Which is the best way to remove McAfee from my new lappy?

Ponmayilal · 06 Apr 2011

Soon I will be receiving my DELL M101z netbook/lappy.

The first thing I would like to do after setting up Windows 7 (Home Premium 64 bit) will be to get rid off all the junk that comes loaded with it.

Now which is the best way to get rid of all the crap?

In particular, I would like to get rid of the pesky McAfee. Here I can follow the usual uninstallation from Programs and Features and then use the McAfee Consumer Product Removal tool (MCPR.exe) provided by McAfee.

The other method will be to use PC Decrapifier to remove it.

Which of these two will do the clean swipe best?

Mike Connor · 06 Apr 2011

Use this;

Welcome | The PC Decrapifier

<http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/>

first, and then check what is left. Remove manually if required.

Regards....Mike Connor

Lordbob75 · 06 Apr 2011

Reinstall is the best method when you buy a new computer, at least in my opinion.

~Lordbob

Mike Connor · 06 Apr 2011

Agreed. That is the best method.

Regards....Mike Connor

**Capt.Jack Sparrow** · 06 Apr 2011

Hi there,

I would recommend to use the Cleanup Tool from McAfee that would clean all the left over files. Then install some protection instead like Microsoft Security Essentials. You could remove all the bloatwares which would slow you system down. Then make a system image of that state for future use. Because it's hard to reinstall OS which it comes with Windows 7 preloaded.

Hope this helps,
Captain

Ponmayilal · 06 Apr 2011

Thanks for the suggestions. I still have time to mull over each one of them.

Re-install - how do I do it? The lappy will not come with any discs. As suggested by DELL, I shall be creating a System Recovery Media on a 8GB pendrive using Dell DataSafe Local Backup. ( I already bought one at Brand Mart yesterday :). I have no external optical drive or any other supporting peripheral here and to that extent I shall be handicapped.)

Perhaps a reinstall has to wait till I get back to India in July - and by that time I will be able to decide whether a reinstall will make me happy -, though I will still be interested on the how-to. If activation is required how do I do it since this will be an OEM activation.

Hmmmm......... as far as a prebuilt system is concerned I am a noob. So may be I have to be taught like a child.:)

Mike Connor · 06 Apr 2011

The best way is to just buy a full retail copy and install it. Various OEM licenses have all sorts of rubbish on them, and many restrictions. ( Missing functions, programs etc).That is why they are cheaper.

The only thing you might be fully dependent on are the drivers, and various things like restricted BIOS updates etc.

Personally, I would never buy or recommend any of these machines. They are just too much hassle.

Regards....Mike Connor

**Capt.Jack Sparrow** · 06 Apr 2011

Mike Connor said:

The best way is to just buy a full retail copy and install it. Various OEM licenses have all sorts of rubbish on them, and many restrictions. ( Missing functions, programs etc).That is why they are cheaper.

The only thing you might be fully dependent on are the drivers, and various things like restricted BIOS updates etc.

Personally, I would never buy or recommend any of these machines. They are just too much hassle.

Regards....Mike Connor

Hi Mike,

OP is from India here getting a retail OS is very expensive if he can afford this it's the best thing to do

rvbfan · 06 Apr 2011

+1 for PCdecrapifier.

gregrocker · 06 Apr 2011

Mike Connor said:

The best way is to just buy a full retail copy and install it. Various OEM licenses have all sorts of rubbish on them, and many restrictions. ( Missing functions, programs etc).That is why they are cheaper.

Why buy a retail copy of Win7 to reinstall a factory OEM computer which comes with a $100+ value license good for the life of the machine?

You can reinstall using the very same retail installer with the Product Key on the COA sticker without all of the sponsored bloatware and useless factory utilities which have much better versions built into Win7.

Here are steps which have helped hundreds to get a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

Until you find an installer to do the reinstall, here are tips to clean up a factory bloatware install: Clean up factory bloatware