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    Guide to removing Dell bloatware?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by carpediem, Dec 13, 2006.

  1. carpediem

    carpediem Newbie

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    Hey gang ... my new Dell xps M1710 is in the mail. Is there a guide to removing all the bloatware on it somewhere?
     
  2. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

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    Yeah, the guide is the Reformatting Your Computer Guide. Wipe out and start fresh the moment you get a new Dell.
     
  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    Reformatting is the best thing to do, SG has written an excellent step-by-step guide.
     
  4. azntiger1000

    azntiger1000 Notebook Deity

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    Yep SG made a great guide to remove bloatware. You might also want to check the dell section of the forum where they also suggest on formatting the computer and partitioning. It might be a hassle, but in the long run it is really worth it.
     
  5. Estlander

    Estlander Notebook Consultant

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    But if your computer comes with a recovery disc, or with an option to make one from the partition already on your hard drive, then reformatting and installing a fresh copy of XP does you no good, as it restores your Windows to factory settings and it will look exactly as it did when you bought your computer, right?
     
  6. Neolith

    Neolith Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you use the restore partition on the computer it will, but if you just install the Operating System and the drivers then no... it wont. You will be bloatware free
     
  7. irishrover

    irishrover Notebook Consultant

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    Instead of going through the reformat process why not use a program called PC-De-Crapifier. You can find it here http://www.yorkspace.com/pc-de-crapifier/ This seems to work very well.

    Good Luck on your new purchase!
     
  8. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yup! Best way to get rid of all the crap!
     
  9. Estlander

    Estlander Notebook Consultant

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    But if your computer comes without a recovery disks, but only with an option to create your Windows XP recovery disks from that partition, then what difference does it make if you use your discs to re-install your windows or the recovery partition? Aren't the disks an exact copy of your partition?
     
  10. carpediem

    carpediem Newbie

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    I must admit I'm a bit intimidated by the idea of monkeying with the OS. Also, if I"m planning on installing Vista in a few months should I just wait?
     
  11. SF49ers

    SF49ers Notebook Enthusiast

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    Reformatting and reinstalling windows is simple. Dell makes it really easy. Follow the article and you will be fine, you aren't going to mess anything up.
     
  12. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    Well no matter how many programs you use and what you try to do to get rid of every bit of bloatware, nothing is as effective as giving your laptop a healthy reformat.
     
  13. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    Is there something 'special' or 'different' about Dell that you can't simply un-install what you don't want? Follow it up with a good registry cleaning and you should be golden. That way you can keep the useful stuff like the DVD player.
     
  14. koryo

    koryo Notebook Consultant

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    Ditto. I've always uninstalled Dell bloatware. Our company resells them so I have prepared quite a few of them for customers. It's much quicker to uninstall then to format.