start menu apps... are any necessary?

[David Bailey]

I uninstalled all apps using Revo Uninstaller Pro.

I found most in Program Files\Windows Apps.

I gained several GBs of space by doing so.

I just removed the entire folders at one go.
Instead of App by App.

 

[hannelius]

I just removed the entire folders at one go.
Instead of App by App.

what do you mean by that?

Revo Uninstaller Pro

• Uninstall stubborn programs
• Delete leftover data after regular uninstall

that sounds nice... might give it a try

thanks to everyone who helped...

i mostly wanted to find out what certain things were
which ones are needed and which ones were online
cause some of the names are deceptive
and windows likes to surprise you
by suddenly getting you online
when you didn't want to be there...

i did a lot of research
and discovered things along the way
and got it narrowed down to
just a few things left to do...

all the wildtangent games are gone
thanks to shawn i found a tutorial
that showed me where the GameUX reg key was
i deleted it and rebooted and the games folder was gone...

just wanted to share that...

i might try the uninstall program
and see what it can find...

 

[David Bailey]

what do you mean by that?

I just found the Windows Apps folder & uninstalled it.
C:\Programs\Windows Apps

& Wild Tanget too with Revo.

 

[Slartybart]

I uninstalled all apps using Revo Uninstaller Pro.

I found most in Program Files\Windows Apps.

I gained several GBs of space by doing so.

I just removed the entire folders at one go.
Instead of App by App.

I'm not sure removing the WindowsApps folder is the best advice. I don't know what else depends on the folder. It is a Hidden folder and access is denied if I try to look inside (so I assume it is a system folder)

It's better, IMO, to use Windows native programs to install and uninstall, resorting to 3rd party programs as a last resort. Brute force often has unforeseen consequences (and I speak from my own experience of breaking things).

Bill
.

 

[David Bailey]

It is a Hidden folder and access is denied if I try to look inside ...

It wasn't hidden on my computer.
I didn't even have to take ownership of it to uninstall it.

 

[Slartybart]

It is a Hidden folder and access is denied if I try to look inside ...

It wasn't hidden on my computer.
I didn't even have to take ownership of it to uninstall it.

Interesting!

I suppose that's one reason I don't suggest brute force solutions to other members. Every machine is different.

Plus I don't want to have to figure out a way to undo something on someone else's computer if it causes issues down the road

It's easier to say "Right click the app and click uninstall" and if they want it back say "Go to the Store and open My Account/My Apps, Apps not installed on this PC, then select the app you want to reinstall".

It just makes it easier for everyone - especially since members on this die of the monitor don't have aces to the other member's machine.

We all have our methods, eh?

Bill
.

 

[David Bailey]

We all have our methods, eh?

Each to their own.

BTW--- I keep 2 Macrium images at all times so if I mess up I can easily fix things.

 

[hannelius]

the WindowsApps folder under Program Files?

it was hidden on mine too
and i had to take ownership to see what was inside...

tons of stuff about a gig
all this stuff i thought i uninstalled
through windows control panel was there...
netflix, ebay, xbox, bing etc
when it said it uninstalled...

but there were also things there like
windows scan, calculator, sound recorder,
microsoft media playreadyclient,
help and tips, windows alarms, VCLibs...

don't know what some of these are
so i'm thinking of using revo uninstalller
to remove what's left of what i uninstalled
and leave it at that...

interesting note here:
there was a program called synaptics
a program for the mouse touchpad (for a laptop)
it was really creepy
so i decided i'd be better off without it
and use the driver that came with windows
but when i uninstalled it and rebooted
the mouse pointer drags
even though it's on fast...

is there another driver or program i can use
to fix that? it's an hp
i might have to look around for that...

 

[orlandotek]

Anytime I buy a new computer I immediately format it and re-install the OS fresh to remove any bloatware and junk. Especially if it came from an OEM.

 

[alphanumeric]

Anytime I buy a new computer I immediately format it and re-install the OS fresh to remove any bloatware and junk. Especially if it came from an OEM.

That's now a lot easier thanks to this download, Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help For Windows 8 anyway.

 

[hannelius]

sounds great, i'm downloading it now
it should be done in seven hours...

though half the stuff i deleted was from microsoft
or their friends...

edit:
six hours later...
download failed
no option to resume...

i don't trust them anyway...

back to my real life...

 

[Slartybart]

the WindowsApps folder under Program Files?

it was hidden on mine too
and i had to take ownership to see what was inside...

tons of stuff about a gig
all this stuff i thought i uninstalled through windows control panel was there...
netflix, ebay, xbox, bing etc
when it said it uninstalled...

but there were also things there like
windows scan, calculator, sound recorder, microsoft media playreadyclient, help and tips, windows alarms, VCLibs...

don't know what some of these are
so i'm thinking of using revo uninstaller to remove what's left of what i uninstalled and leave it at that...

interesting note here:
there was a program called synaptics a program for the mouse touchpad (for a laptop)
it was really creepy so i decided i'd be better off without it and use the driver that came with windows
but when i uninstalled it and rebooted the mouse pointer drags even though it's on fast...

is there another driver or program i can use to fix that? it's an hp i might have to look around for that...

If you visit the MS Store and click on Account, then My Apps you'll see that those apps have history.
Purchased, installed, etc.

The history is important for Apps you pay for, not so much the free ones. If you pay for an app and delete that folder, you'll have to pay for the app again.

There is probably more that just that for those files.

The synaptics object came with Windows and is probably there for Settings on the Modern side, but it sounds as though there's a connection to the desktop side.

When you reinstall, even with the ISO, all of that will be installed - it's part of Windows.

What won't get installed are

• the HP front end apps that call MS apps to do the real work,
• HP Assistants
• HP Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Support Environment
• HP QuickWeb
• certain HP specific drivers (Coolsense, HardDrive Protect)
• any software that HP bundled with your machine
  (CyberLink Power DVD came on my dv6 - I can't load it from HP because the registry that allows HP to bundle it is gone ).

Most can be reinstalled if you want (the diagnostics should be, I like QuickWeb, and wish I could reinstall Cyberlink Power DVD from the HP site)

I STRONGLY suggest to people that if they don't know - ask, if you don't ask, don't do until you know.

Windows Update might fix your touchpad, if not then you can go to the HP support site for your machine to download and install the driver.

If all else fails, launch a system refresh from PC Settings -> Update and Recovery on the modern side
Read about it here before you do it - use OPTION Two
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

People can do what they want with their machines, but here's my advice:
People should STOP deleting System folders and files - if access is denied, there's a reason

If you need help members will help - but ask first.
If something makes you think "Hey why can't I delete that?" - ask a few times and get a few answers before you delete a System folder or file.

 

[bassfacer22]

just read through all your complete attempt to remove the "bloatware". especially from one of the worst "HP" computers..

the answer lies in the "clean" install.. you need to just do that.. if you failed then 1 of 2 things happened.. microsoft network went down or your network went down..

so just try it again.. and if it took 7 hours or more you must have a somwhat slow connection...

anyway i would try it again and see if you can get it to fully download.. the clean install is the way all the power-users and bloatware-free users use..

 

[hannelius]

just read through all your complete attempt to remove the "bloatware". especially from one of the worst "HP" computers..

the answer lies in the "clean" install.. you need to just do that.. if you failed then 1 of 2 things happened.. microsoft network went down or your network went down..

so just try it again.. and if it took 7 hours or more you must have a somewhat slow connection...

i'm on wifi at a hotel which is why i use downthemall most the time,
but microsoft downloads directly...

a clean install would be nice
but thanks to everyone's help and the things i've discovered
everything's gone i wanted to get rid of (nearly)
and everything's working fine...

if i ever need to, i have the windows 7 update dvd
and plenty before it and i'll go back to that
but for now i've got it just about the way i want it...

 

[hannelius]

I STRONGLY suggest to people that if they don't know - ask, if you don't ask, don't do until you know.

Windows Update might fix your touchpad, if not then you can go to the HP support site for your machine to download and install the driver.

If all else fails, launch a system refresh from PC Settings -> Update and Recovery on the modern side
Read about it here before you do it - use OPTION Two
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

People can do what they want with their machines, but here's my advice:
People should STOP deleting System folders and files - if access is denied, there's a reason

wish I could reinstall Cyberlink Power DVD from the HP site

i left the WindowsApps folder alone, just wanted to see what was in it...
and i know...

system files are one thing, but they even hide the start menu
and windows 7 put locks on all my zip files...

funny it did do a windows update
and put back all the gestures i got rid of
i found a reg file from shawn
to disable the synaptics ones
and it works like a normal touchpad now (again)
the mouse is quicker than before
it has a little drag not much
so i may leave it as it is...

thanks for the hp info and the link if i need it...
and for telling me about the windows update
having something to do with fixing it...

need any reg files?
might still have 'em

 

[Slartybart]

.....
a clean install would be nice
but thanks to everyone's help and the things i've discovered
everything's gone i wanted to get rid of (nearly)
and everything's working fine...

if i ever need to, i have the windows 7 update dvd and plenty before it and i'll go back to that
but for now i've got it just about the way i want it...

Excellent!

i left the WindowsApps folder alone, just wanted to see what was in it...
and i know...

system files are one thing, but they even hide the start menu
and windows 7 put locks on all my zip files...

funny it did do a windows update and put back all the gestures i got rid of
i found a reg file from shawn to disable the synaptics ones and it works like a normal touchpad now (again)
the mouse is quicker than before it has a little drag not much
so i may leave it as it is...

thanks for the hp info and the link if i need it...
and for telling me about the windows update having something to do with fixing it...

need any reg files?
might still have 'em

Ok, thanks - I misread your post and thought "Hey if a visitor or a new member sees two people who delete that folder, they might think it's a good idea" - it isn't and they shouldn't.

The AllUsers Start menu is hidden (as it should be), but not your personal start menu
Location: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\

Not sure why ZIP folders are 'locked' on your machine - I can't think of any setting that would affect that attribute.
If that is important to you, could you elaborate on 'locked' - perhaps post a screenshot of one?
See: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html#post29423

Bill
.

 

[bassfacer22]

i'm on wifi at a hotel which is why i use downthemall most the time,
but microsoft downloads directly...

Wifi from a hotel??! don't you have to "login" every so often for the wifi hotel to continue? that could be why it failed.. and who knows what router setup they have to stop downloads or over-loading the network etc..

i would fresh install. but that's just my opinion.
again.. just throwing it out there.

 

[hannelius]

The AllUsers Start menu is hidden (as it should be), but not your personal start menu
Location: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\

Not sure why ZIP folders are 'locked' on your machine - I can't think of any setting that would affect that attribute.
If that is important to you, could you elaborate on 'locked' - perhaps post a screenshot of one?
See: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html#post29423

Bill

the start menu under roaming? it's full of administrative tools etc
i'll probably leave those alone...

i see that the other start menu includes those and more
all the programs i installed etc
it's under C:/ProgramData
and the ProgramData folder is hidden

i made a shortcut to it and found out that if i showed hidden files
and made a shortcut to it i could hide them again
and still have the shortcut and all the folders underneath it
so that's what i did...

in windows 7 every zip file i made with compressed folders
it put a lock on it... i found a tutorial that showed me
how to undo them one at a time through properties
until i found out all i had to do
was drag them to the desktop and back
and it got rid of them...
so i used peazip instead...

on win8 i use peazip and it works fine...

Wifi from a hotel??! don't you have to "login" every so often for the wifi hotel to continue? that could be why it failed.. and who knows what router setup they have to stop downloads or over-loading the network etc..

i would fresh install. but that's just my opinion.

it's 100k/sec and i need to log in about three or four times a day
it cuts out without me even knowing
it even cut out in the middle of doing this
so i need to disconnect even though it says it's connected
then i reconnect again and i'm here...

 

[Slartybart]

Yeah, Win7 worked the same way regarding administrative tools.
If you opt to show them (settings in all aps -> tiles) then they get populated in your local start folder. probably because not all users are administrators.

zip folders: I just tried it and mine are not locked. How are you creating the zip folders that have the lock
New -> Compressed (zipped) folder
or
Send To -> Compressed (zipped) folder

If you used Send To, look at the Properties->security tab on %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
Mine inherit from my user profile:


There's nothing really special about those security settings. System; Administrators; and I have full control.
Post what yours look like, but don't change anything yet.

Also look at what the security settings are for your user folder. That's where the send to settings should be coming from.

You're saying that ONLY zip folders have the lock on it or does any folder you create have a lock on it?

Any chance you're using Norton? There was one user who stated that caused this issue - not sure about that or how to change settings in Norton that might stop the behavior.

Of course if you're happy using peazip, then I'm happy too.

Thanks for posting back.

Bill
.

 

[orlandotek]

Motels are notorious for having poor bandwidth/speeds. They do it on purpose to keep people from clogging there internet with torrents and stuff. You should download it somewhere else. Even Starbucks has halfway decent download speeds.