Get the bloat off a new Windows 7 PC

One of the big issues when you get a new PC from one of the big hardware vendors is that they have a tendency to install lots of “interesting” and “useful” “value add” software like trial versions of Anti-Virus, crippled versions of applications or their own software that does something that Windows 7 can do perfectly on it’s own.

It’s emerged that Microsoft has actually removed this stuff from the PCs their selling in their Stores, if you can’t get to the store lets look at what you need to do.

There are times however when it’s really useful though, like on my HP TX2, the added software makes the finger print reader work for example.  You’re probably wondering how you can tell the good, from the bad and the ugly.  The simplest thing I’ve found is to run something like the excellent PCDecrapifier that will, er, “decrapify” your new PC automatically, saving you making many tough choices.

TIP: be sure to keep the original install for the software you remove, if it does power something special like a finger print reader you can always add it back if you loose functionality.  The most common places to find this are in folder on the c: drive called “SWApps” or something similar (the name will depend on the manufacturer) or on the companies web site.

Lets take a look then at how decrapifier cleans up your PC.  Their site lists the tons of stuff that it can uninstall for you.

First off go get it from http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/download and run the install.  The install is not the usual Next, Next, Next affair

That said, it’s Next, Next, Next through three screens

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Now you need to specify if you’re using a new PC or if you’ve had it a while, PCDecrapifier is good for both

One of the coolest features is that you can back out of everything you’re about to do with a system restore point, create one now at the push of a button

Now you need to check this list and if you’ve installed any full versions of your applications and they appear here be sure to untick them in the PCDecrapifier, or it might just cost you a bit of time.   Click next and it’s bye bye bloat!

This is the last chance to get stuff off the PC, this screen shows everything installed, even if it’s not on the capacious list of bloatware.  If you don’t want it, ditch it here.

And you’re done, you can send some feedback to the developers!

Now what, have a look at what you should install on that new Windows 7 PC!