Today's consumer PC's are loaded with pre-installed sponsors' bloatware programs and useless factory utilities which have better versions built into Windows 7. Bloatware can compromise the OS in many ways. Even uninstalling it can damage System files. These tips are based on helping countless users here to safely clean up OEM factory bloatware.
1. Type "msconfig" in Start Search box, rightclick result to Run As Administrator. Uncheck everything in msconfig>Startup except AV; MS listings for Sidebar Gadgets, Stickies, Skydrive if you use them; and touchpad driver software if required to use certain features like scrolling or gestures. The rest are freeloaders that slow startup, hog CPU/RAM, and can spy on you. Programs can wait to start until you run them.
● If you have a question about any listing, google it to find out what it does.
● Anything installed from Google is spyware which will track you and paste interest ads. Use only the stable Google search box built into Browser and stay signed out of Google sites. You can greatly reduce internet tracking and spying by acting regularly to Opt Out of Network Advertising.
● Turning off HP Wireless manager sometimes requires first ticking "Allow Independent Wireless" box in its Preferences to default to Windows 7's superior wireless manager.
2. After several reboots enter msconfig>Services, check box to "Hide all MS services" then again deselect items same as in #1. Check back repeatedly here and in Startup list to see if anything writes itself back in - if so turn it off in its Program Preferences or Uninstall it. You now have a Clean Boot!
3. Decide which programs you can do without over time then uninstall them in Control Panel>Programs and Features. To help decide, open each program and look at its features, google name to learn more. If in doubt keep the program until you can try it. Almost no OEM utilities are worth keeping except Camware if you use its features, battery or HD monitor if these work better for you than what's built into Windows 7.
4. Monitor whether bloatware uninstalls have corrupted System files by running SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker. Irreparable system files resulting in Performance problems can sometimes be remedied without reinstall by a Repair Install.
5. Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials with the Windows Firewall to gain back performance from more bloated AV's, which should be uninstalled first without even starting them up if possible.
6. Install all of your Windows Updates which should be set to Automatic install, ticking box to Treat Recommended as Important. Check optional Windows Updates regularly for driver updates after enabling hardware auto-updating. You can trust all Updates given by Windows 7 as they rarely malfunction (one in a million), keep your drivers current, OS performance updated and Firewall security fortified.
7. Monitor Event Viewer>Administrative View to google repeat error text and ID# to find how others have resolved these. Type "event" in Start Search box.
8. Check also the Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking WEI score link at Computer>Properties to google repeat errors. Look for cued issues at top of Tools page, Generate a System Health Report.
9. Type "Solutions" in Start Search box to see solutions to problems sent and not. Windows 7 is interactive this way so always send Problem Reports.
10. Clean and order the HD perfectly using free state-of-the-art CCleaner (using "Run Cleaner" and Registry tab at defaults) then free Puran boot-time defrag with Intelligent Optimizer enabled on the Additional Operations tab. Run these approx quarterly, more often if 1gb+ crap is found. Periodically include Puran's full Disk Check option to check your HD's file system. Do not defrag an SSD!
● Keep your data backed up by dragging active User folders to external storage (easiest), syncing data to another internal backup HD using SyncToys, or use Skydrive to upload to the cloud 7gb free with each Windows Live ID, even Sync Any Folder to Your SkyDrive Account.
12. The most important thing you can do to avoid spyware creeping in is to watch your program installs like a hawk at every step because programs have found ingenious ways to sneak in spyware with tricky checkbox choices, even in the License Agreement. I always do a Custom install and only allow the features I know I want, later removing any extra in Control Panel>Change.
13. Keep an eye also on your Browser Add-Ons to only allow the ones you know you want or are required to make a page display correctly, including Flash, Shockwave, WMP or Quicktime plug-in, Silverlight. Spyware likes to nest here.
14. If there are any lags or problems work through these additional Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7. If needed start a new thread for expert help. Windows 7 should always have instantaneous performance on adequate hardware with a perfect install.
13. Consider a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which is often better than getting a new computer considering how pre-installed bloatware can corrupt Windows 7 even if it's completely cleaned up. If you stick with the tools and methods given you will get and keep a perfect install.
Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Golden Mk. I.3 OS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (x64) CPU Intel i7 860 @ 2.80 GHz Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3R Rev.1. Award BIOS F13 Memory 16GB Corsair Vengance DDR3 @ 661 MHz Dual Channel (9-9-9-24) Graphics Card EVGA NVidia GTX 560 1024MB Sound Card Realtek Integrated Monitor(s) Displays Dual Samsung SyncMaster 2494HS Screen Resolution 1920*1080 and 1920*1080
Keyboard Logitech G110 Mouse Logitech MX518 PSU Thermaltake ToughPower QFan 750W Case Thermaltake Element S VK60001W2Z Cooling Corsair H60 Water Cooling, 2*230mm and 2*80mm case fans Hard Drives 1*OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD;
2*Samsung F3 SpinPoint 1TB in RAID0;
3*Samsung F1 SpinPoint 1TB in RAID5;
1*Western Digital 500GB External USB 3.0
1*Seagate 500GB External USB 2.0 Internet Speed Not fast enough!!! Antivirus MSE and Malwarebytes Pro Browser Chrome Version 25 Other Info Laptop: ASUS X54C, Intel Core i3-2330M @ 2.0Ghz, 4GB RAM, Intel HD on-board graphics, Windows 7 Professional SP1 (x64), LinuxMint 14 (x64), PepperMint 3 (x86)
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP G62-340US Notebook OS Win7 Pro SP1 x64 CPU AMD K10 Athlon(tm) II P340 Dual-Core Processor ~2.2GHz Motherboard Hewlett-Packard 1444 69.37/AMD 785GX/BIOS F29 Memory DDR3 4.0GB (3.74 Usable) Graphics Card AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 256MB Video Sound Card ATI RS785/RS880 - High Definition Audio Controller Monitor(s) Displays SAMSUNG 156AT09-H04 Screen Resolution 1366x768 - 344 x 194 mm, Pixel Clock 69.30 MHz
Hard Drives WDC WD3200BEVT-60A23T0 320GB Other Info Bought on July 03, 2011
Greg, you can consider adding lists of specific bloatware, OEM-wise along with brief descriptions of each. E.g. HP bloatware, dell bloatware and so on. This would require some googling and inputs from people with actual experience of specific brands. But would be very helpful for newbies who cant figure out which bloat to keep.
Good advice all the way through. I'm sure there are a lot of people who wonder why their new machine doesn't perform as well as it ought to. This will answer that question for many of them.
Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Home Built Desktop By DataTech OS Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1 CPU Intel i5-2550K, Differing ~4.4-4.8GHz No built in GPU Motherboard ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 Memory 16GB G.Skill Sniper 2133MHz 4x4GB Graphics Card ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 460 Sound Card Onboard Realtek 5-1 Monitor(s) Displays Samsung P2570HD Screen Resolution 1920x1080
Keyboard Old, beat-up Dell USB From 10 yrs Ago Mouse Gigabyte m6900 wired PSU Corsair HX650W Case Inwin Dragon Rider Cooling Hyper 212 EVO w/two Noctua fans, push-pull, @1300 RPM Hard Drives Crucial M4 128GB for OS, 750GB Seagate MomentusXT for data, 500GB Seagate Constellation for storage Internet Speed 8-19 Mbs down, 3-4 Mbs up Comcast Cable Antivirus Norton Internet Security Browser IE 9, Opera when needed Other Info 4 case fans, LG BluRay-RE, ASUS DVD-RW, Mr. Fusion power generator with flux capacitor, 1.21 gigawatts.
I'm getting tired of all the junk that comes along with downloads too.
We all need to be careful just going onto a site will expose us to malware.
I'm new to Windows 7 and have only had this home build running a couple of months
and I've tossed a bunch of junk.
Tanks...or Tks...My way for thanks
System Manufacturer/Model Number Intel DZ68BC Home Built OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 CPU Intel I7 2600k Motherboard Intel DZ68BC Memory 16 GB Corsair Vengence Graphics Card 560 Ti Sound Card onboard Monitor(s) Displays Samgung 23"
PSU OCZ 850W Case Lian-Le 7f Cooling Intel Std./CPU Hard Drives SSD Crucial 128GB
Seagate 1TB Sata 3
WD 1TB Sata 3
Information
