OS and Software > Software > HP laptop pre-installed software -is it "bloatware?"

HP laptop pre-installed software -is it "bloatware?"

Re: HP laptop pre-installed software -is it "bloatware?&quo

reply to lmacmil
Would be hard to tell you which of the other 6 to disable without you telling people what they are!

reply to lmacmil
Best bet is to look through your owners manual, and also do a search of some of them...(QuickWeb, Launch Box, etc). And experiment with them yourself.
Are they all "necessary"? Chances are many aren't.
On the other hand, I have an Acer laptop that has some similar features. Some of them I really like (the on-screen display for example). Some of the others may be similar to some of mine as well. (One button to launch your browser, perhaps some HP diagnostic tools, or other handy (or not so handy), "stuff".

Bottom line is, unless someone shows up here with the same model as yours, and with the same features, it's something you'll have to experiment with and look into yourself. (And even if someone like that does show up, their preferences may be different than yours).

Some of that stuff may be considered "bloatware", I suppose. Then again, some if it may also be pretty handy. (You may also find you'll like some of them after the machine has booted to a usable desktop, but don't necessarily need them starting automatically).
To me, real "bloatware", would be some God awful overloaded limited time AV program, or a bunch or trial software that keeps nagging you to buy the full version.
Some fancy "features" aren't necessarily all "bloatware.

There! Now after all of that, I haven't helped you one bit.
--
I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem.

reply to lmacmil
Download and run PC Decrapifier. It will in most cases tell you some information about the pre-installed software it finds to help you decide.

reply to lmacmil
Quickweb allows you to launch a browser without windows in sort of a one button startup without windows. To me it was the biggest waste of time in the lot. This huge system so that you can bypass windows.

On-screen display does what it says. When you push buttons like brightness or wireless or sound, you get a visual display on the screen as you do it. Kind of nice. You need it to determine how much you're increasing or decreasing - for instance.

Launch box and Quick launch are extensions that again provide a way to "quickly" launch applications. For me these are worthless. Standard Windows provides all this already.

reply to lmacmil
When I get any new PC I nuke and Pave so the only things that get installed are what I want/need.

Dave

reply to lmacmil
My HP notebook also arrived with a lot of bloat.
I popped in my Win7 Pro disc and formatted/installed a clean OS.

HPs web site has all the drivers and software if Win7 generic drivers are too lean. Ex. Audio Drivers supplied by Win7 lack the enhanced IDT Interface which I prefer and you may not even notice is missing.
--
"We're your friends. We're not like the others, man, really."

reply to lmacmil
x2 what HALL said...

reply to lmacmil
What nobody defined is what constitutes bloat-ware in the first place! Frankly, any program or service that does not meet a need of yours might be considered bloat-ware, but that will diifer for everyone.

Some, most, or even all of those HP processes that you ask about may or may not be desireable...that is for you to decide.

The first step, is to learn about what those processes are, and whether or not you feel that they meet a need.
--
Deeds, not words

reply to lmacmil
Thanks to all who responded. I think I'll start dropping things out of the start up programs list one at a time and see if I miss anything.

reply to PeteC2