Got a refurb through Tigerdirect and it sucks. So went a bought a new Acer from Staples today. What's the best way to get rid of all the crapware on there? I figure a reinstall of the OS, but no reinstall disk. Do I just delete the stuff I don't want?
New Computer
- Thread starter djsarge
- Start date
The only true way to do it is have a clean copy of the OS. Format the hard drive and start over.
You can uninstall everything. run msconfig and disable everything. but for the most part it will probably drive you nuts.
I suggest buying a copy of windows, with the budget priced computers they no longer give you an install disk.
You can uninstall everything. run msconfig and disable everything. but for the most part it will probably drive you nuts.
I suggest buying a copy of windows, with the budget priced computers they no longer give you an install disk.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
also go to this thread and have a look at the website listed to help with new systems
A website that has freeware ideas to help - Our DJ Talk - DJ Help and Resources Chat!
A website that has freeware ideas to help - Our DJ Talk - DJ Help and Resources Chat!
I'm with Cam...
It takes more of your time to clean the crapware off these things, then it does to drop a new copy of the OS on it. Time = more money than it costs for a new retail copy of Vista.
You can always make a reinstall disk from them (they store that data in a hidden partition), but it will have the same crapware -- it's an image of the drive after the crap was installed.
Get a retail copy of Home Premium or above, because the retail copies can be moved to another computer legally -- the OEM copies cannot. Also, the retail copies come with both 32 and 64 bit versions.
It takes more of your time to clean the crapware off these things, then it does to drop a new copy of the OS on it. Time = more money than it costs for a new retail copy of Vista.
You can always make a reinstall disk from them (they store that data in a hidden partition), but it will have the same crapware -- it's an image of the drive after the crap was installed.
Get a retail copy of Home Premium or above, because the retail copies can be moved to another computer legally -- the OEM copies cannot. Also, the retail copies come with both 32 and 64 bit versions.
Steve LeBlanc
DJ Extraordinaire
I downloaded this and used it... it gave me the option to remove many of the stuff that came with my Dell ...
Nice find!
While I can applaud the effort of many wishing to save a buck or two -- yer really biting yerself in the ass, in the process...
If yer using a computer to make a living -- don't go in half cocked -- do it right, pony up the cash, and get the GOOD sh_t
If yer using a computer to make a living -- don't go in half cocked -- do it right, pony up the cash, and get the GOOD sh_t
Thanks for all the input everyone, but I only bought this new laptop because I absolutism needed it. My other laptop fried and although I really don't have the money right now, I got a new one. I also drove around town the find the least expensive one I could.
Spending another $150 or better for Vista Home Premium is just out of the question. Some of us are really taking a hit with this economy.
What I'm saying is, although your correct Rick, it's just not in the cards to purchase it so I'm just going to live with the crap ware for now.
Maybe it's time to sell some little used equipment and cut back on the add ons.
Spending another $150 or better for Vista Home Premium is just out of the question. Some of us are really taking a hit with this economy.
What I'm saying is, although your correct Rick, it's just not in the cards to purchase it so I'm just going to live with the crap ware for now.
Maybe it's time to sell some little used equipment and cut back on the add ons.
You should not have to buy anything. Call Acer support and ask them for the recovery media. There might be a $10 "media fee", but it's much cheaper than full retail Micro$oft Operating $y$tem pricing.
Sarge you should have a built in option to make recovery CDs, at least my Acer came with one as did my desktop.
Click on the start menu type recovery see what pops up; all you need is a couple of blank DVDs.
Click on the start menu type recovery see what pops up; all you need is a couple of blank DVDs.
If you create the restore/recovery disc, it has all the bloatware on it -- it's an image (same one used to initialize the HDD)...
Oh Yeah.. Duh reminds me of why I spend a good 2-3 hours cleaning up each computer when I reformat them. Maybe *just* maybe I'll spring for full retail copies of Win 7 when it comes if I haven't upgraded to an iMac by then
Oh Yeah.. Duh reminds me of why I spend a good 2-3 hours cleaning up each computer when I reformat them. Maybe *just* maybe I'll spring for full retail copies of Win 7 when it comes if I haven't upgraded to an iMac by then
Trust me Danno -- once the novelty wears off, you'll be begging for DOS 1.1
What did you name yer's BTW? Not yer computer name, but the little box. They all require a name -- otherwise the power button doesn't work, they get yeast infections, and always talk about their ex's...
So far I'm really liking OS X to repeat a phrase I hear all the time "It just works". It's nice not to have to waste the mini's modest resources running a real time AV scanner. I installed a couple of CL tools I'm used to from Linux so that was easy. Other than that only a couple of things bug me; sound effects some of them I don't even know why they're going off and even though I'm not accessing my external HD it gets randomly spun up. Not a big deal but if I'm not using it why spin it? Lastly even with an MS keyboard attached the end key still doesn't work as expected.
Anyway sorry to get off on a tangent.. lol I Didn't name the box itself; I'll have to think of something. It almost looks like a mutated power brick the comp looked bigger in the pics. The computer's name itself is CoffeeMac all my comps have Coffee in their name.
Lastly even with an MS keyboard attached the end key still doesn't work as expected. Anyway sorry to get off on a tangent.. lol I Didn't name the box itself; I'll have to think of something. It almost looks like a mutated power brick the comp looked bigger in the pics. The computer's name itself is CoffeeMac all my comps have Coffee in their name.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
Oh Yeah.. Duh reminds me of why I spend a good 2-3 hours cleaning up each computer when I reformat them. Maybe *just* maybe I'll spring for full retail copies of Win 7 when it comes if I haven't upgraded to an iMac by then
Dan when I install a new system, as soon asd I am done I create a ghost backup of the whole install as an image and if its dvd size I write it to a dvd for said systems recovery
So its like a new system everytime if is needed
only draw back is settings and documents you create, but that can be rectified at a later date