Few Questions Re: New Desktop With W8.1

PJB

New Member
Messages
12
Hi All

Got a dell Inspiron 3847 with W8.1, full specs below.

Got a few questions:

1. Does Dell generally come with lot of bloatware and is there anything I should specifically get rid of.
2. Really do not like W8.1 on this as it doesn't have a touch screen, used it on a touchscreen and was ok. Is there any good tutorials so I can give it a go, or any modifications to run it more like W7.
3. I'm using Eset and have done for a few years, is this still a decent antivirus? Or is there is there a better one?
4. Any other spyware, malware etc you can recommend?​
5. Can anyone recommend a decent 'optimiser' or are these no longer necessary?
6. Would there be much benefit in putting an SSD in?

Anyway, probably will think of more but think I may have taken the mick already so I shall leave it at that.

Thanks for reading

PJB

Full spec:

Components
1 Inspiron 3847
1 4th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4150 Processor (3M Cache, 3.5 GHz)
1 Inspiron 660s Chassiss, MT, EPA Bezel w/8:1 media card reader
1 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz (4GBx2)
1 1TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
1 Tray load DVD Drive (Reads and Writes to DVD/CD)
1 UK 250V Power Cord
1 Intel HD Graphics
1 DW 1705 802.11bgn + Bluetooth 4.0, 2.4 GHz, 1x1
1 Dell USB Optical Mouse - MS111 - black
1 Keyboard : UK/Irish (QWERTY) Dell KB 113 USB Entry Black
1 McAfee Live Safe 30day Trial
1 Dell SRV Software 1705
1 Adobe Revel 1.1 Premium 90 Day for Windows 8.1
1 Info Mod for No Raid
1 Shipping Material
Software
1 Cyberlink Software for Windows 8 without media
1 Operating System: Windows 8.1 (64Bit) Multi-Language
English,Swedish,Spanish,Norwegian,Danish
1 OS Media : Not Included
1 Software: Microsoft Office 2013 Trial, MUI
1 McAfee LiveSafe Consumer 12 Month Subscription
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Gen Intel i3-4510
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB ST1000DM003-1ER162
    Antivirus
    ESET
Hey I will try and answer some questions for you

1) There is nothing specifically you should/need to get rid of just uninstall any crap that you dont want/ will never use
2) Download a program called classic shell it will give you back a desktop and start menu very close to win 7
3) Eset is decent enough but the best anti viruis you can use is not to download sh!t from untrusted sources
4) cCleaner (removes junk files) superantispyware or anti malwarebytes will remove spyware/viruis run each about once a month
5) Any i have tried are sh!t that just try and install more crap or sell you crap
6) Of course there is a benefit to SSD rather than HDD you will have to look into the pros/cons for each and decide which you want eg faster read/write on a smaller drive or a bigger drive and slower read/write
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
Thanks KHM
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Gen Intel i3-4510
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB ST1000DM003-1ER162
    Antivirus
    ESET
Just need to set it to boot straight into desktop!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Gen Intel i3-4510
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB ST1000DM003-1ER162
    Antivirus
    ESET
I did this to boot with out putting in password .
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2894-log-user-account-automatically-windows-8-startup.html

set win8.1 to open to desktop and not the start screen
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7449-desktop-start-when-sign-close-apps-windows-8-a.html

right click on the windows icon lower left corner and go to programs and features ,and uninstall any Dell programs or trial programs you don't want or didn't install .

antivirus- depending on how safe you surf ,the windows defender that comes with win8.1 might be good enough ,its all I have been using the past 2years ,along with malwarebytes,,but Im a safe surfer .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
1. Does Dell generally come with lot of bloatware and is there anything I should specifically get rid of.
Yes, pretty much all factory built computers come with lots of bloatware, including a bunch you don't need, and trialware of programs you may not want. One of the best tools to help users get rid of unwanted extras on new, factory made computers is the aptly named, PC Decrapifier. This is a great program that will scan your computer and list programs typically pre-loaded on factory systems, and offer to remove them for you. It selects nothing and does nothing without your consent. Very nice!

But do note the big WARNING indicating that it is difficult to detect the difference between trial and paid for versions of the same software. MS Office, for example, is often pre-loaded as trialware on new systems and the only difference between the trial version and the paid version is the registration key has been installed. So it will be listed by Decrapifier, but again, not selected (checked) for removal.

2. Really do not like W8.1 on this as it doesn't have a touch screen, used it on a touchscreen and was ok. Is there any good tutorials so I can give it a go, or any modifications to run it more like W7.
I really like, use and recommend Start8. Start8 brings back the familiar W7 Start Orb and Start Menu and lets you boot directly to the Windows Desktop instead of the Windows 8 "Start Screen" that so many people dislike (though you can do that now with W8.1). With Start 8, W8.x works and looks and feels almost exactly like the familiar W7. It cost $5 (after a 30-day trial period), but it is well worth it IMO.

In addition to Start8 and ClassicShell mentioned above, StartIsBack is also a popular alternative.

3. I'm using Eset and have done for a few years, is this still a decent antivirus? Or is there is there a better one?
4. Any other spyware, malware etc you can recommend?​
ESET is still good. But note W8.x comes with the new Windows Defender and it works fine too, and is already included, along with Windows' own and capable Windows Firewall. I use WD and WF on all my W8.x systems. That said, regardless your primary anti-malware solution, you should have a supplemental scanner in your arsenal just to make sure you (the weakest link in security) or your primary scanner did not let something slip by. I use and recommend Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) for that.

5. Can anyone recommend a decent 'optimiser' or are these no longer necessary?
I hate the misleading term of "optimizer". I ONLY recommend and use CCleaner because (1) is it NOT very aggressive and (2) it always prompts to backup the registry before making any changes, and (3) it does NOT make wild claims to "optimize" my computer to make it run better than new. If you decide to use CCleaner's registry cleaner, it should be used to MAINTAIN optimal performance, NOT fix a broken computer.

As for cleaning the clutter, CCleaner is excellent at that, but so is Windows 8 Disk Cleanup.

6. Would there be much benefit in putting an SSD in?
It would be HUGE!!! But only if installed as the boot and applications drive. If budgets allow, I see no reason for hard drives any more, except for mass storage of "fixed" files (files not likely to be modified, like music, photos, and video files) and backups. I will never go back to HDs for my boot drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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