• Brkdncr@lemmy.world
    123·
    22 days ago

    Simply uninstall everything you don’t want. There’s not a lot, MS told OEMs to stop loading excessive crap a while back else they would make them stop loading anything at all.

    You can uninstall any 3rd party antivirus. Defender is good enough these days.

      • stinky@redlemmy.comEnglish
        52·
        22 days ago

        OP didn’t ask to use Linux. An intelligent person would understand that because OP asked about debloating we can safely assume they are not using Linux, and thus have reasons for using a different OS, which may not be within their control, such as a laptop provided to them by their employer. Honestly, what were you thinking?

        • orcrist@lemm.ee
          11·
          20 days ago

          Or not smug. There’s a problem with a solution. You think it’s a program problem, but maybe it’s actually an OS problem.

          Of course there are reasons to use Windows, but that doesn’t mean OP has one.

        • kamiheku@sopuli.xyz
          51·
          22 days ago

          I’d just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

          Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called “Linux”, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

          There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system.

          Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called “Linux” distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

      • Pennomi@lemmy.worldEnglish
        46·
        22 days ago

        Give them what they want, not what they asked for. If you really care about bloat, no proprietary system will save you.

  • finalarbiter@lemmy.world
    12·
    21 days ago

    Honestly? Easiest method is to do a fresh install. I use Windows LTSC which essentially skips all the bloat and spyware in consumer versions of Windows.

    If a fresh reinstall isn’t viable, there’s a collection of batch scripts someone built a while ago called Tron (it fights for the user!). It does a lot of diagnostics, repair, debloat, and optimization, but takes a long time to run.

    https://github.com/bmrf/tron

    • Don_Dickle@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      21 days ago

      I got the laptop less than a week ago was basically asking just to make sure i got at least 90 percent of the stuff but wanted to make sure.

  • DarkThoughts@fedia.io
    5·
    22 days ago

    If you’re running Windows, do a fresh install of stock Windows version, because manufacturers like HP often add keyloggers and shit into their own tools.

    • Don_Dickle@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      22 days ago

      ok now you got me curious keyloggers? not that you have to but can you cite where you read that? I think it would be a neat read and something to search for. no sarcasm in that.

      • DarkThoughts@fedia.io
        2·
        22 days ago

        I’ve experienced it personally when my ex got her laptop back then and the antivirus software would immediately go off on nearly all HP programs that were preinstalled.

        • Don_Dickle@lemmy.worldOP
          5·
          22 days ago

          No sarcasm in this or anything but WTF? Is there a site that identifies them or something? Kind of like 2 days after I bought my laptop a popup came on while I was on my desktop say my warranty wasn’t covered and they did no telephone help. I went to the site and it was hp.com so I called them up today and they sounded like I was crazy. I sent them a screen shot and they said they would be investigating.?

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      22 days ago

      Also, if Windows was ever activated on that machine, it’s good to go forever. Far quicker to reinstall and wipe (as part of the process) than mucking around removing crap.

      SOURCE: Done this a 100 times for corporate machines.

    • Magister@lemmy.world
      6·
      22 days ago

      This, and for missing drivers, I always have a SSD with SDIO and the latest driver pack (something like 30GB)

      • Gerudo@lemm.ee
        3·
        22 days ago

        I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve heard about this tool. Amazing