Bloatware is unnecessary software that is added to an otherwise desirable program's installation profile
Questions tagged [bloatware]
77 questions
230
votes
8 answers
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 addition to the toolbar, Ask also replaces your…
abstrask
- 4,909
88
votes
9 answers
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. bloatware/adware (spyware?). Despite my best efforts to…
Ola Eldøy
- 1,247
63
votes
5 answers
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 make it stop running.
Please anyone have any…
waaaaaat
- 667
33
votes
8 answers
How do I Install Flash Player 10 without Adobe Download Manager?
How do I get Flash Player 10 (on Firefox) without installing the Adobe Download Manager?
Frank Meulenaar
- 1,749
17
votes
5 answers
Mass Uninstalling
Just been working on a new laptop today (Acer) and it was pre-installed with all sorts of crapware. Mostly games and "backup utilities" and McAfee. I had to manually uninstall about 30 apps via Vista's Programs and Features
So it got me wondering is…
frusDev
- 4,555
13
votes
1 answer
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 files with Inkscape.
Installing Adobe CS5.5 brings…
Dan Dascalescu
- 3,841
12
votes
4 answers
Is there a way for a "drivers only" installation for HP printer?
I just purchased my HP Officejet 4500 printer, launched the installation from the CD, and installed the "minimum installation" mode.
It installed software for 430 MB, installed Yahoo toolbar, and other crap I didn't ask for, added a whole bunch of…
Shimmy Weitzhandler
- 3,748
12
votes
1 answer
How can I disable this advertisement for Logitech software?
I have a Logitech M720 mouse, and every time I connect the receiver to a Windows 11 machine, an ad pops up:
How did this pop-up make it on my computer, and how can I permanently remove it?
Dmitry Grigoryev
- 9,861
11
votes
6 answers
Laptop de-crappifying
I'm getting a new laptop soon (Dell XPS) and was wondering if there was an efficient method for removing all the pre-installed crap that is so common on new prebuilt machines.
Looking for answers that do not recommend reinstallation of Windows. I am…
Darko
- 214
11
votes
1 answer
Is DriverPack Solution trustworthy?
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 of any Windows computer automatically without…
Bruce
- 259
10
votes
4 answers
Installed babylon in Firefox, now I can't get rid of it
While installing Digsby (an IM client) I accidentally installed the Babylon toolbar for Firefox. This was one version of Firefox ago and it didn't go away still (I had 3.5, and installed 4 and it still manifests itself).
And yes, I uninstalled the…
Rui
- 155
10
votes
1 answer
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 older MacBook Pro with 1703 installed I can just…
Tom Shen
- 213
- 3
- 9
9
votes
1 answer
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) system apps that I want to get rid of, like the…
jasonmclose
- 193
- 1
- 1
- 5
9
votes
2 answers
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 removed and remain in C:\Program…
and
- 141
9
votes
2 answers
Is it possible to download minimal drivers on Windows, without the extra software packages?
The situation in all its glory:
30 megs for ATIs' "Display Driver Only".
Almost 100 megs for NVidias' GeForce/Ion bloatware.
300 megs for an HP printer driver with immense amount of crap
30 megs for a Realtek integrated sound card driver.
50…
Anton Gogolev
- 193