Trimming the Hp Bloatware Fat!

I have been a long time reader of this forum and this is my first time post. I have just ordered a HP 2500t to replace a tx1000 that had serious overheating problems that caused the unit to fail prematurely. Now, I'm hoping to start a viable thread to help us average consumers in removing the useless needed software or "bloatware" that comes on these units that seriously impacts the performance of these notebooks! Now, being that I don't have this unit yet, I am hoping that lists can be formed by the people on this forum that will help in this endevor. My machine will come with Vista Ultimate.

Thanks for any help you can provide...

 

Its a tricky issue with HP as I dont believe that they include or will send you a Vista Ultimate disk to do a clean install.

I just found this out recently with my sons compaq when i spoke to a Rep. I adamantly believe you are entitled to a Vista disk since you paid for it and you shouldnt be tied to their bloatware.

They refused to send one...

So...I guess the only way in HP/Compaq is to just reduce junk

 

Alot of forum members have performed a clean Vista install, by following the instructions, from this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228.

Al ..

 

Yes the only problem is...a Vista disk is not supplied only a system restore on its own partition.

 

I ordered the vista anytime upgrade DVD from the same clean install link from Compusa. They charged me less then 6 dollars.. not even shipping charges. I should be getting it in a few days. And your right, HP has decided to discourage with all their might to keep people from uninstalling their crapware. They get $$ from Vongo, roxio, etc.. to put their billboards on your desktop. I am sure that part of their agreement has removed the anytime disc. The advertisers want HP to make it more difficult to do clean installs. So forget HP, they won't help you. Just order it from the CompUsa link on the clean install link. The link is very good, it encourages you to backup everything, including the recovery discs and swsetup folder. HP told me its illegal to extract the oem key for clean installs. Whatever. The link does just that, it extracts it and uses it to register your clean install with the original oem key WITHOUT having to validate it through MS. Even if you don't do this, you can apparently call MS and validate it with the key on the sticker on the notebook. MS does not care as long as you have a key that is tied you your hardware. So HP is all threat and hot air.

 

I know the HP Pavillion laptops had been shipping with this upgrade disk in the box. The one I bought at the beginning of August came with it. I have read some threads where some more recent laptop buyers did not find the disk in their box, so maybe Microsoft decided to stop paying HP to include it.

 

This anytime disc sounds great, i found it on CompUSA and plan to buy it once I get my laptop. I plan to buy the lojack software and possible other soft ware. Will this dissapear when I reformat? also is it possible that some drivers might not work for the fingerprint reader/webcam?

 

Follow the guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228
It is fairly easy and well worth it. After reformatting, and installing antivirus software other than Norton, my computer uses 200Mb less ram at startup.

Any software you install will be erased and will have to be reinstalled after formatting.

Your fingerprint reader drivers will have to be reinstalled. The guide explains everything.

 

Wow! 200 mb less. If I may ask, what is your boot times now. Can you fully boot in a minute or less? Thats the only thing I don't like. It takes 2 minutes to fully boot my dv6500. Even if I turn off all the services and startups and uninstall most of the HP crap... I think the boot times will still be poor. I am beginning to think there is just too much bloat in the registry that can't be eliminated unless I do a fresh install. I should be getting my anytime disc any day now. I am pretty sure I will do this too. I think HP has just butchered vista too much. Its probably impossible to tweak and lean it out to what a fresh install will do.

I just want to remind everyone to remember to burn a copy of the swsetup folder.. that has all the drivers, software. The guide is great and explains everything in detail.

 

Boot time isn't really a good measure of speed. The continued focus on boot time has caused microsoft to cheat when your system boots up. Basically, they put the login screen / desktop up as fast as possible, so they can say the system is booted, but in reality it's still got tons of stuff to do in the background. That's why your drive thrashes around for a few minutes even after you login.

If you're really concerned with boot times, you should be using "sleep" instead of shutdown.

 

Follow a guide like mine (click link in sig) to install a clean copy of XP and Vista.

Yes, you need copies of each OS.

No, I can't tell you how to get a copy of each OS other than to buy it, because that's not allowed on these forums, but there are ways. Frankly I feel it's a joke that I paid for Vista, yet they gave me a bloated version only found on the laptop, and the recovery DVDs also have the bloatware. But the other side will say it keeps the cost of the laptop down to include all the junk. I also don't feel bad about "testing" Vista, because to me it's still beta.

So to the OP, find a way to get an XP CD with SP2 already installed, follow my guide, and you'll have a lean mean machine. Too bad you ordered Vista Ultimate, oh well, not the worst loss in this world. You should have no problems getting XP up and running, and once you do you'll enjoy the laptop.

 

Actually, if you follow the guide in MY sig, I tell you exactly how to LEGALLY get a copy of Vista you can install clean, if your laptop didn't already come with it.

As for XP, that's a different story, as you'd need a license for it (you already got a license for Vista when you bought the laptop)

 

As long as you have 2 gigs of memory, and a capable GPU, Vista runs decent enough.. Although I would also like XP, it won't be too long when applications are specifically coded for Vista. Just try using windows 2k now.. There are tons of conflicts and stuff that won't run on that. I figure i will deal with vista or move to something else. But in my view, OSX and apple is worse... your more locked in and you pay more for everything.. thanks to apple for lockng down hardware.. tight. Vista is not as bad as I thought it would be but I don't like the fact it takes up 15 gigs of my HD to install.. Its a beast and its too big for sure. Hopefully the Service patch that MS realises next year will help smooth and speed things up in vista.

 

I have a friend who has a dv6000t. It came with Vista and the wireless internet has had some problems with staying connected, or even finding the broadcast most times.
Is following the guidelines here for a fresh install something that would help?
Or maybe it's a good idea to downgrade to Windows XP, since she has an old copy?

appreciate any advice,
thanks!

 

Probably a good idea to start a new topic on a question like this.

Has it ever worked correctly? The drivers for Vista should work fine -- this is not really the type of thing an OS will change. My guess is the wireless is broken, and should be returned to HP for repair. I had a similar situation on a dv9000, and the solution was to just return it.

 

Hi

Is it illegal if my friend burns me a copy of Vista so i can do a clean install? Ive spent hours trying to get a hold of a Vista dvd to no avail. I Clearly have a legitimate Vista premium licence. Very frustrating as ive tried calling both HP, Microsoft and other computer stores and retailers

My friend has Vista Ultimate, its his dads copy so he doesnt really wanna give me the actual dvd and offered to burn it for me instead

Im from Australia and stores here doesnt seem to sell it without a included licence which is around $160AU for premium

Thanks,

 

Legality is hard to say, especially if you are in Australia. However, I can say that the license is bound to the serial number/product ID, and not the DVD disc. As long as you have your own serial number, then you have a valid license. In the USA, compusa sells the anytime upgrade DVD for $5, so the price you pay clearly isn't for the media itself, it's the license.

 

Read starting here.