Pre-Installed Gunk

[emp1re]

Don't you just hate it when you recover/reformat an OEM laptop (in my case, an HP) and all kinds of pre-installed gunk makes it's way into the build? I know I do.

Is there a software utility that can expediently uninstall this bloatware instead of having to uninstall each one-by-one? Anything to help preserve a fresh install would be totally awesome.

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions.

emp1re

 

[thescreensavers]

dban boot and nuke, dodshort

reinstall the OS, all the preinstalled junk is gone.

 

[emp1re]

Thanks for the tip thescreensavers (great show! I used to watch Leo and the guys back in the day).

Maybe I didn't add enough information. My laptop uses Vista and has a Vista recovery partition. When using the Microsoft recover option, the install did not allow me to un-check the HP added bloatware. If I were to use dban boot and nuke, it will totally obliterate the recover partition as I can imagine.

With that, here's a few more questions:
1. Is there a way to recover just the bare-bones OS using the Windows recover feature?
2. Is there a utility to expeditiously unistall said bloat (original question).
3. Is it better to just throw away my license (since this seems to be a lost cause), wipe clean and reformat/install a clean version of Windows?

Thanks again for passing along any insight or suggestions =)

 

[Venom20]

can always try PC decrapifier

 

[VirtualLarry]

If the laptop has a COA sticker, then just obtain the proper regular install media for it, and then install it using the key on the laptop. That's the best way to a clean install.

 

[emp1re]

can always try PC decrapifier

Wow, what a nice program. Seems as if this one did the trick. No going to the control panel, programs and features, and having to uninstall each one-by-one.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

 

[lxskllr]

Wow, what a nice program. Seems as if this one did the trick. No going to the control panel, programs and features, and having to uninstall each one-by-one.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

For the rest of your question, you can image the drive after a fresh install, and back it up somewhere. Update Vista, install needed drivers, and maybe a few core programs then image it. You'll have a head start on your next install.

 

[emp1re]

For the rest of your question, you can image the drive after a fresh install, and back it up somewhere. Update Vista, install needed drivers, and maybe a few core programs then image it. You'll have a head start on your next install.

lxskllr, thanks for being so giving. You're spot on with said suggestion.

Get ready for it...

Do you have a drive imaging software in particular that you would like to suggest? I'm sure this topic has spun around many of times here at the AAT forums. Going to be prepping my new build all day and your suggestion seems to be the final step to all of my uninstalls, installs, updates, reboots, etc.

 

[lxskllr]

Seems like I've been recommending it a lot lately, but I like Clonezilla. It's free, and open source, and though it doesn't have the friendliest interface it's easy enough and works well.

 

[thefreeaccount]

You can probably copy the install media from the recovery partition to your main partition and then use the 7customizer tool to remove all the extra stuff.

 

[emp1re]

Seems like I've been recommending it a lot lately, but I like Clonezilla. It's free, and open source, and though it doesn't have the friendliest interface it's easy enough and works well.

Going to give it a stab. Just now finished the weekend with a fresh install. Don't want to lose all that hard work. Thanks again m8. :biggrin:

 

[LucJoe]

Easiest answer: use a clean Windows disc/iso and install using the key that came with your computer. I'd much rather do that than try to undo whatever HP decides is good for me.

 

[thescreensavers]

Thanks for the tip thescreensavers (great show! I used to watch Leo and the guys back in the day).

Thanks again for passing along any insight or suggestions =)

Yea me too so sad the show is completely gone.

can always try PC decrapifier

Great tool! as well Thanks for the link

If the laptop has a COA sticker, then just obtain the proper regular install media for it, and then install it using the key on the laptop. That's the best way to a clean install.

Yea thats what I would of said next

 

[WelshBloke]

I got rid of the recovery image in the hidden partition on my laptop and rebuilt my own using a standard install disk.

Now when I have to recover (F8 at boot is it?) I just get a clean install with no bloat.

If I have the time I'll find you the instructions. It was on an aspire 1810TZ hints and tricks thread somewhere.

 

[Jawadali]

This Clean-Install Windows 7 Guide may help:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

The author wrote a version for windows Vista as well, but it may be outdated:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-compaq/177289-giant-hp-laptop-out-box-guide.html

 

[stevech]

I just decluttered a new Acer PC. All I had to do was simply remove about 5 trial apps. Didn't take long. Nothing more complicated than Win 7 uninstaller could do.