New HP Laptop. Any Advantage To Keeping HP Included Software?

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The laptop is a new, low end (HP 17-cp0124od) for a non-technical user for web surfing, YouTube viewing,  and word processing. The user’s current laptop is running a clean install of Windows 10 Home.

I was planning on using Windows 10’s Fresh Start feature to remove the extraneous software (bloatware) that comes pre-installed as step one in setting up this unit. Is there is any advantage to keeping the laptop stock that I am missing?

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In your place I would ask myself the following three questions, given that I, OscarCP, for example, cannot answer yours because I have no idea of what is in your computer that motivates you to start a thread on this question. Now, in general terms, this might be a great idea: to start a thread on what to keep and what to get rid of the things that come pre-installed, and also of stuff that one has not had the need to use for quite a while, or those for which remaining in the PC might be open to question for any reason. So: good luck with that.

So: the three questions:

1. Do you already know what those things do?
2. How much space percentage of the disk is taken by preinstalled things you are not desperate to use?
3. Do you have already applications that do the same thing, you are familiar with and you have no problems using?

For example, since yours is an HP, while I would not know about what that is like in new Win 10 PCs, my old Win 7 one was also an HP and came with preinstalled HP software, some of which was useful, among other things, for adjusting the picture in my external 17″ monitor so it looked good, particularly when streaming videos.

 

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

Makers such as HP seem to load up their machines with trial software and HP specific utilities. In the case of the person who will be using this computer, not having extraneous software or utilities is more suited to their computer skill level – the pre-installed “extras”  lead to confusion or frustration. Saving space on the drive is not my motivation for asking this question.

Maybe someone who has purchased an HP computer recently and is familiar with what is pre-installed can offer some guidance.

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If you are not the one who is going to be using the PC, but someone more inexperienced with computers, you could keep the useful HP applications and this way can help that person by customizing with those the PC; for example, some equivalent of the graphic utility installed in my old HP.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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It’s been awhile since I got my HP ProBook, but when new, I kept anything having to do with restoring/maintenance/updating/etc. on the laptop but anything that said trial was eliminated.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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kc27

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Thanks for the suggestions.  I definitely will remove the trial software and take a look at the HP utilities. It would probably be in my best interest to leave the laptop stock for at least the warranty period.

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Just to add, I found the Support Assistant to be very useful for updates for drivers, BIOS, etc. Now that my ProBook has reached the end of HP support, I get popups saying that they Thank me for being a loyal supporter but I need a new laptop LOL.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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wavy

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I got a chance to look at the laptop today, (doing all this remotely). I ended up doing as CADeseetRat did. I think I got rid of all the superfluous software so that the user will not be pestered to purchase subscriptions. It seems like the laptop will meet their needs. The one thing we did not consider was keyboard color. After using this laptop, the user realized they can see they keys easier on a black keyboard than on this laptop’s silver one. Since they mostly use they laptop at home, they are going to plug in a black desktop keyboard.

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I just set one up a couple weeks ago. Yes, the contrast of the print on the keys stinks to high heaven… esp with the function keys. Had to use a flashlight a couple times to verify the keys. I removed a bunch of garbage and left the utilities but disabled almost all the HP services.

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Black keyboard cover for HP 17-cp0124od

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kc27

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Well, this idea is a bit late since stuff already has been blown out.
(Have cake, but also save it for later.)

As an Administrative user, in Explorer:

Rename C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.Original

Make a New Folder: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Copy everything from Programs.Original to Programs.

Do the deletions from the new Programs.

Perform a parallel stashing operation on
C:\Users\[user-logon]\Desktop
And if desired, on C:\Users\Admin[or whatever ID]\Desktop

This clears from ordinary access the view of unwanted things, but provides a back-up.

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I would remove all preinstalled SW. Install backup software you use regullary (if any).

There wont be any problem with PC functions, it will be faster after booting.

Dell Latitude 3420, Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, W10 22H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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kc27

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The HP Support Assistant has been used to add an HP made browser hijacker and in 2017 a surprise hidden install of HP Touchpoint Analytics software while checking for updates.

If you are asked to provide support be please sure to cross reference the listed updates with the computer’s support page.

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alejr – thanks for the keyboard skin idea. The user is going to give that a try before hooking up a desktop keyboard.

RE: the difficulty some of us have with silver keyboards: When I worked in print advertising, the gentleman who headed our department was in his late 40s/early 50s. Most of his design and copy team were in their 20s and 30s. He was constantly reminding us to be creative in design, but legibility had to take precedence in all cases. At the time, I thought his directive was limiting and excessive. Once I reached middle age and no longer had the visual acuity I once had, designs utilizing dark text against a dark background or light text against a light background in print or electronic media, or even products like a laptop keyboard, made me realize how right he was to push for a balance between design and clear legibility. There are so many silver keyboards out there, it must not be an issue for most people.

 

 

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Just another Forum Poster wrote:

Black keyboard cover for HP 17-cp0124od

alejr – The laptop user bought the keyboard cover and is thrilled with how much it improved keyboard visibility. I asked if it affected keystroke sensitivity. He said no, but also said he is a slow hunt-and-peck typist.

Putting the silicone keyboard cover over the keyboard did not affect the laptop’s operating temperature, either. We tested this using a PC stress test program and a temperature monitoring program.

Thanks again for the idea.

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Glad to hear it worked out!

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