Do I need Windows Live?

[linda661]

I have this new HP computer running Windows 7 and it has programs I have never used before.

Windows Live
Hulu
Windows Media Center
Windows DVD Maker
DVD Videosoft
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe
A bunch of HP stuff


I don't know if I need these or if maybe I don't need all of them. I don't have a smart phone or a camera on my computer.

I would like to keep this new computer running lean.
No duplicate programs or programs that I don't need.

I would like to have the option to watch tv on the computer. I do like to keep music on my computer and we like to play simple games....Mahjong...chess
like that.

Any advice?

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can always uninstall what you don't need...the problem is...we can't tell you what you need or not. Windows Live Essentials is a group of programs, including apps for photo, mail, IM, video, parental controls, etc. If you don't need any of those, you can remove them. If you do, they won't hurt anything to be left on the system.

If this is a recent computer, you won't be slowing it down by having a few dormant apps installed. More importantly, you'd want to stop things from running in the background that you aren't using with the help of something like msconfig.

In short, this is a typical type of question we get that really has no direct answer. We can't tell you what you need or don't need, because only you know exactly how you plan to use the computer and what apps you plan to use to perform those functions.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'd probably leave Windows Media Center alone if it is already installed.

You can certainly avoid the others or find replacements for them that may better suit you. I'd personally avoid Windows Live Mail if at all possible.

The only reason those programs were pre-installed is because the PC supplier (HP?) received some sort of subsidy from the software developer for including them, which lets HP sell the PC at a lower price.

The HP stuff is unlikely to be necessary unless it relates directly to system recovery.

There are any number of free DVD and CD burning programs available.

When you identify some task you would like to do with the PC, do an independent investigation of the best programs for the job.

 

[linda661]

Thanks to all

 

[Anthony]

When I bought my new laptop, first thing i did was wipe it completely!! Then installed a clean windows 7 on it!!

You need a windows 7 disk for this though!!

 

[linda661]

My computer didn't come with the disk. I found this kind of upsetting. Especially when I had to restore my compuer after a crash.

Do you know how I can get one for free?

 

[ie9]

You could try and contact HP and see if they'll give you one, or Microsoft, but I wouldn't hold my breath

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I doubt if you can get HP to give you a standard Windows 7 install disc for free.

But you should investigate how to make a "recovery disk" if you haven't already done so. Familiarize yourself with your recovery partition, which you likely have somewhere on your hard drive. It may be hidden?

 

[DeaconFrost]

You won't get one from the OEM for free, but they usually only charge enough for shipping. If not, find a friend who has a disc and they can make a copy for you. This is fine, because you have a license on your COA sticker on the computer.

HP's should have a utility to burn your own restore discs for that purpose, and you should make them right away and store them in a safe place...but you should also have a plain disc handy for a clean install or for repairing the system, just in case.

 

[Maguscreed]

here's a great tool for removing all the needless junk pc manufacturers dump on new machines.
Welcome | The PC Decrapifier

 

[Ambimom]

Here's another approach. Open Control Panel. Click on Programs and Features. To the left of the screen is a panel showing "Turn Windows Features on or off" Click on that. Scroll down and uncheck the stuff you don't want.

As for the stuff HP installed, PC Decrapifier is a great tool. It doesn't seem to remove much stuff from Windows 7, 64 bit however. I ended up removing stuff myself with Revo Uninstaller.

I may be wrong, but pre-installed systems no longer come with disks to reinstall. Instead they insist on your making recovery disks when you register the software. Of course, should you need to recover from these disks, you end up having to remove all the crap all over again.

 

[linda661]

Gee...I was hoping you would volunteer to send me one.

 

[ie9]

Not always legal

 

[DeaconFrost]

Not always legal

Sure it is. The disc is not what determines legality, it is the license key.

 

[linda661]

I wouldn't want to register it, just use the software. It's ok

 

[DeaconFrost]

I don't know anyone who actually registers with Microsoft, but the software would activate and be perfectly legal. I use the same disc with any and every key I need to install with. The key is what determines the legality.

 

[whs]

I would use the following approach:

1. I would not delte or uninstall any programs. They just use a little bit of space on your disk of which you probably have plenty. And you never know when you might need one of those programs.

2. I would rigorously delete all programs from the startups - except the AV program and those you want explicitely to start at boot. msconfig is one tool but I prefer to use free Winpatrol which is a lot more convenient to use. Just disable them, you can always reenable any one if you think it should be running all the time.

3. Regarding Windows Live - there are a few programs that are useful. I use the Live Movie Maker a lot to edit videos. It does a pretty decent job (although saving the result takes a while - even with a very muscular PC). I also use the live Photo Gallery to edit pictures.
In any case, if you do not want all the Live programs, you can selectively uninstall them - when you uninstall Windows Live, they give you the option to pick and choose.

 

[marsmimar]

It's also possible to create a universal installation disk that contains all editions of Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

You can select your version of Windows 7 from the disk and use your legal product key when it comes time to activate the clean install. You can also be the go-to person when your friends/relatives have to do a clean install but don't have their own media.

 

[ie9]

I don't know anyone who actually registers with Microsoft, but the software would activate and be perfectly legal. I use the same disc with any and every key I need to install with. The key is what determines the legality.

Sure you can use the same disk, and yes the key determines the legality of it, but you don't see MS handing out ISO images for free, and neither can we. That's the reason I said it wasn't legal

 

[kado897]

Windows Live Mail is a dog. You don't need it even if you have more than one Webmail account. Chose the one you like and route messages from the others to it. Most of them have this facility.