An easy way to decrapify your new PC
Here’s an easy way to get rid of all those unwanted trial versions of software that came preinstalled on your new computer.
If you’ve ever bought a new PC from a major retailer, chances are that you’ve moaned and groaned at the amount of junk that came preinstalled on it. By junk, I mean the trial versions of applications that PC manufacturers are paid to preload onto your computer – Norton Internet Security, Yahoo! Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Wild Tangent Games, etc., etc. Now, while uninstalling these programs is an easy enough process, it’s undoubtedly somewhat irritating. Who wants to spend 30 or so minutes uninstalling an assortment of junk when you could instead be playing with your shiny new PC? Further, inexperienced users may not be sure what can be safely dumped and what needs to be kept. All-in-all, these applications and trials can be a pain in the butt.
There is, however, an easy way to rid your computer of a significant proportion of that preloaded garbage. PC Decrapifier is a small, easy-to-use application that’s completely free for personal use. When run, PC Decrapifier scans your system and provides you with a list of preloaded software that you may wish to remove (I say may as the program has no way of knowing what you want to keep – obviously, you wouldn’t want it to remove purchased software that you plan on using!). All you need do is to check the boxes next to the trials that you wish to remove and PC Decrapifier will do the rest.
The two main benefits to PC Decrapifier are 1) it’ll help less experienced users to identify items that can be safely removed and 2) it enables you to remove everything in one fell swoop, meaning that you don’t have to sit in front of your computer uninstalling the junk, one program at a time.
I bought my computer last January (boxing day sales, woot!) and the sales guy tried coaxing me into paying him something ridiculous – $50 or thereabouts – for him to uninstall all the “bloatware” on the computer. If you find yourself in a similar situation next time you’re buying a new computer, tell the sales guy to stuff it and use this free option.
Do you know of any great, time-saving applications that may be of use to other Sync readers? Leave a comment and let us know!
I work for WildTangent and we have millions of game players who enjoy the website and App. In fact, we’re doing a survey right now of current players, and many like having pre-installed programs they can discover. They have specifically pointed that out. A lot of consumers just want their computers to be “ready” for them. Many of our game players discovered us and have become loyal fans. Pre-installed programs that are enjoyed by users are a good thing. Have you gone to the beta of the new site and App yet at WildTangent.com? If not, you should make yourself familiar with it.
Regards.
When I purchase a computer, it’s for my personal use and not to play games. It’s a tool I use for work and information. If I want to play games, I’ll use a game machine, like the WII, Xbox, Playstation or any other. These are made to play games on, so stuff your game into them, and leave my computer to me.
I don’t work for wildtangent and I don’t know millions of game players who enjoy your website and app. I do however know that I hate uninstalling your garbage software from my computers, software which is designed to lure people in with trials and then try to charge them money. Still worse, you make everyone manually check every game in your program to uninstall it; one last desperate attempt to disuade people from uninstalling your deceptive bloatware.
I congratulate you on having a business that revolves around tricking amateur computer users into using your software and pissing off more experienced ones. You should take all that money you spend getting your software pre-installed and put it into advertising, maybe build up a business model that doesn’t alienate millions of computer users a year. Because all you’re doing right now is making “Wildtangent Games” synonomous with “garbage”, “bloatware” and “annoying”.
Also I wish you luck with your survey of your current users, because after all the best way to grasp your position in the industry is to ask someone who already uses your service regularily if they enjoy it…
Lastly, I find it ironic that someone who works for Wildtangent somehow stumbled across an article called “An easy way to decrapify your PC” you guys must be psychic.
I completely agree with your comments.
Jean Boisvert
Consultant & Trainer
As we can see from the earlier two comments, there are both pros and cons to “trialware”. Some appreciate the opportunity to try software that they might otherwise not be aware of or might not be able to try. Others would like their machine to arrive in a pristine state allowing them to decide what gets installed and what does not. Rhonda’s point here was not to get into a debate about whether “trialware” is a good thing or not but rather to offer an easy remedy for both camps. It’s free and has the potential of saving you 50 bucks? I am for it! Thanks Rhonda.
The person from WildTangent is peddling a fallacy – that everyone wants what she is selling.
A good way would be for the computer manufacturer to provide a simple checkbox list of the optional software that is on an auxiliary recovery CD.
That would also increase the reliability and speed of the computer, since so much software is defective – a major reason for apparent problems with Windows.
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