1520 Bloatware Blues

I just received my Dell Inspiron 1520. I tried to make sure that any optional software was unchecked, so I'd receive as clean an installation as possible.

Despite my chosen configuration, my new notebook came pre-installed with what looks like a ton of unnecessary garbage. My system tray practically takes up half the taskbar!

Anyway, I'm curious to know what other Dell buyers here found when they received there machines, and what you decided to uninstall, or even what you decided to keep on it.

Two things I will probably uninstall right off the bat are DellMedia (and it's partition) and Roxio.

 

I killed Vista and put XP on it. I'm just not ready for Vista yet.

 

Not sure if it works with the 1520 but you could try Dell Decrapifier and then run CCleaner.

 

Inspiron notebooks will always come with all that crap. But the inspiron/vostro line is the exact opposite. I just got a vostro 1400, and it was clean as a whistle, almost as good as a fresh install.

 

BTW, if you're going to get rid of Dell Media you may want to consider doing a clean install.

 

I had considered the Vostro, but you can't get it with a decent video card. I got my 1520 with XP Pro (you have to dig a little on their site if you want one without Vista). Unfortunately, now I hear the sound card I wanted to get for it has no XP drivers.

I don't think they sent me an OS reinstall disk, either. I gotta dig out my box and check.

 

If they didn't send you the Windows operating disk and the drivers and utilities disks call them up and request them.

 

In the meanwhile, Hiker's suggestion of Decrapifier (no longer just "Dell" Decrapifier) and CCleaner will help a lot. So will this ("Features" left column) for cleaning up startup programs, and unnecessary processes.

 

the vostro has the same graphics card options as the inspiron...what are you talking about?

 

8600 GT on mine, unless you're going for the 1400 Vostro which may not have the option for the 8600.

 

The Vostro line has exactly the same gpu options as the inspiron:

14" up to 8400GS
15.4" up to 8600GT

So where did you get the idea that the Vostro came with bad gpus compared to the Inspiron?

 

can u have ur system come installed with vista then create a new partition and put XP on it?

 

There are threads here on how to do exactly that.

Keep in mind that it is considerably more trouble to install XP after Vista. Since I own unused XP licenses I ordered my wife's 1520 with Vista, with the intention of installing XP in a dual boot configuration. After reading about all the bloatware that comes with the factory install, and the advantages of doing a clean install, and trouble involved in installing XP after Vista...

I oped to reformat and install XP first. Adding Vista in a dual boot configuration will then be much easier.

So the answer to your question is yes, but...