Crapware! What do you think?

Check out this article from CNET.com, PC makers walk fine line with 'crapware'.

When you get a new computer, what do you typically do to delete all of the 'crapware'?

How long did it take you to remove all the 'crapware' from your computer? Please include the manufacturer and model of the computer you're referring to.

Right now I perform an OS-only "clean install" of XP Pro, then install the proper drivers, and finally install the software I actually want; it just takes forever. Still, sometimes my computer is too far gone and this is necessary, I think?

"System Recovery" disks are worthless because they have all the 'crapware' still. Does this make sense? it's late and I'm tired.

 

Yeah, I read that article earlier... surprised they didn't mention anything about fresh installs though...

 

Not all is Crapware. Like the CD/DVD Creators, Video DVD Makers and DVD viewers that come with most Pre-installed systems.

But besides that. Yes most is Crap.

 

With my current acer(see sig) as well as the one I had before it the only "crapware" that came installed was acer's empowering garbage utilities which are nothing but redundant software IMHO, as windows has most of the functionality already built in. They can be very easily and quickly removed however some users actually use them though . The other stuff they include like NTI DVD and CD burning software is actually quite useful therefore I leave that, and it is not a trial version but a fully functioning OEM registered version.

The only trial software that comes with acer notebooks is a 3 month trial of norton antivirus which is up to the user to install as it comes on a separate disk and not on the OS recovery disk as everything else that I mentioned.
Therefore all in all acer doesn't include much if any "crapware" with their notebook lines which I always loved.

 

Yup, I uninstalled Empowering a long time ago and never looked back.

I too love that Acer included a full version of NTI DVD & CD. The DVD Power Producer is not bad either. It's not as good as Nero but it's free.

Acer included a Norton Virus 2007 disc instead of installing it. THE DISK IS STILL SEALED IN PLASTIC. LOL

Acer is pretty good at keep bloatware to a minimal. HP on the other hand

 

My Dell Inspiron 6400 (purchased August 06) arrived completely clean. I was very pleased.

 

Some of the "crapware" are actually quite useful, but i'm using Windows' built-in replacements instead.
Norton Antivirus 2005 is the crappiest of all crapware. emphasis the 2005. And who wants to use it for a 90 days trial? those who can't get enough of Survivor.

 

HAHA System64. Funny.

my W3J had Norton Internet Security Preinstalled too, tho if i remember correctly it was also a trial thing. I removed the program FIRST THING.

The laptop also came with a few other CDs too, which means u'd have to install them urself if u want.
For me i just install Nero and Asustek's AsusDVD, which i cannot really comment on cos i dont use it much at all.

 

Hey, if it means lower laptop prices (companies like AOL and Microsoft pay makers to include them) I say load them up. Easy enough to remove / ignore these programs.

 

Nuke the drive from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

 

Well, I certainly understand why companies put it on there, and for me personally, it's not an issue. When I got my new Dell, the very first thing I did out of the box was order new install CD's from Dell and then reformatted the computer.

But for those (the vast majority) that don't know how to combat bloatware or reformat their computer, it's a huge huge problem. People drop $500-3500 on a new computer expecting a snappy experience, but are instead bogged down by bloatware that just gets worse and worse with time. Again with my Dell, I bought a 100GB HDD only to find that out of the box a full 25GB of space were taken and reserved on a separate partition for restoring the bloatware. Now that is way too much, and for any person to get only 75% of the HDD space they paid for is complete crap.

 

if the money they recieve from having bloatware preinstalled helps keep the machine competitively priced then i'm all for it. i don't mind having to uninstall few things i don't need.

 

I'm all about lower prices too, but I don't think the manufacturers are passing any savings on to consumers. At least that's what I gathered from the article.

Companies like AOL are paying manufacturers money to pre-load their computers with 'crapware' and they are pocketing the extra profits. And now it's a double-edged sword; manufacturers may begin to offer computers with no 'crapware' but charge extra for this option. Either way, manufacturers reap the benefits while shafting their customers. Although, I know Dell gives you some options on XPS computers concerning 'crapware' and I don't believe they charge extra, so kudos to Dell.

Also, I have to second the notion that Sony install tons of 'crapware'. The first time I reformatted my VAiO's hard drive and performed a clean install of XP, there was a noticeable performance increase!

I'd probably pay the extra fee for no 'crapware', if it was reasonable; reformatting takes too long and time is money!

"Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M., Get the money, Dollar, dollar bill y'all."

 

After booting it up to make sure it works I do a clean install.

 

.....crapware....how does one spell dos.......?.........oh well..........ya know, i was real nice for a change.......emailed techies at M-ental- S.....asked why if '98 was sooo embarrassing and worthlessness-ness-ness....that they made 2000 available to us slobs....y the heck(les) did they "re-invent" it into se, xp, and now visa (t)....y nutzo just upgrade the pretty lil' n-O-t 2 bad stuff....? az.....usual...no reply...but the iRs iz auditing me this year........

 

i usually do a clean install when i get a new computer. my compal HEL80 came pretty crapware free though.

 

Probably because you type like a moron, and you may be one.

 

I'm sure glad you understood what he was saying, because that's like trying to decode cellphone speak.

 

I bought an HP and some of those crapwares are useful. It's free programs that otherwise you have to buy. Mine came with Works, MS Money, Quicken and others.

It's not hard to uninstall these programs at all and it only took me 30min tops.. Add/Remove. After that I go Windows Explorer and delete the directories where Add/Remove didn't delete and other directories that contains bloatware trials. Then I defragment the whole drive.

After all that I run a registry cleaner program to delete all unnecessary entries and thus make the laptop boot faster.

 

Well I applaud the extra effort put into making yourself sound dumb, especially with the color coding.

As for the crapware, there is no fine line, those software titles are installed to make money for your PC manufacturer---they have contracts with the software companies to do this.

 

If I get a cheaper laptop, it means I clench my teeth and grin and bear it! Simple economics for me

As for my laptop, sonic, adobe, norton, google tool bar from memory (there is more!). Only about an extra 15 processes than I run now so not too bad considering. About 10 min to uninstall and zap all traces of with add/remove and a registry cleaner

 

Actually, all I could make out of that was the gab at the end where the irs is auditing him, so I made my comment

 

Zellio, thanks for making me laugh. I was beginning to think there was an unwritten code on this forum that required me to go out of my way to be overly nice, even when other people are ridiculously idiotic.

It goes back to all those adults who tell little kids, "There is no such thing as a stupid question". In fact there is, and stupid people ask them all the time!

 

I'm guessing you're all of ten years old?

 

I personally think HP is passing on the savings, being that they have the most Crapware on their systems I have ever seen and they do sell their systems at a cheap to decent price compared to most.

 

Another article from CNET, PC buyers aim to cut the 'crapware'. More food for thought.