Best tools to clean out the junk from a new laptop?

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I just bought this new laptop from one of the major manufacturers. I wanted Windows 7 Pro, which I got. But I also got lots of "pre-loaded" junk that I will never need or might cause me problems when I don't agree to activate it (and pay good $$$).

This laptop also came with some nifty utilities that I don't want to lose, so I don't think I'm going to do a fresh install off standard Windows 7 images off digitalriver. I'm also concerned about the issues in this thread http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1704565

So my only real opton is to do lots (and lots) of uninstalls, but I know that the standard Windows uninstaller usually leaves lots of crap behind. What are better tools for the job?
 
I'd just go into the control panel and remove what you do not want. no need to install more junk to get rid of other unwanted junk.
 
And how does that tool know wich is unwanted software?how could it posibly know what i want to have on my drive,like that utily u said u dont want to loose. Whats wrong with going into add/remove settings and removing stuff yourself?
 
And how does that tool know wich is unwanted software?how could it posibly know what i want to have on my drive,like that utily u said u dont want to loose. Whats wrong with going into add/remove settings and removing stuff yourself?

You have to approve everything to be removed before it does it. Using add/remove control panel leaves you at the mercy of the unwanted bloatware's uninstaller. It can leave behind registry entries, orphaned files, empty directories, etc.
 
Here's what I do:
1) Install CCleaner
2) go into Control Panel and uninstall all the crap i don't need
3) Run CCleaner to clean out all the detritus left behind in the registry from all the crap I just uninstalled.
 
You have to approve everything to be removed before it does it. Using add/remove control panel leaves you at the mercy of the unwanted bloatware's uninstaller. It can leave behind registry entries, orphaned files, empty directories, etc.

As the OP, that's also been my (sad) experience with all the uninstallers. My impression, based on having worked in the software industry. By the time that the team is finished with all the code, they are probably weeks, if not months, behind schedule. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: So the "build engineer" is rushed and doesn't have the time to test out everything. :(
 
Get a retail version of windows 7 pro and reinstall the os. Download any missing drivers and software from the manufacturer. Done.

You own the serial key so technically downloading a legit windows 7 ISO isnt piracy. Of course I could be wrong here
 
I've used these in the past on new laptops:

CCleaner (formely Crap Cleaner)
Tune-Up 2012
Glary Utilities
Revo Uninstaller

Too bad building a laptop isn't as easy as a desktop...this could all be avoided.
 
I've used these in the past on new laptops:

CCleaner (formely Crap Cleaner)
Tune-Up 2012
Glary Utilities
Revo Uninstaller

Too bad building a laptop isn't as easy as a desktop...this could all be avoided.

I've been building my own desktops for over 20 years now (wow!) But laptops, that's a whole nother story. I did some repairs on my old system, like replacing a cracked screen. But laptops were not designed to be user-fixable. And I guess that's why guys like us will never build own own laptops.

That said, I didn't pay the manufacturer's inflated prices for more RAM or an SSD. I ordered those from The Egg for about one-third of the manufacturer's prices. ;)
 
Isn't there a download somewhere on Microsoft's website that is a clean Windows ISO? I remember reading about it in Maximum PC last month. Basically, you download it, mount the iso, and install it. All this is done using your Windows product key (located on back of laptop). In the end, you get a clean Windows install without all the bloatware.
 
But laptops were not designed to be user-fixable. And I guess that's why guys like us will never build own own laptops.

yeah, hard drive and RAM is about the limit for user upgradable parts in a laptop.
I did successfully replace a keyboard on an old HP laptop once, it was quite a daunting task though, there were so many delicate little parts to remove and keep track of before I could even get to the keyboard connector.
 
i would reinstall a clean copy of windows instead, then put in the key u got from ur windows pro.
 
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