Desktops: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs?
- 7/18/07 3:40 PM
formatting
by dena1936 - 7/23/07 1:32 PM In reply to: I Hate it by mrobinsonjrI do format my computer about once a year, to start all over. The thing is, with these large hard drives & big programs and the need for all the protective programs, it is becoming harder to put it all back together again. I have a kazillion serial numbers & disks I need to find and enter all over again. I find it easier to after first looking for an uninstall file within the program. Then you can go to Windows Control panel to "add, remove programs, & make sure it is uninstalled there. After that, I run regedit, search for the program & remove all reference to it. Of course back up your registry first. There may be some that won't delete. I then search my hard drive for the program and delete anything lingering there. Usually, if I do another search in the registry, I can delete what would not delete before. It is time consuming, but I find it more time confusing to format my drive everytime I want to get rid of anything. As for viruses, I always make sure that I put McAfee Security package on. Also, a spyware program and a program to fix my registry & Adaware. (the full versions, not the free ones) Your computer should be clean after this. The reason the uninstall features don't always work is because the software sometimes put in a do not delete order deep in the registry.
included software
by Jillnjase - 11/22/07 12:36 PM In reply to: Not at all by DaSpEcTeRit is not a problem if you build your own computer :)) REALLY it is not that difficult to build a computer, and you get EXACTLY what you want. It can be more expensive BUT you get ONLY what you want AND you can get started immediately without all the bells and whistles you would like and add them as you can afford them. Also you then know exactly what is inside. If you have doubts about your ability go to forums, or talk to your parts supplier. I built my PC two years ago and my friends are amazed at the speed even now two years later. It cost me $500 with all the bells and whistles for the tower. Give it some thought.
It will never end as long as people need money
by Forgotten One - 11/23/07 7:32 AM In reply to: Not at all by DaSpEcTeRThat is a perfect reason why you should go down to your corner (or small distance) computer shop and have one custom built.
As far as I'm concerned ANY pre-built computer is crap compared to custom built (not specifically talking about one like, say, Alienware, but it falls into that category of custom built comps).
As soon as Dell made the ability for you to swap out/upgrade parts, I knew that pre-built comp companies "had em" (snagged customers away from local stores) because now you didn't HAVE to go to the corner shop and have one custom built, they did it for you.
But now you see the results of it.
I personally think those companies put in WAY too much bloatware, but I'm not feeling sorry for anyone owning one of them because, hell, you asked for it.
You get a loaded box, what it's loaded with is a mystery until you fire it up, which is sick IMO. But hey, you want a brand name on your shiny box right?
The best computer you can have is the one you build yourself because you know EXACTLY what's going into it.
Corporate Crapware
by Jack94043 - 7/18/07 7:33 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Even worse than the manufacturers stuff is the crapware our corporate IT loads. We are all issued laptops and work in conference rooms with portable projectors and our computers are configured so that as soon as they come out of standby or power up the virus scan starts, then the spyware scan, then PC Angel, and of course Landesk. It can take up to 12 minutes before the systems are up and running...
Unless of course you know how to edit the registry yourself.
If you only got the Windows CD
by Crash2100 - 7/18/07 7:35 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This wouldn't be too much of a problem if they would simply give people the installation CD for windows, instead of just a stupid recovery image. That way, if they put a whole bunch of crap you don't want on the computer, you can simply reformat it and reinstall Windows with only what you want on the computer.
Re: If you only got the Windows CD
by teacee90 - 7/18/07 7:38 PM In reply to: If you only got the Windows CD by Crash2100I was amazed withe the Gateway notebook I purchased and later returned came with The Windows Vista Disk. The was a first.
Absolutely right!
by balouke - 7/19/07 12:44 AM In reply to: If you only got the Windows CD by Crash2100But not only the OS CD is needed:especially notebooks can have exotic hardware (graphic or network cards,.. e.g.) and you also need the drivers for those components if you want to start the installation from scratch. Sometimes these drivers are hard to find on internet or difficult to extract if you only got a recovery CD...
There are some gotchas in this approach
by cnetmessageman - 7/19/07 12:54 AM In reply to: If you only got the Windows CD by Crash2100On the recovery disk the necessary drivers are usually include. And there may also be other pre-configured setting that are used to optimize system performance. So just getting the Windows CD could help but may leave you in a bit of a hole.
The best approach is perhaps the one suggesting that all trial/crapware be included on a separate disk from which the user can load any of the programs that he/she desires to check out.
Maybe two recovery disks
by Crash2100 - 7/19/07 8:35 AM In reply to: There are some gotchas in this approach by cnetmessagemanOr they could simply give you two recovery disks, one with the base windows installation, and then the other with whatever software installed on it.
But who knows if the computer manufacturers would ever go for something like that, god forbid they have to do something extra.
way too much junk came on my dell laptop
by knelson276 - 7/18/07 7:42 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Took me hours to uninstall all the unwanted and unneeded junk software that came preinstalled on my laptop. Not to mention all the time to clean the registry. It wouldn’t be so bad but even the semi useful applications are usually “lite” versions, so when u click on a function you get a pop up asking if u want to upgrade to the full version for $49.95.
Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that come
by Zgringo - 7/18/07 7:56 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I first fireup a new computer I look at what;s on it, then look to see what it's loading on startup. I dump everything I don't need or want which is almost everything but the OS. I hate having things crammed down my throat I don't want or need and I put it in the same class as spam. My biggest gripe is having to press 1 if I want to talk to my bank in English. Hello, this is the USA isn't it?
Bonus
by smithjc55 - 7/18/07 11:16 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that come by ZgringoIts just the same as advertising a new computer with "free" TV card , scanner, printer, free carry case etc. and when you tell them you don't all the freebies they tell its part of the package. They won't budge either
A new computer takes days to pacify to software
by nobbitt - 7/18/07 7:58 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had my father's new laptop sent to me first so I could register and update or delete all the software included (he is over 80 and e-mails only). I was astonished and somewhat frightened when I first booted it up because I didn't have it connected to the wireless yet and there were all the programs demanding to be registered and updated first. It was my first look at Vista and I forgot to go directly to remove programs and to turn off automatic updates.
I like some of the programs, but don't need three or four IPs with 6 months free service resisting all but my most focused efforts to remove them completely. I agree there should be the option to install software at a later time.
I just bought a new Dell E520N and didn't have a bit of it.
by the_rajah - 7/18/07 8:00 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Of course I bought it with pre-installed Ubuntu Linux instead of Windows. Not only did I avoid the crapware, I also saved money because I didn't pay the Microsoft tax. I'm loving it. No, I didn't have to do a bit of command line wizardry to get it to do exactly what I wanted. Try Ubuntu, it's very slick. They'll even mail you a free CD to try without having to install it on your existing computer.
Bloatware
by telstar100 - 7/18/07 8:06 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought a new dell earlier this year. It came with the upgrade to Vista Business. When I received the upgrade disk, Dell sent me a complete copy of Office 2007 with it. Sure was nice of them and that is the type of bloatware I like. I have used it for 4 months now without any problems. I registered the Vista, but not the Office 2007.
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