I got tired of looking for a new PC with a joystick mouse and bought a
new HP laptop (dv6113) on Black Friday. Just turned it on and the
desktop is FULL of stuff. Cleaning all the unwanted software of it is
quite a chore: Vongo, Vonage,AOL ISP, AOL Music, ESPN, Ebay, MSN,
Rhapsody,Snapfish, etc - some are just a URL link: others have a
shortcut on the desktop to a file in a folder so I need to browse to /
delete the folder, then delete the desktop link. ( UNINSTALL for these
is not an option from add/remove ).

In Add/Remove there are 31 different items for HP Games - rather than
having ONE " HP Games " link then 'custom'. Just one of those games is
177mb and when I clicked it ,it reported that it would "install",so who
knows how big when it's fully installed. Because of the games, scrolling
down alphabetically thru add/remove is a nuisance - maybe 60-70 items
listed there . There are other apps listed in add/remove that I have no
idea what they are - " OTTO", "Gem Master Mystic" etc.

I hadn't bought a new PC with preinstalled OS in a while - I usually
build it.
Other companies - are they all this bad with the preloaded - UNWANTED
software.

Also it came with no backups - I had to make my own - with my own blank
media: 3 DVD's

Bobb

- Bobb - wrote:
>
> I got tired of looking for a new PC with a joystick mouse and bought a
> new HP laptop (dv6113) on Black Friday. Just turned it on and the
> desktop is FULL of stuff. Cleaning all the unwanted software of it is
> quite a chore: Vongo, Vonage,AOL ISP, AOL Music, ESPN, Ebay, MSN,
> Rhapsody,Snapfish, etc - some are just a URL link: others have a
> shortcut on the desktop to a file in a folder so I need to browse to /
> delete the folder, then delete the desktop link. ( UNINSTALL for these
> is not an option from add/remove ).
>
> In Add/Remove there are 31 different items for HP Games - rather than
> having ONE " HP Games " link then 'custom'. Just one of those games is
> 177mb and when I clicked it ,it reported that it would "install",so who
> knows how big when it's fully installed. Because of the games, scrolling
> down alphabetically thru add/remove is a nuisance - maybe 60-70 items
> listed there . There are other apps listed in add/remove that I have no
> idea what they are - " OTTO", "Gem Master Mystic" etc.
>
> I hadn't bought a new PC with preinstalled OS in a while - I usually
> build it.
> Other companies - are they all this bad with the preloaded - UNWANTED
> software.
>
> Also it came with no backups - I had to make my own - with my own blank
> media: 3 DVD's

It's not only HP, but most manufacturers.

And that's the very reason why a lot of us still do a clean install!

Notan

"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:0YqdneoEOdJSTvbYnZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I got tired of looking for a new PC with a joystick mouse and bought a new
>HP laptop (dv6113) on Black Friday. Just turned it on and the desktop is
>FULL of stuff. Cleaning all the unwanted software of it is quite a chore:
>Vongo, Vonage,AOL ISP, AOL Music, ESPN, Ebay, MSN, Rhapsody,Snapfish,
>tc - some are just a URL link: others have a shortcut on the desktop to a
>file in a folder so I need to browse to / delete the folder, then delete
>the desktop link. ( UNINSTALL for these is not an option from
>add/remove ).
>
> In Add/Remove there are 31 different items for HP Games - rather than
> having ONE " HP Games " link then 'custom'. Just one of those games is
> 177mb and when I clicked it ,it reported that it would "install",so who
> knows how big when it's fully installed. Because of the games, scrolling
> down alphabetically thru add/remove is a nuisance - maybe 60-70 items
> listed there . There are other apps listed in add/remove that I have no
> idea what they are - " OTTO", "Gem Master Mystic" etc.
>
> I hadn't bought a new PC with preinstalled OS in a while - I usually build
> it.
> Other companies - are they all this bad with the preloaded - UNWANTED
> software.
>
> Also it came with no backups - I had to make my own - with my own blank
> media: 3 DVD's
>
> Bobb
>

It's not just HP...all OEM's are doing it. The reason you got a good deal
on your new computer is because all that "crap" is included. Without the
revenue from those companies, you would have paid more for your computer.

Also, as Notan stated, a clean install is the fastest way to deal with
it...just make sure you save the i386 and drivers folders to CD or DVD, and
when asked for component drivers, point it to these folders.

Honu.

It's not unusual. There is even an actual program being written for
Dell computers, "The Dell Decrapifier", and it has it's own web site.
And the amazing part is that as manufactured PCs go, Dell probably has
less of this crap than any other manufacturer, and tons less than HP or
Compaq. Just tell yourself, "It's not a PC, it's a delivery vehicle".

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:456c3a33$0$13726$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> It's not unusual. There is even an actual program being written for
> Dell computers, "The Dell Decrapifier", and it has it's own web site.
> And the amazing part is that as manufactured PCs go, Dell probably has
> less of this crap than any other manufacturer, and tons less than HP
> or Compaq. Just tell yourself, "It's not a PC, it's a delivery
> vehicle".

Thanks guys - just checking: very irritating that a $900 pc comes full
of crap. I think I got most of it, but one question ... since Media
Center only comes bundled ... ( I'm not on the laptop now) .

I made backup (restore ?) DVD's when prompted, but didn't check them so
not sure what's on them - if even bootable. On the HP's can someone tell
me - is this a RESTORE CD set I made or can I do a clean /customizeable
install with my media ? Can I just boot DVD#1 or "setup.exe" from
the root folder on the backup DVD and end up with a clean Media Center ?
Or is it just gonna put it back to factory ?

In the past I always had a store bought version of the OS and would use
the specific PC's drivers/ license during the reinstall. CAN I do a
clean install with just the homemade factory backup and no floppy drive
? This would be my first time reinstalling using only disk-based backup
media ( due to not having Media Center ). So will it LEAVE the "i386
folders" ( or RESTORE ? folder ) on the PC, or will starting the clean
install wipe the drive first ?

PS I did order Media Center media from HP website too - $15 ( Since I
could only make the one backup copy - if the DVD burn goes bad I'd
rather have the factory DVD's to reinstall - even if to factory image.)

- Bobb - wrote:
> I got tired of looking for a new PC with a joystick mouse and bought a
> new HP laptop (dv6113) on Black Friday. Just turned it on and the
> desktop is FULL of stuff. Cleaning all the unwanted software of it is
> quite a chore: Vongo, Vonage,AOL ISP, AOL Music, ESPN, Ebay, MSN,
> Rhapsody,Snapfish, etc

No doubt HP is making money off of that, so
they profit at your expense.

If you're technically adept you might consider either
BSD or Linux instead of Windoze.

I read there are even bootleg copies of OS/X floating around...

I also bought the same Lap Top on Black Friday at CompUSA.
Could you please tell me the web site to obtain a CD copy of
Media Center XP for $15. I presume I will need my serial # sticker
from my new PC.

How do you like it? Mine is still unopened in
the box. I was reading reviews of this PC when I found this web site.


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"800SomeDay" <800SomeDay.2i25h7@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:800SomeDay.2i25h7@nospamplease.com...
>
> I also bought the same Lap Top on Black Friday at CompUSA.
> Could you please tell me the web site to obtain a CD copy of
> Media Center XP for $15. I presume I will need my serial # sticker
> from my new PC.
>
> How do you like it? Mine is still unopened in
> the box. I was reading reviews of this PC when I found this web site.
>
1. I opened mine but that's about it. I WAS hoping to find a different
model - looked all weekend but the smaller screens were all sold out. I
prefer smaller screens, but a dual-core Media Center laptop with 1gb mem
for $550 was too good to pass up. Once I knew I wasn't gonna get a 14"
laptop, THEN I opened it and made the DVD backup. Haven't even gone
online with it yet. ( Busy building used pc's to donate for xmas). I'll
update here (new thread) after I use it a while.

BTW, the starting warranty date started when I booted it up, (according
to setup screens) so if you don't need it until Christams ( or 2 months
from now), wait until then to turn it on as otherwise you'll waste the
warranty period. I did go online to register / send me updates on
product updates ( BIOS, software updates at website).

2. To get the restore software:

Hp .com => support => pick your model - manuals etc
got me to
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...3250975&dlc=en

Scroll down and click on:
Notebook Recovery Disc Set Windows XP Media Center Edition
gets you here:
https://warp2.external.hp.com/driver...&lang=en&cc=us

Enter the serial number of the product:
and qty
then next screen = your info.
Name /address / cc info gets the DVD set.
I ordered it 11/26 (Sunday) and got an email that ETA is 12/4 , so one
week shipping.

Thanks I'll order it. I do prefer the 15.4" Have (4) 14"
and (1) 15.4" already that I use for trading stock options.

This one will replace an old 15" square screen wireless b laptop.

I had intended to wait for "n" but this was a good deal.

Thanks again,


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"800SomeDay" <800SomeDay.2i25h7@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:800SomeDay.2i25h7@nospamplease.com...
>
> I also bought the same Lap Top on Black Friday at CompUSA.
> Could you please tell me the web site to obtain a CD copy of
> Media Center XP for $15. I presume I will need my serial # sticker
> from my new PC.
>
> How do you like it? Mine is still unopened in
> the box. I was reading reviews of this PC when I found this web site.
>

Just got my package from HP. It a factory recovery - not a "restore
from D partition" cd
That one part number gets you:
2 DVD's with the complete install to restore the HDD to factory and 2
supplemental driver cd's (/DVDs?).
Packaging-wise, two envelopes inside:
one envelope has the 2 DVD's and 1 supplemental driver Cd.
Then as an update (?) there is another 2 supplemental driver CD ( same
p/n on media but I assume more current)

I'm assuming this is the same backup as prompted at startup. the strup
backup prompt listed 2 DVD's needed if +RL ,since I only had -R or +R
media , it took me 3 DVD's. I haven't used mine since last note here.
( but will take the battery out, per that other thread here)

I too bought that laptop on Black Friday ............ A real bargain!

But I too decided I did not want to keep 12 GB of HP style bloatware
and zapped the lot! I did not even back up. I decided it was a waste
of 3 CD's as the drivers are a small (free)download from hp.com.

However - BE WARNED! Although ALL devices seem to be working OK, a
problem with "unknown devices" in device manager lead me to ask HP tech
support for advice. They tell me the HP bios "is not compatible with
the full (clean) windoze install and is specific for the HP (OEM)
blatware edition". It seems I have to put up with "errors"

Also, after wanting to restore my Acronis image after screwing up an
application instal (normally a simple procedure) I got a "bios bug"
error message which will not allow me to restore a saved image.
Shafted!

I now seem to have only two choices: buy the back-ups (I should have
made for free) and restore (then try another clean install), or find a
new bios .......

Moral of the story? Was it a bargain? If something seems too good to
be true, it probably is!

Any ideas, anybody?

<jpcox@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1165160223.269641.172850@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> I too bought that laptop on Black Friday ............ A real bargain!
>
> But I too decided I did not want to keep 12 GB of HP style bloatware
> and zapped the lot! I did not even back up. I decided it was a waste
> of 3 CD's as the drivers are a small (free)download from hp.com.
>
> However - BE WARNED! Although ALL devices seem to be working OK, a
> problem with "unknown devices" in device manager lead me to ask HP tech
> support for advice. They tell me the HP bios "is not compatible with
> the full (clean) windoze install and is specific for the HP (OEM)
> blatware edition". It seems I have to put up with "errors"
>
> Also, after wanting to restore my Acronis image after screwing up an
> application instal (normally a simple procedure) I got a "bios bug"
> error message which will not allow me to restore a saved image.
> Shafted!
>
> I now seem to have only two choices: buy the back-ups (I should have
> made for free) and restore (then try another clean install), or find a
> new bios .......
>
> Moral of the story? Was it a bargain? If something seems too good to
> be true, it probably is!
>
Check out HP's web pages and see if there is a disk or driver download for
just the motherboard and or built in stuff. Many times there are
motherboard drivers available but one has to search them out after first
identifying the actual motherboard. Once they are installed the strange
devices are usually identified and the error messages like you describe go
away.

A program like Belarc Advisor should be able to identify the specific
Motherboard/BIOS in your machine. From there I'd do a motherboard driver
Google search if nothing shows up on the HP WebPages.

<jpcox@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1165160223.269641.172850@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> I too bought that laptop on Black Friday ............ A real bargain!
>
> But I too decided I did not want to keep 12 GB of HP style bloatware
> and zapped the lot! I did not even back up. I decided it was a waste
> of 3 CD's as the drivers are a small (free)download from hp.com.
>
> However - BE WARNED! Although ALL devices seem to be working OK, a
> problem with "unknown devices" in device manager lead me to ask HP
> tech
> support for advice. They tell me the HP bios "is not compatible with
> the full (clean) windoze install and is specific for the HP (OEM)
> blatware edition". It seems I have to put up with "errors"
>
> Any ideas, anybody?
>

That's true of any notebook. A lot of stuff is onboard and needs certain
drivers - you're not gonna find them on an off the shelf version of XP <
substitute your OS of choice>. Especially one you have from 12 months
ago - prior to the existence of your PC model !
Go to the webpage I mentioned in original note here and download all of
them into an " HP Downloads" folder.
Then "Update driver" for the unknowns and point it to the unzipped files
in the final folder.