If you’ve bought a Dell PC lately, you know that it’s absolutely filled with countless try-before-you-buy programs you don’t want, pointless software, and general crud. It’s so bad that I know many people who won’t buy a Dell, regardless of how good a deal they can get. Now, though, there’s a way to kill Dell software bloat.
The solution: the PC De-Crapifier, available for free. It helps you uninstall all the crud typically installed on Dells, everything from the QuickBooks Trial, to McAffee Security Center to Earthlink Setup files to America Online, to…well, you name it.
Dell claims to be aware of the problem, but being aware of it and actually doing something about it appear to be different things. A Dell spokesman told APC Magazine that it will make a “limited software install” option to those who buy its hiigh end XPS-700 gaming PC and its small business PCs.
That’s not good enough. Everyone should have that option.
By the way, you may have noticed that Dell has been losing market share recently. I’m sure at least some of reason for that is the annoying amount of crud it pre-installs on PCs
Sock it to'em Preston! This can be a real annoyance. I've no objection to fully functional bundled software, that's fair enough, but cruddy crippleware and adware is just a pain.
Its about time! I have never once used the McAffee Security Center product that came with my notebook, but it keeps reminding me that it is there. Even after repeatedly trying to remove the components that make up that product and disabling anything I could find regarding the Security Center software, I still get reminder notices to renew my never used protection. I really like my Dell laptop, its just to bad that Dell had to crap it up with software that I didn't want in the first place and cannot remove. Easy As Dell.
Well, now that I've totally wiped my Dell Notebook clean and re-installed WinXP from scratch to clear things, I stumble on this. Just a little too late. And what's worse, I can not re-install my Dell Media Direct program which has a dedicated button on the Laptop (Inspiron 6400). I have followed Dell's online instructions on re-loading the DME (Dell Media Experience) which appears to be attached to the MBR and has separate minimum 2Gig partition. I wonder if the De-Crapifier software would have left it in place. Dell support, whom I can't understand becasue they sound like they are on a VOIP from hell, has been unable to resolve this with me at this point.
I hope they make a patch soon that will allow it to re-install properly without having to run their OS Install CD (which by the way, you need to specify you want when you customize your pc at tiem of order) It's only $8, can't they just throw it in the box automatically??? You can't get it for $8 after you've receieved you laptop.
Love my Dell Notebook (3rd I've owned over 8 years). Do not like their Indian support tech system or their bloated OS's.
Thank you Preston! This will save me countless hours cleaning up client's computers before they are put into service.
Right on Preston!
Thing is, Dell makes money on installing all that crap so it will be a hard sell for em to give the crap-free option to everybody, especially on the discount systems.
Once again, user experience takes a back seat when it comes to the bottom line.
Shouldn't be a surprise since Dell IMHO is not really a computer company, its a supply-chain expert that has divined a way to make discount computers on the cheap, much the same way Walmart is a discount retailer.
R&D? Less than 1% of revenue!!!
Innovation? Patents? Just check out Dell's patent page (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/patents/enus?c=us&l=en&s=corp&~section=07). Granted, they have several thousand patents, but try to go over the list... Can you name one Dell computer invention that has greatly advanced the Personal Computer front?
Yea. It's a hassle to reformat every dell we receive and reinstall from scratch. But value counts and we just include the 3 non-dedicated man hours to do it.
I had problems with a dell computer so I called tech support and they were just people from India who could barely speak english. They just kept telling me to do System Restore each time but it didn't fix it. and just erased everything
I also know a friend that purchased a dell computer and it had all kinds of s*** on it; Dell Network assistant, Norton antivirus, all kinds of trial software, BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO REMOVE IT IT TOLD HIM HE HAD TO GO TO A WEBSITE TO REMOVE IT. HE TRIED GOING INTO SAFE MODE, HE TRIED ADD & REMOVE PROGRAMS, TRIED DELETING IT MANUALLY, BUT IT JUST CAME BACK IT WOULDN'T DELETE OR GO AWAY.
hi, i want to know where can i find the software for media direct. i have a button on my notebook (inspiron 6400) and i don't know how could this help me. thanks
ps dmihalcioiu@yahoo.com (subject: dell inspiron 6400)
I am crazed over my experience with Dell.
Purchased Dimension 3100 Series, Intel Pentium 4 Processor 524
Order number: 169665000
Delivery August 06.
Unreliable and unstable working performance.
Last service by technican to install refubished mother board. System slow. Outlook features irratic. Printer intermittent.
Request: Top of line desktop replacement.
No response.
Expenses to date: memory sticks $150; outside tech $159; printer $450.00; usb cable, other cable, surge protector, flash drive for backup( estimated $150.00)
Countless hours @ $225.00 hour.
Dell case numbers: 15816181;KMN35963786157lokm;15125748;151531659;142924896;139624969;
Microsoft case numbers: SRX 060925602516;
Symantec case number: 27760777
HP case number: 3217478644-323
The PC has rejected and had unstable performance with with a scandisk MP3 palyer, a scan disk; a palm zire 22, and four printers. Dell service techs insist it's a software problem, it's a printer problem, it's a mother board problem, it's been fixed. IT IS NOT A RELIABLE COMPUTER. IT IS NOT STABLE.
Last service by technican to install refubished mother board. System slow. Outlook features irratic. Printer intermittent.
Request: Top of line desktop replacement.
No response.
Expenses to date: memory sticks $150; outside tech $159; printer $450.00; usb cable, other cable, surge protector, flash drive for backup( estimated $150.00)
Countless hours @ $225.00 hour.
Dell case numbers: 15816181;KMN35963786157lokm;15125748;151531659;142924896;139624969;
Microsoft case numbers: SRX 060925602516;
Symantec case number: 27760777
HP case number: 3217478644-323
The PC has not worked with a scandisk, a palm zire 22, or four printers. Dell service techs insist it's a software problem, it's a printer problem, it's a mother board problem, it's been fixed. IT IS NOT A RELIABLE COMPUTER. IT IS NOT STABLE.
Sally Anderson Attorney at Law
7400 E. Orchard Road, Suite 160
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
T: 303 592 6101
F: 303 290 6530
sallyanderson@saalaw.us
Iwould have to agree this is BS for the consumer-A personal computer should have what the consumer wants on it otherwise it is not personal.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg. I've spent the past 3 months in "DELL HELL". I bought a E521, after cancelling my first 2 orders when DELLS invoice confirmation email did not include all the features that the salesman had promised me. The only similarity to our discussion was the price. They then "accidently" shipped me one of the cancelled orders,along with the computer I (thought)I wanted, and it took me over 40 hours of calling, over a period of a month, (after the cancelled order was returned and recieved by Dell), before I got a full refund. They sent it in increments. I had to call almost every day and got a different answer from each rep. NONE OF THEM KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. I should have known better after the first go round, not to buy a Dell. The computer I have now, a souped up E521, has given me nothing but trouble. As of today, it is "unstable". I tried opening windows in safe mode, as instructed, and no go. I already had issues with it not shutting down or logging off correctly, last month, and tech help walked me through a modem and hard drive check....it passed with flying colors. I HATE this computer, and wish I'd just spent the $100 to install a new hard drive on my old Dell. The old computer came to me with a faulty hard drive, 5 years ago, and it took me year to get it replaced under warranty. I think history has repeated itself to the tune of $1100. this year. I tell everyone I know....don't buy a DELL.
how about a way to remove Media Direct form a Dell notebook.
Wednesday 05.03.2008 My brand new Dell laptop Inspiron 6400 8 weeks old hardly been used. Decided all by itself to display its screen on its side (at 90). Contacted Dell 30 day software support expired. Annual Fee £120+ or one off fix £20. Has this fault been built in to occur just after the software support ends? Has anyone had this problem before? How do I fix it without paying? Please help if you can I am getting neck ache.
I don't care about what software is on the computer when I get it because I always know the delete button is there. The problem I had with dell was the battery. The battery didn't last long at all. I tried to contact them about the battery they said I could send it back. I didn't have time for all of that. I found a site called needbattery.com and just bought a new battery from them. I'd recommend them to anyone.
http://www.needbattery.com/Laptops/Dell.html