Opinions/Advice on Bloatware and Startup Programs

I recently had to use a system recovery and set default factory setting too my Toshiba Satellite (windows 7 64 home premium). Toshiba asked me to use their recovery software, as recommended for warranties sake. Before I had done this recovery, I was told by the people at Toshiba (after they reviewed my system configuration) that I might have uninstalled/configured some software incorrectly (mistaking it for bloatware) which lead to some system instability.

I was just wondering if I could gather some input from those more knowledgeable than myself as to what is important and what is not. I only installed a couple programs, so this is pretty much my default factory settings:








And here is my startup configuration:





There are a couple of the preinstalled programs that I like, such as the health monitor that shows the computers temp. and power consumption, etc.

Otherwise, any opinion or advice would be welcome. I want windows 7 to run as good as possible, and I want to avoid mistakes as best I can.

Thanks,

Brandon

indianacarnie said:

I have owned a Toshiba and can testify to the HUGE amount of bloatware they so graciously give you. A clean install would probably be best. Make sure you make a copy of the wifi drivers first though!

That is one thing I do not have, the drivers and such. I bought my toshiba through amazon, and got a great deal on it. But when it came, it just came with the box and the software installed, it came with absolutely nothing else. I am far from being any kind of computer guru, and I'm honestly not sure how to go about a clean install, the very idea of it is intimidating to me after viewing your link.

I have heard that there is actual software that is designed to rid your computer of bloatware based on what it perceives to be unimportant in the running of windows. Do you have any opinion on that?

As the open gentleman said before, anything with the name toshiba on it, minus the couple apps I wanted to keep, would be a safe bet to remove. I was thinking this as well, but I wanted a second opinion.

Thanks guys good advice and knowledge as always, and I appreciate the attention you have paid to my situation. Best wishes for a good holiday to you all.

Most tech enthusiasts would never run the bloated factory preinstall which throttles Win7 native performance. Consider a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 using only the tools and methods which assure getting and keeping a perfect install.

Until then you can Clean Up Factory Bloatware

gregrocker said:

Most tech enthusiasts would never run the bloated factory preinstall which throttles Win7 native performance. Consider a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 using only the tools and methods which assure getting and keeping a perfect install.

Until then you can Clean Up Factory Bloatware

Thanks Greg, that worked very good, I got rid of just about everything I wanted gone. I kept two things because I actually like them, but for the most part I cleaned out a fair bit of nonsense. The one thing I cannot seem to get rid of is "netzero internet service" that's listed in my "all programs" listings, but not in my startup configuration or my list of programs on my uninstall listings. Is this perhaps something I need to have that's just built into toshiba satellites, or can it be removed?

Also, is there anyway to actually remove the iexplorer browser altogether? I never use it and was wondering if that was possible, because people have told me it's actually built into windows itself and cannot be removed.