Cleaning up a "new" PC
I just reformatted and reinstalled the system restore CDs for my HP desktop. However, before I could get back to working, I had to slog through all of the promotional software that popped up asking for me to register, help me choose an Internet Service Provider, and register for updates.
Frustrated, I downloaded the "PC Decrapifier." The PC Decrapifier is a free utility that recognizes over 50 commonly pre-installed applications and will automatically uninstall them. Some of the software that many manufacturers ship their computers with, from demo DVD burners to trial antiviral software is nearly impossible to uninstall (Symantec Internet Security is pretty difficult to uninstall. Last time I had to resort to their custom super secret uninstaller, which didn't work). The PC Decrapifier uninstalled if flawlessly.
While it cleaned up most of the garbage-ware, it left behind some stuff I had to manually delete. Microsoft Works? Gone. Trial of Microsoft Office 2003? Gone. Otto? Deleted. DISCover? Uninstalled. PC-Doctor? Scrubbed. Wild tangent and a collection of games I will never play? Off to the recycle bin.
After finally removing all of that junk, I was finally able to get down to the business of using my system without being slowed down by adware and demo software.
Oops. Time to reboot for the fourth time.
