New HP laptop loaded with bloatware - keep/discard what?

I agree that the first step is to get a clean boot, then as suggested in Clean up factory bloatware
over time decide what programs you don't want and uninstall them.

To get a clean boot, uncheck everything in msconfig>Startup except AV, then in msconfig>Services "Hide all MS Services" and do the same. After several restarts make sure nothing turns itself back on or turn it off in its Program Preferences or Uninstall it. YOu now have a clean boot.

With HP's the Wireless Manager bloatware must have it's Preferences set to allow Independent Managers before you can turn it off or it will block Win7's superior network connection. Then I'd uninstall it and bury it in the backyard.

You need a clean reinstall more than most. Even if you remove all the HP bloatware -worst in the industry - your Registry is clogged with abandoned keys that not even CCleaner can root all of them out. Performance is always affected to some degree.

A clean install of only the Win7 OS is always a superior install.

With HP you don't even need to lose any favorite apps included, since with the tutorial I posted early on you can extract any apps from the Recovery Disks.

Do you have access to a Win7 DVD or ISO for your version?

The steps are all here to get it perfect: Reinstalling Windows 7

Yes I thought you had an OS DVD and not the REcovery disks with bloatware that it sounds like now.

Do you have access to a Win7 installation DVD for your version to clean reinstall with Product Key on COA sticker?

I'd use the drivers given by the installer and then quickly updated via optional Windows Updates. Any missing in Device Manager can be found on HP Support DOwnloads webpage for your model where some software should also be posted.

Yes, as stated in my first post above:

gregrocker said:

Best however to Clean Reinstall following these tips: Reinstalling Windows 7

With HP's you can leave the Recovery Partition and it will still run from boot even if you reinstall to C. There is a minimal Recover option on new HP's which is very close to a Clean Reinstall - you'll just need to discard the useless Wireless Manager which adds 30 seconds to boot time in favor of Win7's superior one.

You can also extract favorite apps from the Recovery Disks so you don't have to have them all: Extract HP 3rd Party Software from RecovCD

The disks HP sent are hardly a clean reinstall but the factory image loaded with the worst load of bloatware in the industry. Always best to go clean, especially trying to preserve space on that new SSD.

What I would do is extract the Ultimate ISO using ImgBurn, then run the eicfg removal tool
on the ISO to unlock all versions, burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed, boot to install your licensed version with Product Key on COA sticker. The steps to get a perfect install are here: Reinstalling Windows 7

If you don't mind me adding to Greg's excellent support you can also copy the swsetup folder, which houses HP's drivers, third-party applications such as Cyberlink software and the Vision Diagnostics ISO.

Obviously, you would need to copy the folder before you wipe the hard drive when you clean install Windows.

Great idea, Seavixen!

Your drivers are also all backed up in Windows/System32/Drivers which you can back up and browse to from Device Manager for any missing after install and optional Updates.