Questions tagged [bloatware]
Bloatware is unnecessary software that is added to an otherwise desirable program's installation profile
75
questions
0
votes
1
answer
7k
views
reusing windows 10 digital key
to the point:
brand new laptop with windows 10 Pro.
I will reinstall windows from scratch and remove all the bloatware (hp wolfsecurity and sureclick, looking at ya)
I got the windows 10 pro key from ...
- 4,941
1
vote
0
answers
93
views
How do I revert Windows 11 store apps to their factory version?
I mean like you can on Android, that is when you go to your apps list on Android and tap on an app, you have an option to "unistall app updates" and revert the software to its factory ...
- 9
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to List the Hidden Apps You Can Uninstall in Windows?
I know there are some hidden Microsoft apps and programs installed on my computer that aren't listed in App and Features. I would like to see if I can remove any of those as well. How do I find a list ...
0
votes
1
answer
605
views
How to put a clean install of Windows 11 on a computer with untrustworthy OEM?
I have a computer that came with Windows 11 installed, but is from a company that has had a reputation for installing backdoors and bloatware in the OS.
Is there a legal route I can completely wipe ...
- 149
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which is THE most significant change to make Windows restart faster?
In April 2022 I updated Windows 10 on my laptop from
version 1803 (build 17134.1246) to version 21H2 (build 19044.1682).
I was shocked to realize that a normal restart would now take 45
minutes!
Back ...
1
vote
1
answer
389
views
How can i install windows 10 on a 35GB partition without any future problems?
I want to dual boot on Linux (as main OS) and on Windows.
How can I install Windows 10 so it can fit inside a ~35 GB partition? I won't use the Windows as the main OS, only for small programs that are ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does Windows 10 "System" task keep doing in the background all the time?
I keep hearing my PC's fans slightly speeding up and seeing "System" running in the processes list at under 20% CPU load:
I assume the task is throttled in order to be as inconvenient as ...
- 101
2
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Disable global ASUS GameVisual Hotkeys on ASUS TUF Gaming A15
I have an ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA506IV with preinstalled ASUS Services, most notably the App Armoury Crate. This App includes the GameVisual feature for changing display settings to predetermined ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
68
views
How do I keep Windows 10 from installing Office packages?
Windows 10 keeps downloading and placing "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office" on my system drive. It consumes 2.5GB.
I am not using MS Office products. I use LibreOffice and Google docs....
- 131
0
votes
1
answer
16k
views
How to safely remove HP bloatware in Windows 10 Home?
I have Windows 10 Home in HP laptop which contains:-
1. HPCeement
2. HPJumpStartLaunch
3. HPRegistrationService
4. HPSupportAssistant
5. HPSureConnect
What are the uses of this softwares?
Is it safe ...
- 103
0
votes
0
answers
554
views
Does Windows 10 Pro for Workstations include Microsoft Bloatware or allow removal with group policy?
Does Windows 10 Pro for Workstations include Microsoft Bloatware or allow removal with group policy like the enterprise version allows for or it is like regular pro which does not allow this?
- 511
9
votes
1
answer
11k
views
How to delete system apps in macOS Catalina?
It looks like changes Apple has made in macOS Catalina make it harder to delete system apps.
I upgraded my work computer to Catalina today (standard Mac mini), and with it came some new (and some old)...
- 193
2
votes
2
answers
574
views
I updated Windows 10, now "Microsoft Teams" starts each time I log in?
Every time I log in to Windows 10, the following ad pops up:
I've done nothing I'm aware of to sign up for teams, and I frankly don't even know what it purports to do. Yet, its not so easy to get ...
- 2,345
0
votes
0
answers
240
views
Windows App continues to install updates even after uninstalled. How to remove it?
My computer ran out of storage space so I analyzed what was taking up my disk space. I noticed Candy Crush Saga taking up multiple gigabytes of space even though I remember uninstalling it a long time ...
- 101
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Removing 3D Builder in Windows 10
I type this in PowerShell running as administrator to remove 3D Builder:
C:\Windows\System32>get-appxpackage *3dbuilder* | remove-appxpackage
It works fine, but how can I write the line in a ...
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How do I completely delete all files of pre-installed apps in Windows 10? [duplicate]
How do I completely delete all the files for pre-installed applications (e.g. CandyCrush) in Windows 10?
e.g. I want to remove the directory for CandyCrush
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\king.com....
- 349
1
vote
1
answer
203
views
Remove Sticky Bloatware in Windows 10
Few days back, I installed a software and I do not remember its name on my Windows 10 PC. It showed some error during installation so I immediately removed it.
Since then I am seeing a big square ...
- 111
9
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Remove pre-installed apps (Candy Crush, Bubble Witch Saga, March of Empires) from Windows 10
I've been trying to remove Windows 10 Bloatware including Candy Crush Saga, Bubble Witch Saga, and Minecraft.
First, I tried simply uninstalling them, but the folders for these apps are not being ...
- 141
1
vote
2
answers
10k
views
Does Windows 10 Pro N not include Microsoft bloatware like Candy Crush?
I installed a both Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 N Pro. According to Microsoft
The "N" editions of Windows 10 include the same functionality as other
editions of Windows 10 except for media-...
- 511
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to install Intel wireless drivers without the extra bloatware?
How to install just the 7260 WiFi drivers on Windows 7?
I tried unchecking the "Intel ProSet Wireless bloatware" option at the setup stage, and only check the WiFi link driver, but it's still getting ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
215
views
Cygwin... achieve a more reasonable installation?
I had seen this question from 2015 about a "minimal" Cygwin installation.
My main use for Cygwin is (currently at least) essentially git and a few very standard bash commands. I didn't know how I ...
- 665
10
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Stop Candy Crush (and other bloatware) from automatically installing every time I start my system
I recently installed a fresh copy of Windows 10 1709 (Fall Creator's Update) on my MacBook Pro 2016. Of course it has to come with some bloatware that I don't need such as Candy Crush. Before on my ...
- 213
0
votes
0
answers
182
views
How to prevent Windows Update from reinstalling bloatware? [duplicate]
Apparently sometimes a Windows Update includes reinstalling Bloatware such as Candy Crush Saga. Is there any way to prevent this from happening instead of having to manually remove everything again ...
- 4,531
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Why is McAfee pre-installed after resetting my PC?
I have a Dell Inspiration 15 laptop. The computer was acting slow, so I used Windows 10's built in recovery tools to reset my copy of Windows to a clean slate.
Just a few hours after resetting, I ...
- 14.4k
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
Is Windows 10 Creators ISO bundled with Keeper Password Manager app?
I downloaded Windows 10 Pro with Creators Update (version 1703) ISO from Microsoft's website. After performing a 64-bit clean installation, I discovered "Keeper Password Manager" in the list of ...
- 159
0
votes
1
answer
11k
views
What does "ColorEngine" software do on Samsung laptops?
I bought a new Samsung laptop. When I booted the first time, I noticed that it had a lot of pre-installed stuff. I removed what seemed to be disposable.
However, when I use something like Geek ...
- 297
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Accidentally removed ATK package from ASUS FX502VM, keyboard backlight not working, can't reinstall
I recently bought an ASUS FX502VM, and it was loaded to the brim with crapware. I immediately downloaded Decrapifier and ran it, and I believe I accidentally removed the ATK package, and now my ...
- 11
64
votes
5
answers
40k
views
Chrome 100% CPU usage, again - software_reporter_tool.exe
software_reporter_tool.exe belonging to Chrome running at 100% cpu, fan full speed.
Deleting it doesn't fix anything, because it gets redownloaded again!
Disabling "Protect me from bla bla" doesn't ...
- 677
0
votes
1
answer
194
views
How to prevent preloaded apps from being reinstalled when creating new user?
I am running Windows 8.1 (SL with Bing edition) on an Acer Aspire ES1 netbook. Acer preloads several apps on this netbook (e.g. WildTangent games, Pokki start menu), which is fine. I can remove them. ...
- 482
0
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Which software is safe to remove from a ThinkPad? [closed]
So Lenovo is known for installing a lot of software on their computers, and unfortunately I have some of this on mine.
This is a list of what I might want to remove from my computer. My question is, ...
- 151
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
Troubling in setting IE homepage
I am having trouble in changing IE homepage. Everytime I change my home page to google.com or default it changes my home page into annoying one called http://go.speedbit.com/?pid=s What the heck this? ...
- 65
88
votes
9
answers
10k
views
Downloading software without bloatware
From time to time, I find myself needing a piece of software to perform a specific task. Download.com (CNET) used to be a good site. But now, I find that they bundle a lot of "evilware", i.e. ...
- 1,247
-3
votes
1
answer
51
views
How to fix Crapware font on PC
I accidentally installed a piece of crapware using something called Rocketfuel. Now, a lot of sites have the same font as the installer did:
How can I return the font to arial?
- 296
0
votes
1
answer
93
views
Antivirus scanner that actually scans files when run manually instead of taking over your computer and feeding on it [closed]
In the old days, antivirus programs were actually programs which you had to run and point to a disk or a file that needed to be scanned. They did their thing, and reported if the file is infected. Is ...
- 2,789
2
votes
2
answers
120k
views
How to enable Flash player in Opera without installing the Adobe bloatware
I just want to be able to play Youtube videos in Opera 12.
I copied np32dsw.dll in Program Files/Opera/program/plugins
but it still says missing plugin :(
Is there any way to install the Flash ...
- 21
6
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How can I prevent McAfee Security Scan from being installed, bundled with other apps?
Much like Ask Toolbar is bundled with Java (and other applications), I've encountered several instances of applications bundling, and luring the user into installing, McAfee Security Scan. Adobe, I'm ...
- 4,889
11
votes
1
answer
73k
views
Is DriverPack Solution trustworthy? [closed]
Is DriverPackSolution trustworthy?
I had used it to install my laptop drivers a year ago. It worked and I didn't care whether it was trustworthy or not, until now.
It claims to install all drivers ...
- 259
4
votes
1
answer
14k
views
Unwise to uninstall HP support assistant?
I have a HP Windows 7 machine, and just like most computers it comes with a bunch of preinstalled software that I guess is supposed to make life easier for you somehow.
However, not all people are ...
- 2,261
-1
votes
2
answers
530
views
How to uninstall adware?
I downloaded this: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/firequery/ after reading this article: http://www.softwareishard.com/blog/firebug/firebug-extension-firequery-jquery-development/?...
0
votes
3
answers
375
views
How do you remove bloatware from an unusable PC?
The machine is an el-cheapo Win8 with 4gb ram from HP.
While I have seen this machine in popup hell all I've managed to do is get logged back out before the desktop became useable.
I figured it was ...
- 2,644
0
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Removing Wild Tangent metro apps from Windows 8
I just got a new Windows 8 computer and I uninstalled the 'Wild Tangent' application that came with the computer, however, on the start page, I still see 'All Casual Games', 'All Kids Games', etc and ...
- 1,496
1
vote
1
answer
164
views
Define what gets shown on "New Tab" in Firefox 22
Some crapware has installed itself into my system and has "infected" all my browsers. I've been able to reset all the home pages and search providers to what I want - but in Firefox (v22), I'm still ...
- 1,422
6
votes
2
answers
31k
views
Removing FLEXnet Connect Update Manager
Do you know how can I remove this unwanted software? Status line says copyright Acresso Software and or InstallShield. From the folder in ProgramData I understand it is version 11.
- 947
4
votes
3
answers
575
views
Extracting basic drivers from bloated installers
I'm looking for a way to extract the necessary drivers from bloated manufacturer installs, specifically printer installers.
I tried Universal Extractor to no avail on some of these.
I don't need ...
- 778
4
votes
5
answers
12k
views
How can I stop Windows 8 from installing nVidia software?
Windows 8 is installing NVIDIA's bloated driver software packages on start-up.
A number of negative responses to this question have shown misunderstands about the differences between the core drivers ...
- 1,450
230
votes
8
answers
73k
views
How can I prevent Ask.com Toolbar from being installed every time Java is updated?
As many are painfully aware of, Oracle continues to not only bundle the Java installation with the useless Internet browser toolbar from Ask.com, but also enable its installation by default. In ...
- 4,889
13
votes
1
answer
74k
views
What exactly does Adobe Switchboard do?
I hate bloatware, but I needed Adobe to sign PDFs and edit Illustrator files.
UPDATE: I now sign PDFs with pdfescape.com if I don't care about the digital signature, and I edit (simple) Illustrator ...
- 3,799
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Uninstalling Visual Studio 2010 components
I installed the Professional edition of Visual Studio, asking for just the C# package. The program ended up installing all of the following:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Data-Tier Application ...
- 201
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Windows 8 Licensing on new PCs - can I wipe the HDD?
I read that new Windows 8 PCs don't have the COD with the serial on the bottom, and I wonder if this is gonna causing problems on reinstallation.
Usually when I have a new PC, this is what I do:
...
- 3,612
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Google Apps Sync bloated PST file to 14GB
Back story:
I have Outlook connected to my Google Apps email and noticed that some mail never got migrated from my original PST file. I found some VBA code online that compares mail in different PST ...
- 11