Universal crapware / bloatware / junkware guide

UPDATED: 27.10.2007

I'm sure there are many of people like me who hates these tones of useless software your new notebook comes with. Mostly its even on system recovery CD/DVD that comes with new machine!!! Usually its called crapware (my favourite), bloatware, junkware etc. After I spend too much time by uninstalling it from my new laptop (due the lack of time still not finished... ), Ive decided to help beginners like me by creating something like " Universal Crapware Guide" or simply " Crapware List". And I'm asking everyone to help me with... Just write down manufacturer and list of crapware you've uninstalled (as I've done below). If there will be some programs not listed here, I will update this post.

Sure, little piece of nice software called Decrapifier could help, but it mostly oriented to Dell users. With help of notebookreview forum users I'm hoping to create some kind of great all-purpose list of crapware (bigger, better and greater than list from Decrapifier homepage ). It's useles for pro-users, but for beginers or average users is not so easy to always identify which preinstalled software could go to hell and which contains useful drivers in it essential for correct hardware functionality!

UPDATE: With clean install you'll never know if you've got all needed drivers, so you'll never know if webcam, bluetooth, FN key, microphone or something else gonna be functional...

And now... let's hit it!
--
Toshiba (Sattelite Pro A200 in my case)
--
list of crapware:
- Norton Internet Security 10 - 90days trial
- Norton Security Center
- Norton Symantec Live Update
(luckily there is a nice utility from Symantec called Norton Removal Tool, which helps you uninstall Norton completely... )
- MS Office 2007 - trial
- MS SQL Server 2005
- Toshiba DVD player
(someone could object that its not a crapware, but if I dont want to use implemented Windows Media Player (mostly I dont! ), I always could download something from web...)
- Toshiba Bluetooth Monitor
- Toshiba Disc Creator
- Ulead DVD MovieWriter for TOSHIBA
- Toshiba Value Added
- Toshiba Assist
- Toshiba Speech System
- Toshiba Connectivity Doctor
- Toshiba ConfigFree
- Toshiba etc. (as I wrote, Im not done yet, thats why I'm not sure which of other programs (mostly part of Toshiba value added package, like HW Setup, FlashCards, Zooming Utility, Button support etc.) are useless and which has drivers for webcam, FN buttons etc., if someone has experience with uninstalling Toshiba crapware, I would appreciate help...)


--
Lenovo:
- Norton Internet Security
- MS SQL Server
- MS Office trial
- ???
--

DELL crapware list, as listed on the Decrapifier homepage , which is surely helpful not only for Dell users:

AOL Install
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI
Corel Photo Album 6
Corel Snapfire Plus SE (30 day trialware)
Corel WordPerfect
Dell Search Assistant
Dell URL Assistant
Digital Content Portal
Earthlink Setup Files
ESPN Motion
Get High Speed Internet!
Google Desktop
HP Rhapsody
Internet Service Offers Launcher
McAffee
Microsoft Office Activation Assistant 2007
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003
MS Plus Digital Media Installer
MS Plus Photo Story 2LE
MusicMatch Jukebox
MusicMatch Music Services
muvee autoProducer 5.0
NetZero Installers
Norton AntiSpam
Norton AntiVirus 2005
Norton Ghost 10.0
Norton Internet Security
Norton Internet Security
Norton Protection Center
Norton Security Center
Norton Symantec Live Update
(REM from Decrapifier webpage: If you are having difficulty removing Norton Symantec products with the PC Decrapifier, you may wan to try the)
Norton Removal Tool
Office 2003 Trial Assistant
Orange Internet
PC-cillin Internet Security 12
QuickBooks Trial
Quicken 2006 (Possible Trial Version)
Roxio Express Labeler (REM from Decrapifier webpage: This is a component of the Roxio Media Creator Suite. The "Express" edition is a trial or crippled version of the software.)
Roxio MyDVD LE
Roxio RecordNow
Sonic DLA (someone says its useful - see below)
Sonic RecordNow Audio (someone says its useful - see below)
Sonic RecordNow Copy (someone says its useful - see below)
Sonic RecordNow Data (someone says its useful - see below)
Sonic Update Manager
Tiscali Internet
Travelocity Gadget (REM from Decrapifier webpage: Link in the Vista sidebar that shows deals from Travelocity)
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 14
Vongo
Wanadoo Europe Installer
Wild Tangent Games
Yahoo! Music Jukebox
Yahoo! Toolbar for Internet Explorer

Thanks goes to Decrapifier guys!

---
Thanks all. And sorry for my awful english...

 

Why not just do a clean install?

 

Seconded. I barely take a second look at my bloatware before doing a clean install. It's just that much more effective. You might as well write *another* clean format guide than a bloatware guide, imo.

 

Because you need the OS disc to do a clean install.

 

Unluckily I'm afraid it's not possible. For a clean install you need OS only CD/DVD, but I've got OEM version of Vista on Recovery DVD from manufacturer (Toshiba in my case), which comes with new laptop. It means if I just reinstall OS from this recovery DVD, all crapware would rise from software hell again... During the install there is no option to install Vistas only...
And I think this "Recovery DVD/CD thing" is common for all major manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Sony, Dell, Toshiba, FujitsuSiemens, HP etc.).

At last, why not to try to make universal crapware list? If forum users could help, its gonna be great thing: all crapware in one place... just check it and freely uninstalll...

PS.SWARMER: Yup, its a short version of my explanation...

 

It's also difficult to know if you have all the drivers that you need.

 

Agreed what is said above. I don't know if it is possible, but you could try getting a Vista dvd from toshiba and reinstalling it that way.

Uninstalling the crapware can only go so far.. but give it a shot if you can't get a vista dvd.

 

Nope, impossible, even if we say manufacturer give me another DVD, it's gonna be absolutely the same with all junk on it...

 

As long as you have a valid COA, I say obtain an OS disc by whatever means necessary and take things from there. MS cares only about the license and not the media.

 

My opinion is that it's actually much easier just uninstall crapware than searching the way how to make clean install. It could take just about 30 minutes to uninstall everything useless and reboot... Of course if there is a palce where I could find list of crapware... Actually this is the reason of this thread So pleeease, it wont work without your help. Post here more experience with crapware instead of advises of how to make clean install... No offence!

 

and

Sonic RecordNow Data

I still have these. Is there a better FREE program?

 

i have hp dv9500t and i recently used my Recovery DVD to reimage my drive.

i went into Control Panel and i uninstalled everything except the following:



i know the thread is old, bu i couldnt find the thread for hp's in the hp/compaq forum so i just posted here for the record and future use

 

I still see a lot of things you an uninstall.

 

Luckily, I have both done a reformat, but also tried just removing bloat with a re-image. Here is what I found so far:

The clean install was not only easy as pie, but it only took about an hour. It was painful loading individual drivers and chasing down the usual suite of plugins and programs that I like (not even sure how many). It was painful waiting an hour for all my MP3s and photos to transfer over after I was done with that. But man, I am using about 3-400Mb LESS ram now on average, there is less clutter, and I freed up a lot of hard drive space.

What about just a sweeping uninstall? When I did that, it did improve performance and boot time somewhat, but a lot of people forget about the registry. I poked around and there were significant remnants of the offending programs. I also sort of hated having the max number of partitions in use (dells media direct is really no different to me than Win Media Center - try it) nor did I appreciate having a D drive that really was like having a windows dvd just sitting on the computer taking up space.

My advice, do the reformat reinstall, and when the pain of set up and data transfer is over, make an image of that, date it, and sock it away on whatever media is available. If you are still under warranty, and want to rely on Dell's remote support, DO NOT mess with the install they gave you. Some of those programs, while annoying, do serve a purpose and some day you might need that. cheers!