What should I remove?

I just got a new laptop-- an HP dv5t with Vista Home Premium-- and I've set out to remove the unnecessary bloatware. Since I didn't get an Automatic Upgrade disc, I can't completely wipe the thing and start over, so I'm using PCDecrapifier to remove things.

I'm not sure, however, which of the following I should remove. Could I ask for some tips? (I left out some obvious things like drivers from the list.)

• Adobe Flash Player ActiveX
• AIM 6
• HP Photosmart Essential 2.5
• HP Smart Web Printing
• SlingPlayer
• Cyberlink YouCam
• PowerDirector
• QuickPlay SlingPlayer 0.4.6
• Viewpoint Media Player
• My HP Games
• HP Doc Viewer
• CyberLink DVD Suite
• JMicron JMB38X Flash Media Controller
• HP Help and Support
• HP Quicktouch 1.00 D2
• Power2Go
• HP QuickPlay 3.7
• Serif WebPlus 10
• Intel Matrix Storage Manager
• HP Wireless Assistant
• Serif WebPlus 10 Resources
• ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• HP Customer Experience Enhancements
• LabelPrint
• HP Update
• IDT Audio
• HP Total Care Advisor
• HP User Guides 0102
• HPTCSSetup

Thanks!

 

No problem. I'd probably remove the following

AIM 6-there are other IM client's out there like Pidgin and Digsby that can handle more than just AIM accounts

HP Photosmart Essentials-If you don't already have a preferred photo viewing, light editing program then you may want to keep it. However, at least try out Google's Picasa first.

HP Smart Web Printing-Depends. Smart Web Printing lets you combines clips from any number of web pages into one page. (See Here: http://lifehacker.com/391781/hp-smart-web-printing-saves-tons-of-paper) Pretty cool paper saver but worthless if you don't need the functionality. You can always get this later too.

SlingPlayer-Ditch it, unless, of course, you have a SlingBox (a device that hooks up to your TV that lets you access your TV from anywhere with a Internet connection)

My HP Games-Ditch it. HP partners up with WildTangent to provide trials of games, just crap.

HP Wireless Assistant-Windows does a pretty good job of helping you to connect via Wi-Fi. You don't really need a secondary interface to do it.

HP Update-Depends. It alerts you about new software updates, drivers and such. If you go online once in a while to HP's support site, you'll pretty much get the same thing. And Windows Update will handle their side of things, so no worries there.

HP Total Care Advisor-Depends. It provides a system scan to check for things like battery health issues, recalls, etc. It also centralizes everything you need when you call customer support in one place (the serial number, warranty status, etc.) You can also access your owner's manual from here. If you don't think you need the system scan functionality, you can probably ditch it as manuals are available online.

QuickPlay-Depends. Some people like the ability to watch movies, listen to music, etc. quickly using a version of XP embedded, others could care less.
EDIT: apparently, HP changed the functionality of QuickPlay. The direct (W/Out booting into windows) version of QuickPlay has been discontinued. They still make the QuickPlay software that you can use from within Windows. You really don't need another way to view DVD's, music, pictures, (you already have Windows Media Center) so I'd ditch it.

 

How about just disable the startup processes and the services that you feel you don't need first; use the comp for about a week or so, let it go through the normal cycle of getting all updates and then review the "removal" part?

cheers ...

 

I'd toss all the HP junk.

 

You could pretty much ditch everything there except Adobe Flash Player. The rest of the list is considered bloatware for me. If you use your webcam, don't uninstall YouCam.

 

And you don't want to remove Intel Matrix Storage Manager.

 

I did, no need for it.

 

You don't? I see, my mistake then and thanks for the clarification.

 

Thanks, everyone. It's running nice and smoothly now, and if I want to get rid of some more, I know what to look for.

 

I would remove them all, myself. I would probably go out to Adobe and get the current Flash eventually. And RAID is of dubious benefit on a notebook with only one physical drive anyway.

 

Care to share what you removed, from your list?

cheers ...