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#31
MS defenders get really hot under the collar when their high church is criticisedmjf, this is actually a rather common problem.
but this is just one example of the arrogance of the corporation. To put on a trial copy
of complex software is one thing ... to do so without any instructions of how to remove,
if not wanted, is something else.
It's a shame as the basic OS is good (enjoyed fault free XP for many years) but imho
MS Corporate Culture is its own worst enemy.
Often time uninstalling Office trial and/or Norton damages System Files beyond repair, requiring a superior clean reinstall using a Win7 installer with the Product key on COA sticker.
Normally Net Frameworks are Windows Updates which install and remain as such. Perhaps you didnt' have that one yet. It deals them out as you need them, sometimes behind the curve - resulting in Program features that don't run right without explanation.
When uninstalling bloatware run sfc /scannow regularly to see if System Files need repair, or are already corrupted beyond Repair. Bloatware is corruption of the first order.
As everyone has been so helpful thought you might like to know what happened.
(Now remember i'm not a techie or a geek, just a bod at home alone who has recently purchased his first laptop after many happy years of desktop running XP Pro which I managed to learn enought about to keep running).
Did a rebuild - as many of you will know Toshiba have a built-in protocol whereby the system can be taken
back to 'out of the box' state.
That all went well ... but before loading my other programs I decided to run the Uninstall Office program (Microsoft Fix it 50154)...clear the decks so to speak. Also removed Norton.
Well that process left me with a mess .... not only were Office Programs still on Start/All Programs but also the various other Office components (Inerop etc) were all still in Contol Pnl/Programs.
Also many features were missing .. such as All the Toshiba Utilities (and there are quite a few!)
This was most unsatisfactory so (phew ...made an Image as prompted earlier in this thread...onto the external HDD) decided to do my first Restore from an Image.
Hallellullah ... I'm just so impressed ... every detail, even browsing history, just as it was. Big relief here.
So now I back up and create regular Images properly :)
One thing though - still unable to use Syst.Restore ... hasn't worked since computer was new (August '10) - when I run it, it always ends up stating that there was a file missing and so was unable to Restore.
Run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
If the image you made was of the problem factory restore, what you really need is to find a clean copy Win7 installer for your version to reinstall with the Product key on COA sticker.
Last edited by gregrocker; 01 Nov 2010 at 11:32.
nithig
good that you actually did get the ext HDD. The first image I recovered from made the little ext HDD one of my best investments.
But I'm still not clear about the final "rubbish" cleanout. Did you get rid of the trials.
Given that a clean install using a valid key/COA is a legal entitlement, it has puzzled me why getting the install disks isn't easier.
mjf I'm back exactly where I was ... without .NET but yes without the trialsBut I'm still not clear about the final "rubbish" cleanout. Did you get rid of the trials.
Given that a clean install using a valid key/COA is a legal entitlement, it has puzzled me why getting the install disks isn't easier.
and unable to use Restore.
I don't have install disks ... it is all built into Toshiba and the purchase doesn't come with the OS on disk; only a "Product Recovery Media".
Not sure if I've answered you fully ...
Sorry to be slow mjf but what Win install disks? As I mentioned the purchase didn't come with OS disks.A clean install using the Windows install disks
COA ? don't understand this acronym
(What I did was use Toshiba facility to return system to "out of the box" state ... ie as it was when first purchased.)
thanks for instuction re scannow ... worked that out between posts!
you're not slow just new. Much of this is about familiarity and being pointed in the right direction.
A clean install is one that is the same as a boxed retail ie. without the trial software. You can use these install disks with Certificate of Authentication key which should stuck onto your PC somewhere. Now this is not fully equivalent to a boxed retail version of the OS because it can only be used on your PC. The full retail version cost more $ and can be moved to a new machine.
An advantage of the factory install is that they have bundled all the drivers as well. Windows should download most of what you need but this can't be guaranteed.
The real issue for me is that you should be able to easily say no to trial software and get rid of it without impacting on the performance of the OS you have paid for.