Are there bloatware-free brands or with minimal bloatware ?

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MaxT2

MaxT2

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Apr 14, 2021
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Are there currently brands that sell laptops the come bloatware free? (Or nearly.)
Which brands? Specifics series/model(s)?
Thank you.

Edit: I forgot to mention target OS: Windows 10, or 11.
Edit2: I'm located in European Union (if this matters regarding the way softwares are bound/included to computer, but I'm not looking for a re-seller, rather brands/series I could look into.)
 
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MaxT2 said:
Are there currently brands that sell laptops the come bloatware free? (Or nearly.)
Which brands? Specifics series/model(s)?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Your definition of "bloatware" may be very different from mine. You may be one of those users that believes that you have to disable a bunch of services to maximize performance.
 
Thank you.

Rokinamerica said:
Many of the boutique sellers will do this, or you can clean install yourself. Here is one such, but many if not most offer bloatfree OS. https://xoticpc.com/collections/extreme-series-gaming-laptops/products/xotic-pc-gy15 scroll down to OS options.
Click to expand...

I used to own a Lenovo Thinkpad T510 and back then the only way I found have a "clean" installation and be able to re-install things myself was to purchase a new Windows license key.
Otherwise, the restoration discs (I don't remember if they were CD or DVDs would re-install the full Lenovo "updater" or something which would grab all initial software that I didn't need and slowed the computer. And then I had to go quite carefully if I wanted to just install the useful drivers and not automatically fetch all the reste of the "extra-softwares"... (Memories are far and imprecise).

I don't think the sellers where I live would do it without extra cost.

(I did't not find the OS options.)

kanewolf said:
Your definition of "bloatware" may be very different from mine. You may be one of those users that believes that you have to disable a bunch of services to maximize performance.
Click to expand...

The most typical "visible" things that I consider bloatware are things are things like having a limit license of things like Norton Security or Ashampoo utilities pre-installed with the OS and forced into "restoration" material. Actually even Microsoft Office installed without request... (Also but that's something I saw on mobile but I don't if it has come to PC yet, things like Facebook app or so that can't be uninstalled)
Then stuff that constantly connect to the internet (possibly at start) and throws notifications or ads or leaks data.
I would also consider hidden extra services that don't really bring something to computer maintenance as bloatware, but I usually don't go as far as inspecting all services.

geofelt said:
The lenovo thinkpad units are good in this respect.
Click to expand...

Considering my past experience with Lenovo Thinkpad T510, I'm a bit surprised.... but well T510 is old.
 
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Past experience with Lenovo Thinkpad T510 has shown me that it is not as simple as uninstalling software... otherwise I wouldn't care I guess.
 
If you don't want bloatware, then create a Windows install USB thumb drive from Microsoft's Media Creation Tool and reinstall Windows. It'll still have the stuff Microsoft throws in there (unless you want to take the time to create a nLite'd installer), but it's less hassle.

Now you don't have to worry about which brand to get or paying some boutique tax.
 
I like the idea of the installation USB, if there's not trap, but then, how do I get the licence key?
If I remember well with my Lenovo, the Windows lincence key could only be used with the manufacturer restoration pack.
 
MaxT2 said:
I like the idea of the installation USB, if there's not trap, but then, how do I get the licence key?
If I remember well with my Lenovo, the Windows lincence key could only be used with the manufacturer restoration pack.
Click to expand...
There is no trap...no gotcha.

A reinstall on the same previously activated system does not need input of the license key.

When the system goes online later, it will sync up with the activation server farm, and activate itself.
 
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Oh OK. So far when I reinstall a system, I use to reformat drive C: so I'm sure there's nothing left (all my non system data located on drive D: ), so I've never ran this type of reinstallation
 
MaxT2 said:
Oh OK. So far when I reinstall a system, I use to reformat drive C: so I'm sure there's nothing left (all my non system data located on drive D: ), so I've never ran this type of reinstallation
Click to expand...
Follow the directions in the link I posted.
You delete all existing partitions, ten continue on.
Section II, Step 6 speaks to doing that.


Just a "reformat" of the C drive does NOT remove the original boot partition.
 
Microsoft Surface line of laptops/ultra-portables is pretty bloat free.

Even Lenovo has gotten bad (again). There was a time, after that bloatware turned spyware fiasco that they lightened the software load they installed by default but they're back to just piling it on.
 
Laptops will have some proprietary apps and drivers that you need to find for a clean install.
Keyboard drivers and battery monitors, for instance.

Windows, itself has many default privacy options that you may not want.
 
MaxT2 said:
Are there currently brands that sell laptops the come bloatware free? (Or nearly.)
Which brands? Specifics series/model(s)?
Thank you.

Edit: I forgot to mention target OS: Windows 10, or 11.
Edit2: I'm located in European Union (if this matters regarding the way softwares are bound/included to computer, but I'm not looking for a re-seller, rather brands/series I could look into.)
Click to expand...
Why not just buy a laptop that fits your needs and just trim off the junk.
When you get it where you want it take an image or a clone and set it aside.
 
I appreciate the workaround suggestions... They may be useful. But I would still be interested in knowing if there are brands/series that come with no or very limited bloatware/non-required manufacturer feature packages.
 
MaxT2 said:
I appreciate the workaround suggestions... They may be useful. But I would still be interested in knowing if there are brands/series that come with no or very limited bloatware/non-required manufacturer feature packages.
Click to expand...
In a single word, NO. Every vendor has some sort of agreement in place with multiple other vendors to install their (usually) demos and such on every machine shipped. You want clean then do as instructed above, download the Windows image and creation tool from Microsoft, create your own installation USB and install a bog standard version of Windows free of all but what Microsoft installs by default (and can be removed later).
 
MaxT2 said:
I appreciate the workaround suggestions... They may be useful. But I would still be interested in knowing if there are brands/series that come with no or very limited bloatware/non-required manufacturer feature packages.
Click to expand...
It comes and goes, even across the same brand.

The little Asus Transformer I bought a couple years ago...nothing but Windows 10.
A HP laptop a friend of mine bought a couple years before that with 8.1...so loaded with crapware, it was unusable for a full hour after hitting the power button. A celan install....like a whole new system.

A Lenovo of last year may have more, a Lenovo of next year may have less.
 
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