Safe to remove HP Mediasmart as Bloatware?

Hi all - quick response here! I just the my new dv6tse and am in the process of removing all of the bloatware. My question: Can I happily/safely remove ALL of the HP Mediasmart stuff? I'm sure it's pretty bloaty, but what I'm wondering is whether that will leave me without a means of playing DVDs and with no drivers to use my webcam.

Worth leaving it on there (I've ditched everything else) or should I can it? Thanks!

P.S. I've looked at the Bloatware guide but can't tell how vital Mediasmart is.

 

You can remove it. Your webcam will still work, and Windows Media Player will still play DVDs.

 

Removing it would also get rid of the OSD for volume control.

 

The OSD for volume control causes fullscreen programs to minimize.

 

What is the OSD for volume control? And does the above suggest that it's worth getting rid of Mediasmart because of this glitch?

 

The OSD is the volume bar that pops up when you change the volume. I kept it because I use external speakers anyway.

 

3RVX: stylish, hotkey-enabled volume control | freewaregenius.com

I use that instead of the onscreen control for the volume stuff...works perfectly and it is skinable!

 

Hey do you guys mean if the program is removed I can no longer use the keyboard to change volume or that the popup when u press it will be gone? Just bit confused is all....

 

so after uninstalling this what programs can i use to use all of the features i dont have? i know i can use windows media player for movies and stuff but how do i use my webcam then?

 

@ongy
Just the popup will be gone.

@kobe
You would need to have a program that uses the webcam, like Skype or MSN Messenger.

 

thanks nikeseven. i will get rid of this crap..

question about removing bloatware.. how come some programs dont show up when i go to the uninstaller in the control panel... for instance on my new envy 14 in the all progams list there are way more programs that what show up on the uninstaller... for instance this crap program called roxio cinemanow which i thnk is for renting movies or something.. that isnt on the uninstaller at all..

hmm also i was wondering do ihave a microphone on my envy 14? where is it? how do i know if it is on.. for instance if i were to use skype or chatroulette or something.. i can talk back correct?

 

thanks nikeseven yeah ill definitely remove it then, the popup gets so annoying when i have fullscreen program running and it minimise it just to show me the stupid popup thanks.

 

I did keep one of the MediaSmart programs when I did a clean install, and that would be the DVD/Blu-Ray player, cause it works well enough for the Blu-Rays, and I don't feel like paying for an app to play them. If you don't have a blu-ray drive I wouldn't bother keeping it though.

inb4vlc

 

How about all the other HP programs on it? For example, can I use the fingerprint scanner just with windows 7 itself and without the hp tools? Or the shortcut buttons on the left hand side of the keyboard? What's the harddrive protection program doing?

Can I still get them somethere later if I delete them now and change my mind later on?

 

You can always download those programs/driver via hp's support site. The HDD protection is a driver for specific hp notebook with that feature. If removed, you will have a unknown driver missing in your device manager.

 

gosh, you're going to have to define 'remove as bloatware' for me. is that a new wonderful special process or attitude or what?

 

Keep MediaSmart SmartMenu only, if you want the volume OSD to popup. You can remove all other MediaSmart stuff if you don't need them. Make sure SmartMenu.exe is running on background.