Getting rid of Dell or HP clutter ("craplets")

[Guest]

If I buy a new Dell or HP computer with Ultimate pre-installed, is the only
way to get to a clean version of Ultimate (i.e., without all the computer
manufacturer software modifications, pre-installed extra software, and other
"helpful"stuff) to buy Ultimate full edition, wipe the drive, and then
install?

Is there a way to do this with the upgrade version of Ultimate?

Thanks!

 

[Dale M. White]

The last time I worked on a OEM box, it wasn't all that hard to delete 90%
of their crap. You can open the Add\remove programs and just start clicking
away. I think the good news, is that theyhave onyl hada few months to really
play with Vista so right now, might be the best time to buy, as they
probably haven't had a chance ot really start adding crap yet.

Outside of that, I think you're other real option is to buy the full
version and do a format re-install. With the upgrade option, if you have a
full install of XP, you could put just the most basic of install on, and
then do an upgrade.

 

[Guest]

I don't know about that. On the last Dell desktop I bought, you could not
remove AOL via add/remove programs. If I ever considered buying a machine
from Dell again, I would tell them if they have to ship it with AOL
installed, I don't want it.

James

 

[Bill Condie]

I've bought about a dozen Dells . . . never had any problem getting rid of
AOL.

 

[jim]

Lucky you, this was just posted on NEOWIN > actually this was made with
dells in mind!
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=37797


The PC Decrapifier is designed to remove a specific list unwanted software
in an unattended fashion. Before running, the user may select exactly what
software should be removed. Currently, it is targeted for use on most Dell
machines; however it will theoretically run on anything that has the
software listed below.

The PC Decrapifier will run on any Windows XP variant, including XP Home, XP
Pro and XP MCE. It will run on any Manufacturer, assuming it has any of the
software installed that is listed below. The PC does not need to be new,
however, the older the PC is, the less likely it will have any of the
software listed below installed.

Currently Uninstalls:

* QuickBooks Trial
* NetZero Installers
* Earthlink Setup Files
* Corel Photo Album 6
* Tiscali Internet
* Wanadoo Europe Installer
* Get High Speed Internet!
* Internet Service Offers Launcher
* Dell Search Assistant
* Norton Ghost 10.0
* Symantec Live Update
* MusicMatch Jukebox and more...

 

[Tim Bostonia]

If I may reply with somewhat of a rant... BE CAREFUL...

Dell and all the others are offering up little more than pure crap...
Notebook buyers be specially cautious...

First... virtually all the current CPU's are 64 bit but the OEM Vista OS is
likely to be 32 bit... 64 bit REQUIRES signed drivers and there's damn few
of those... USB is completely flakey... Bluetooth a disaster, and 32 bit
Vista doesn't really maximize installed RAM over 2GB...

NVidia makes the ONLY DX10 graphics card (8800 series) and there are NO DX10
graphics for notebooks yet... since it's unlikely anyone can upgrade the
notebook graphics chip set, those systems will be PERMANENTY out of the DX10
loop...

Alienware (a Dell subsidiary now) actually offered to sell me a system they
admitted had no drivers... NVidia has not perfected SLI (dual graphics
cards) for Vista...

I don't know who's more culpable in this utterly confusing mess... Microsoft
or the hardware makers...

Vista has promise, but it's going to be a LONG LONG time before it
approaches being a mainstream OS... I've tested all the release candidates
and have been running RTM Enterprise Edition since the release date...

It's been a real challenge... as one newsgroup contributor sagely noted...
"Vista isn't slower, it just requires faster hardware... "

And that's not to mention the multitude of "versions" and utterly
preposterous price...

Well... i'll get off my soapbox now... just BE CAREFUL because this industry
considers you an idiot... caveat emptor folks...

t

 

[Dale]

Any time I set up an HP, I re-install Windows from scratch. There were
definite trojans disguised as "update managers" in the last one I did, as it
shipped from HP.

Dale

 

[Guest]

I've only bought one Dell, no option to remove AOL from add/remove programs.
I haven't been foolish enough to buy another.