Z bloatware identification

I just installed fresh and need to install drivers, please tell me if any of this is required or useful, and if you know what it does?
Sony eSupport - VPCZ122GX/B - Software Updates & Drivers

Camera - 1 file(s)
Original - WebCam Companion® 3 Software

Picture Motion Browser - 5 file(s)
what does all this do?

Security - 1 file(s)
Original - UPEK® Protector Suite® 2009 Software (is it a demo/trial?)

Wireless - 1 file(s)
Original - SmartWi™ Connection Utility (what's it do?)

VAIO Update - 2 file(s)
useless bloatware?

Remote Software - 2 file(s)
I don't have a playstation3, is that all it's for?


Sony Applications (various) - 7 file(s)
Vaio Care Software (if this has self-heal, why would you even need "vaio update" too?)
Vaio Transfer Support
Vaio Care Troubleshooter
Vaio Gate Software
Vaio Hardware Diagnostics Software
Vaio Location Utility

 

You don't need the ps3 software if you don't have a ps3. All the other stuff are updates to applications and drivers. You could google them, but I will tell you that you need most of them..

Why is everybody so paranoid about this stuff for lately???

 

Not sure about the webcam companion thing. I did uninstall the Arcsoft software on my Z, not sure if that's the webcam companion. It keeps popping up everytime i skyped, so i got rid of it.

You need the security software. That's for the fingerprint scanner.

Smartwi controls your wifi, bluetooth and the Gobi card if you have one.

Vaio update... only IF you update your drivers through Vaio update. I dont constantly check sony's site for the newest drivers, so I keep mine

IF you dont have a PS3, you dont need the remote software.

I dont know about the Vaio software. Can someone else weigh in on them? (Vaio care has things to restore windows, or restore your drivers, etc. It also has software/hardware diagnostic tools)

 

Vaio gate is just an app launcher/shortcut menu.

 

While we are on the subject, does anyone know how to uninstall the disc manager that tells me wether or not the DVD-Drive is turned on? I installed an HDD caddy and really don't need it anymore...

 

killer, I think the disc manager one is "vaio event service update" but you probably can't uninstall it without it affecting other things such as the GPU switch.

I was able to look up some more of these:

Sony Applications:
Vaio Care Software (help chat and registry checker)
Vaio Care Troubleshooter (no idea)
Vaio Transfer Support (helps migrate user data to win7 from another OS)
Vaio Gate Software (application docking bar)
Vaio Hardware Diagnostics Software (I think this is the one that tells battery health, tests the RAM, etc)
Vaio Location Utility (no idea, I think it might have to do with GPS?)


vaio update (invisible background process? periodically checks for driver/software updates)
remote software (for controlling a ps3)

picture motion (picture and video organizer)
PMB (Picture Motion Browser)

webcam companion
WebCam Companion 3 — New ways to get creative with your webcam!

smartwi (saves connection profiles for wifi settings, might need it for the wifi on/off switch to work, otherwise it isn't necessary to install it and you can configure wifi settings in windows instead)