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The company I work at goes through computers fairly regularly. When we get a new computer, someone has to manually go through and remove all the bloatware that comes with the computer. Right now, I am compiling a database of known bloatware and their silent uninstall commands, but many programs either don't have or require a silent uninstall script to be created. I'm wondering if there are any methods that I have missed that would silently reduce the windows installation to just the barebones OS and drivers.

chicks
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CZup
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    As Lucas said. However, if you've got a decent list of how to uninstall crapware consider publishing it to a forum or site - there's probably a number of people that would appriciate it. – tombull89 Apr 25 '12 at 17:52
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    As Lucas said. However, why are you buying computers from a vendor who installs software you don't want in the first place? – Joshua Drake Apr 25 '12 at 20:33
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    @JoshuaDrake Are there any who **don't**? Even when buying HPs and Dells through our corporate account at my last job, they still had a lot of crap on them out of the box. Not quite as much as a consumer desktop, but still a lot more crap than a clean install. – Tacroy Apr 25 '12 at 22:49

3 Answers3

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It's called a format. Just use a PXE server with some windows images. When a new computer comes in you automatically install a new windows image on it. In my experience, that's the easiest way.

Lucas Kauffman
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    Totally agree, even when you uninstall that bloatware there are all sorts of little artifacts that can cause issues not the least of which is potentially leave security risks. – dc5553 Apr 25 '12 at 17:53
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    I'd +2 that if I could. Perfect answer. – Bryan Apr 25 '12 at 19:56
  • besides bloatware you more then likely to have the virus of the day delivered by your friendly pc provider! – tony roth Apr 25 '12 at 20:54
  • What to do with the 'free' Windows license your friendly OEM provides you with? – Martijn Heemels Apr 25 '12 at 22:57
  • @MartijnHeemels http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/buying-a-dell-without-windows-is-not-easy-but-possible-20101228/ Why do you need an OS on a prebuilt computer? – WernerCD Apr 26 '12 at 00:50
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    @MartijnHeemels Some of the MS volume licensing arrangements require the purchase of the OEM license with the system in order to use the volume key. – Shane Madden Apr 26 '12 at 01:16
  • @ShaneMadden yep, most available to .edu customers do, for example. – MDMarra Apr 26 '12 at 02:01
  • @Martijn, this process can be used with OEM licenses as well, although you will need to configure it to prompt for the OEM key. – John Gardeniers Apr 26 '12 at 02:28
  • Thanks, do you know a good guide with best practices? Furthermore, how does licensing work? – CZup Apr 26 '12 at 18:03
  • There is a guide over here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722358(v=ws.10).aspx . But like a previous user said, some OEM's will install a custom image for you. Also you already have a license from your OEM, so you can just use those keys (often found on a label on the computer) to install your software. Don't forget to accept the answer if it was useful by clicking the 'V' ;) Good Luck! – Lucas Kauffman Apr 26 '12 at 18:07
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Lucas's answer is the best way to go but if you have a situation where that's not practical you can create a machine image using an OEM install of Windows, customised to your liking. Give a copy of that image to your OEM supplier and instruct them to use it for all future PC purchases. If the supplier won't agree to do that find a supplier who will work with you.

John Gardeniers
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3

PC Decrapifier is actually pretty good for this.

mpnk121
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