MSconfig (or regedit - or both)

"Didn't think I would need to do a clean install, but to rid the hard drive of most of the bloatware, or programs that I would never need, in addition to the "Services" that I disabled. Thought wrong I guess. Should not have crawled when opening some simple word programs or IE, but it did. This was also not a game ending issue for me, just a disappointment."

Said a user in complaint of the "bloatware" on new lenovo systems.. In a few weeks, I'll be going through this so I thought I'd get a headstart. Bloatware is installed in one of two ways. Either it's visible with regedit which is short for registry editor, Regedit bloatware will be a little harder to find. As I recall it, they are about 8 places in the registry that will autostartup bloatware and on that two check those places for bloatware, (lenovo doesn'y have a lot of options). If they dont use the registry, they'll use MSconfig which is another utility which also stores thing in the registry.

I'm all for clean installs and that means a clean install of an MS operating system (If you are runnining linux I'd recommend you start a thread of your own). My point is, that although I fully support clean installs, I don't believe they need to be done by most people. I think the problems can be solved with either regedit or MSconig. We'll all get very good at this and have the option of becoming good with regedit or msconfig or perhaps both. And as I've said, I've just ordered a new machine today. We seen how long it takes Lenovo to deliver. Until then, I can help other people.

Renee

 

If you have no idea which startup programs or service in msconfig, then I would advise against it.

Regedit is an even bigger no-no. Make sure you export your registry first before deleting/modifying any values.

 

I know regedit and msconfig. I do not know which Lenovo used.

You advice is good to those who have never used Regedit. I myself have never had a problem with it. I've been in this field professionally before Bill Gates was.

Renee

 

There is very little bloatware on the new ThinkPads. You can opt out of the anti virus trial, Office, and other stuff on the first boot very easily. After that you can remove everything from Control Panel | Program and Features.

No need to mess with regedit and msconfig much until after you've installed the usual apps.

 

That's interesting. I've heard a lot people complain. Not so much on thinkpads but on other notebooks by Lenovo. Then there was the first quote
I provided.

Renee

 

I just use msconfig to improve other bootup speed when I don't want to wait take hours of my time uninstalling bloatware. Never touch the registry unless I have to.

 

registry bloat isn't really a big factor on a new thinkpad machines as the current win7pro builds (i haven't used a default win7 home image but can't think that it has much more to make any difference) include fewer system hooks than what was in the xp and vista images.

the easiest way to optimize a factory install is to use msconfig to review & disable/unload what's on your startup. msconfig is pretty safe because if something is accidentally unloaded and you find that you need it, you can re-enable it again with one mouse-click without having to re-import (assuming that you saved them beforehand) registry settings. (non-technical users are lucky that MS reintroduced MSCONFIG back to XP after having removed it from win2k. nt and win2k users had to use third party utilities or do it directly using regedit to optimize their configs)

uninstalling unneeded apps will generally gain back a little space and remove the registry entires (reclaiming disk space is pretty insignificant unless you're using a low capacity SSD). if you do the msconfig optimizing, all the uninstall does is just housekeeping cleanup and entirely optional. [edit: and i would add to be safe, you should wait a few months to uninstall to make sure you don't need the software and that everything is running perfectly.]

 

Then I must ask why people consider it a problem?

Renee

 

AFAIK editing the regedit is not something you should try for fun. I'd recommend this for more info on this topic.

 

...................

 

Just grab the drivers and the power manager and do a fresh install. There's a thread floating around the Windows forum with legal downloads, and your key should just work with either 32 or 64 bit versions of your license's edition. Worst case, you'll have to call and manually activate.

It's not just about the crap running on boot, but also the various fixes they apply to the OS that can cause bugs further down.

 

I've been using msconfig and regedit for years and have never had a problem with them, but by the same token this forum recommends changing or redoing processor pastes, which I understand and dont recommend. I'll say this, this thread is for people who are comfortable eliminating bloatware using either regedit or msconfig.

So I guess the first question is does it exist on Lenovo products and does it exist on new thinkpads?

Renee

 

"registry bloat isn't really a big factor on a new thinkpad machines as the current win7pro builds "

I was not talking about registry bloat which in different from bloatware which is what I was talking about. Bloatware is generally an unwanted executable.

Renee

 

To the extent bloatware is defined as software made available to the use either during 1st boot or after, yes.

But like I said before, the number of non-Lenovo programs on the machine is really low and you can easily opt out (skip installation), or remove them from Control Panel later.

At least this is my experience on the new T and W series machines.

 

Then what are user's such as in my quote complaining about?

Renee

 

I have no idea. I don't see this as a problem at all. On first boot you can opt out of several programs and the rest are easily uninstalled.

For instance, Biztree Business-in-a-Box, Skype, Norton Internet Security, Windows Live Essentials, Corel WinDVD, Corel Burn.Now, Corel DVD MovieFactory, and others are on the machine.

All can be removed with a mouse click in control panel. The same can be said for the Thinkvantage PC-doctor tools.

I would certainly leave WinDVD, SKYPE, and probably Office Starter on the machine.

 

Lenovo brags about a fast boot up, but the end users will not see this when they get their systems.

Users have to re-configure, uninstall/clean install/Purchase a SSD drive and make some tweeks to the BIOS to get close (If ever) to the Lenovo 10 second boot up time.

Lenovo should give us that fast boot up by doing all that work for us and not just slap on a false Advertisement EE 2.0 sticker on the palm rest. It's misleading to say the least.

 

Not only that, considering that you can't actually do a clean install, only restore something that is already bloated, unless I am missing on something (see my other thread on clean install)

 

1. Clean install of a new windows 7 OS, not using the one that came with Lenovo system.

2. Sony has an option that one can click on (For a price) that will give the customer a clean system, no bloatware. Lenovo should consider doing the same thing.

3. Also while I'm ranting, when, if anyone knows, will the computer manufactures include OS 7/SP-1 (New systems) so we don't have to download that later ? Didn't M/S send out to manufactures SP-1 a while back ?

 

There was a post on Lenovo blogs some time back where you could choose what to install by Restoring Factory Contents. Not sure if that is still available on the latest ThinkPads or not. I'm not going to try this just to find out.

Inside the Box “Junk” in the Preload

 

Read the site and so far only Vista is supported. No where does it say Windows 7 64 bit so I will not be doing this unless someone else has and it works. Thanks anyway

 

"Not only that, considering that you can't actually do a clean install, only restore something that is already bloated, unless I am missing on something (see my other thread on clean install)"

That's incorrect. For example I've done a clean install and I mean clean, on my t61. Most people do not realize that a clean install comes from a Microsoft DVD.

Renee

 

Now idea why you mean it's incorrect. Can you do a clean install only by using what Lenovo provided? If so, how?

 

i'd rather see them spending time on investigating & fixing actual software/hardware issues or improving the functionality of their packaged software.

to divert resources on something as one-off as this is a largely a waste. it's not as if you can't uninstall their software you know. and non-technical noobs actually use some of that software.

 

Agreed. Lenovo, to their credit, has managed to find a good balance on the X, T, and W series machines between the native Windows 7 OS, apps from other partners, and their own software. Third party app promotions will never completely go away. It's a revenue stream for them like advertising. At least it isn't obnoxious on the ThinkPads now.