates are not any harder to accomplish. Usually takes less than 10 minutes to get things current, depending upon how long since my last slipstream update. Once a month is usually the average for me.

I agree that one is not necessarily better than the other, and I suspect you and I will agree to disagree as to which is easier. In the end, it comes down to what you feel most comfortable with.

Happy Holidays!

 

that is just ridiculous, I was just checking a dv9010us at fry's and the first thing I wanted to do when I purchase it is to use the clean install os recovery cd.

is it possible to buy just the os rec. cd from hp?

 

Unfortunately, they stopped selling these CD's a few months back. Now they only ship the recovery disc set which contains all the unecessary junk.

 

hello jack
is there any different if we do an add/remove without do the rename key and do the rename key ?
can u explained to us why we need to rename it
after we do an add/remove using the rename key (RunCrap) , does we need to rename it back to Run ??

and for the second choice , will it clean all the bloatware just like we do the formating and reinstall the windows ??

Thanks

sorry for my bad english