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

[christopher996]

Hey linnemeyerhere I'm currently in the same boat as you were before. I've been trying to
contact you via pm but I couldn't find a way so I had to reach you from here. I just purchased an hp g6 1d60us and needed some assistance in how to do a clean install. I had set up the computer last night and am really annoyed by the useless bloatware that hp has pre installed onto the computer. Please let me know if you can help me out with the situation im in.

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Here is everything you need: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

If you want to try cleaning it up first to see how that works out: Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums

 

[FourF]

Same Dance different tune

So in my situation, New HP DV7 6c00 I added a 120 SSD. Going to keep original drive intact as second HDD for data, backup, user accts, etc.

Was going to use the MS AIK but for some reason would not install, says "error reading file winpe.wim. Though maybe a bad disk but same results on reburn.

Thinking through the differences between video an my RL situation, Does this have to be installed on external HD for some reason. Does it have to be on a older OS rather than a win 7 system?

Need programs on installed on the HP but not the bloat... any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

I would clean install the licensed version with the Product Key on COA sticker. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Unplug the HD during install.

After install, plug back in the HD to wipe with Diskpart Clean Command then partition as desired in Disk Mgmt. Easiest way is to set up a set of User folders on HD to link to the related Library in Win7: Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums or you can move the User folders in Win7 to the HD: User Folders - Change Default Location


Why would you expect us to know what your "RL situation" is?

 

[FourF]

Well either I did a horrible job of explaining or I caught you after a forum troll attack or maybe just in a bad mood.

I certainly didn't mean to in anyway imply that the video's author, or anyone here should have a stock answer that would apply to my situation, but quite the opposite I have to see if it applies to my situation or ask questions in trying to determine if a process can be adapted to fit my situation.

But thanks for your reply.

Since I have to pull programs off the factory install in some way, the AIK extract process appealled to me. Keep programs that I cant find online that were in the factory install -- and rid myself of HP Bloatware.

That said I have some questions so that I can apply it to my situation.

In the video he states that for some reason that he forgot to explain, you should use Vista AIK. I also noted that he is eploying a xp OS on an external drive. Those variables are different than my situation, and am wondering if I can adapt his process to situation, or if it is mandatory to match his scenario.

This being one of my first attempts in working with win 7 as well as AIK I am not sure if those variables are the reason that I cannot copy the cabinet file winpe.wim. Maybe some sort of MS protections, or something specific in the process that I dont understand or am missing the boat on.

As for your advice I dont understand what is meant by unplug HD during install. Wouldnt that potentially corrupt everything on a SSD? or abort the process?

and which drive are you speaking off? The New SSD? The install OS on the usb drive? The original drive?

I really dont care about the partitions on the SSD. its just for OS and maybe current game of choice if HD based. everything else will be installed or moved to 2nd platter HD.

But getting back to AIK solution any ideas why install fails? Bad series of DVD's OS protections? wrong OS, not using external HDD to intall AIK on?

Thanks in advance...

 

[linnemeyerhere]

FourF,
Just call HP and they will send out OS disk with all the drivers and even the bloatware and you can pick and choose what you want to load on the SSD. It's a much cleaner install then an image of the original with all the bloatware but if you are just going to load it all back into the SSD then maybe the image is the way to go as it will carry over settings and other software that you've loaded. In m opinion the clean install is most always better.

 

[FourF]

Hmm I am not sure why I can't get my point across. Sorry if as a win 7 newb I am missing something. Let me try again.

1) I want a clean install on my SSD.

I have already accomplished this.

HOWEVER some drivers, and software from the factory install (that is still intact on the old HDD the SSD replaced, and it now is the second HDD in the laptop for storage, data, backups or whatever to have more space on the SSD. So that brings me to #2

2) My old platter drive on this week old laptop has original software that I paid for, that I need to put on the SSD. Yes I can pay more money to HP and wait a week or so for delivery. Or I am told I can use another method as outlined in the YouTube video employing Automated Install Kit or AIK.

3) In attempting that method I must be missing something about the process or the requirements as a vista version AIK fails to install on a win 7 system.

Anyone have any ideas why AIK is failing to load/find on my laptop the file "winpe.wim" from the install disk. Burnt disk passed verification's.

I've tried different disks on two different burners.

Current theory -- video didn't explain why it was important to select vista version of AIK. And I am now thinking that is important for some unknown reason.

Can some one familiar with AIK explain if it must be done as an upgrade path ie xp to vista, but AIK can be tricked into pulling drivers and programs from a win 7 restore partition?

It would be a pain to recreate this on a xp machine, but could be done if I had too.

Thanks in advance for any help on this question!

 

[gregrocker]

The tutorial is old enough that Vista version might have been recommended then, so try Win7 version to see if it will work.

Which software is it you need from the HP image?

Did you check thoroughly the HP Support Downloads webpage for your model, and google the specific software to see if it's available online?

 

[wanchoo]

Opened this old thread to confirm my suspicion and found myself spot on. I have yet to come across a computer manufacturer who puts as much crap (bloatware) as HP does. I think that Dell is the best in this regard.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

First off, contact HP as the disks are free and get those going. Secondly for transfer to SSD I used special imaging/cloning software that made this a breeze and I highly suggest it.
EZ Gig IV Cloning Software with Data Select for Windows
Sorry I can't help you with AIK but I feel your best option is still and will always be the clean install picking and choosing the add on's and factory software you need. But it sounds like if forced you can always boot from the original disk and just wait for the disks to arrive or there are many here who have used Acronis and some free ware to image and transfer to SSD with success.
Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

 

[FourF]

Greg,

Thanks for your response.

The tutorial is old enough that Vista version might have been recommended then, so try Win7 version to see if it will work. Tried that first actually. Then thought well he did say to use Vista version even though win 7 version showed up in his google search on video, but didnt explain why one should use vista version so tried that too. Regardless that has same errors I got as win 7 version.

Which software is it you need from the HP image? Finger print software, (found driver not program) Xcel, Word etc at work now but know there is something else and since there is a whole slew of drivers, not entirely sure I got everything right, but lappy is up and running minus the software mentioned.

Did you check thoroughly the HP Support Downloads webpage for your model, and google the specific software to see if it's available online?

not sure of everythings name. Beltric Advisor is on old drive. To fully determine that I would have to dissemble - pull drives, swap order, rerun. Instead I was hoping that some one knew something about the program listed in tutorial so I could adapt the process and post it for others in similar situation.

 

[FourF]

First off, contact HP as the disks are free and get those going.

Looked online -- $15 bucks -- what story did you use to get a free copy? Tech just referred me site to purchase it.

Thanks!

 

[FourF]

Btw is about 30-4 gig the expected footprint for win 7 fresh install including updates?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Told them I wanted to to a clean install and required the disks, mine is a low end Probook 4530. No charge, no questions....I guess I assumed they would be free for you as well. Maybe I just asked nicer? lol.

 

[FourF]

When I asked for the original drivers and software disk, I got the standard "we have to run you through all these steps that are on my check list" even though I don't really understand your problem or what your are trying to accomplish type of phone rep.

She then stated that since I had modified my original software setup, I would have to now pay her for any further support, but if I wanted to I could be pointed to their website to order the disks.

So doing the AIK tutorial seemed like a better solution for me, but no one so far seems to know much about it.

thanks for your response.

 

[mkg36]

FourF,
Just call HP and they will send out OS disk with all the drivers and even the bloatware and you can pick and choose what you want to load on the SSD. It's a much cleaner install then an image of the original with all the bloatware but if you are just going to load it all back into the SSD then maybe the image is the way to go as it will carry over settings and other software that you've loaded. In m opinion the clean install is most always better.

Hi linnemeyerhere, I'm trying to do something similar to what you did and am hoping you could answer my questions. Let me begin by saying this is my first attempt at a Windows install and I am not very tech savvy so please forgive me if I don't make sense or ask some dumb questions.

I have a new HP probook 4530 and want to remove the bloatware. I read Greg's tip about the minimized image recovery and wanted to use that option but for some reason "Recovery Manager" is not installed on my system (I can't find it under start->all programs, nor through a search). So I tried hitting F11 during boot which brought up a very different looking Recovery Manager window than the one's I see posted on this forum which has a black window(mine has the basic windows look, blue and light grey). There is no Minimized Image Recovery option in that basic Recovery Manager I brought up; all it will let me do is install from the recovery partition or from disk which just brings me back to what I had.

So since the easiest option is not available to me and I don't want to attempt a true clean install of windows for fear of messing up something, I want to try the reinstall from the Recovery Disks set sent by HP as you have done. I read through the clean windows install procedure posted by Greg and am not sure what to do about the partitioning part. I want to have the System reserved, HP_Recovery, and HP_Tools partitions available and functioning after my install in case they are needed in the future. But I've read that the old partitions won't function after windows is reinstalled so I guess they need to be deleted and recreated with the new install? Will the installer do this for me? I know the tutorial says the installer will created the System Reserved partition if the installation drive has no partitions on it, but will the installer create the other two (HP_Recovery, and HP_Tools) partitions?

So my question is what did you do at the partitioning step when you reinstalled from the HP Recover Disks? Did you delete or format all the partitions and left it as one block of allocated memory in C to install to: or did you leave the partitions alone and just selected install to the C: drive? If the later, then the install will not create a new System Reserved partition for you right? If that's the case, are you still able to boot from your old/original System Reserved partition? And are you able to run recovery from the HP_Recovery partition? I'm not sure how to proceed at this step so would love to know what you did to get yours working well.

Also, did the installer prompt you to insert the Drivers and Software DVD after it was done with the Windows DVD? If so, does it just install everything that's on that disk or does it prompt you to choose which applications you want to install? Sorry for the lengthy post. I hope I didn't confuse you or anyone else. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=77532

 

[linnemeyerhere]

In my clean install I lost those partitions and the HP restore function. I would rather have the system totally clean and have a real time back up plan via a great Memeo program and a total Acronis drive image. That way if I get corrupted in any way I'll just clean install again and bring my data over. If I were you I would leave well enough alone and just remove the worst offending bloatware right from add and remove programs and call it a day. Then at a later date look into a SSD for it as the prices are falling and some spectacular deal are just around the corner. I see a 1/2 TB SSD in our future for under $400.00 just you watch !

 

[mkg36]

Ok, great. Thanks for the info linnemeyerhere.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Good luck mkg36 ! Let us know how it all comes out.