Solved Removing crapware on new Sony VAIO laptop

[STU9000]

Might look into getting rid, it's not responding very well now while this disc burns, very sluggish. It's not a feature that I really need anyway.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 should never be sluggish or hang with adequate hardware and installed correctly.

Have you turned all the Startup Programs except AV and installed Microsoft Security Essentials? That should solve most of it.

 

[STU9000]

Haven't turned anything off yet, next thing to look into once recovery disk is created. I created it through sony's software, wasn't sure whether it was best to do that initially or using windows software.

Also going to turn off McAfee and use one of the free AV checkers.

 

[STU9000]

Justhad a look in the start up folder for programs to block at startup and there's nothing in there! The had a look at windows firewall to see if rather than uninstalling stuff just yet, block them and see if I still need them, and it says my settings are being managed by McAfee! How dare they...

 

[gregrocker]

I guess you didnt' read Clean up factory bloatware yet as it explains in detail how to turn off Startup Programs and keep them out.

Uninstall MucAfee now in Control Panel. Then Office trial version if you don't plan to buy it. You can keep Office Starter if you want to deal with the ads. Open Office is perfectly good freeware which is compatible with Office file types.

 

[C-11]

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

|MG| McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool 5.0.285.0 Download

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks Flatiron. I forget it's such a bad infection it requires it's own removal tool.

 

[STU9000]

Oh god, this is going to take some time. I got all your links noted gregrocker just haven't read through them all yet, will have a browse and see how it goes from there. Cheers

 

[STU9000]

Oh and my computer just auto restarted after I uninstalled something just there, is that normal?

 

[gregrocker]

It probably prompted you for a restart and when you closed the box without checking "Restart Later" it restarted.

It's easy to miss these things or get a message box lost under other open windows if you multi-task while working.

If you go into msconfig>Startup and uncheck all except AV then you will quickly see how performance is going to be without the heavy load of bloatware all starting up with Windows. We can also help you if you notice anything missing, e.g. needing to default to Windows superior wireless manager after turning off the factory wireless manager.

 

[STU9000]

OK Macafee is gone, although it did try to entice me to keep it by making me think it was free for an unlimited time. Just turning off some start up and services programs, whatever that means, PMB, MDX.Cloud Pin, ISB Utility, IviRegMgr, Protexis Licensing V2, Bluetooth software (I wont use it) and everything to do with adobe although I'm thinking I might have to turn some of them back on...

Basically anything that looks like it shouldn't be there, I've turned off and will look into removing possibly.

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you have to turn any of them back on? Is wireless connected when you restart after unchecking everything except MSE?

 

[STU9000]

Why would you have to turn any of them back on? Is wireless connected when you restart after unchecking everything except MSE?

I don't know what they do, maybe I will need them for something. Not using wireless yet, not got it on the internet. Keyboard had gone black and only lights up when I use it now.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you want the keyboard lighted? Google each item in msconfig>Startup to see what it does before turning off if you want some of those features. Remember you can always turn them back on if you miss them.

 

[STU9000]

I googled most of them and the ones that looked liked third party crap I blocked, keyboard still lights up but goes off when I don't type, not sure what I did..

 

[STU9000]

How do you get this to boot to dos? Looking for clues on the internet but finding loads of sites that say you can't???

EDIT After a process of elimination I managed to find it- F2

 

[STU9000]

When you're ready here is the latest official Win7 installer iSO download with SP1: Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download

Burn to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

You got a copy of that for VISTA? Going to try a clean install on my mum's computer next time I am home.

 

[STU9000]

When I installed Microsoft security essentials it asked me to uninstall any other antispyware, but I wasn't sure what was on there. However I just saw that windows defender is on there, but apparently it's 'off' whatever that means. I guess that means it's 'off' right? Anyway should I uninstall that now, will it or has it possibly caused a problem with MES? Or does that work with MES? I have no idea...

EDIT Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to turn off Defender so as to avoid any conflicts, so I just learned.

Just running a full scan using MES now which is taking ages, after that I'm going to have a look at uninstalling some more programs I don't need and run CCleaner.

All good so far, but I've not got much of a clue what's all going on under the hood. Hoping this time will save me frmo having problems in the future though.

 

[gregrocker]

Just follow the steps in Clean up factory bloatware making sure to check System file integrity as you go.

This looks like the most solid Official Vista ISO link:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3317.aspx

 

[STU9000]

OK, I missed out this step-

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.

Seemed a bit complicated, is this step more important than I gave it credit for? Should I do it now after I've installed MES?

Thing is I'm still kinda decided what bloatware to remove..