How to tell what software is on my new Windows 8.1 laptop?

[Miamicuse]

I just got a new HP laptop that comes with Windows 8.1. On my old Windows XP laptop it came with the Windows XP CD, as well as the HP drivers for that particular laptop. Now there is no CD and I am having a hard time trying to figure out all this stuff that has been installed on it - seems a lot of them are trial software installed by the manufacturer.

Some of these look like programs designed for tablets? Programs like "Food and Drink", "Health and Fitness", "Weather", "Travel", "Sports", "News", "Maps" Are these integral part of Windows 8.1?

Also comes with it is Windows Defender, Avast Secureline, McAfee Central I think some of these work against each other right? I think I need one antivirus software, and I am more comfortable with Malwarebytes for malware detection.

Sorry I am all over the place here I guess my first question is how do I peel back all this fluff and strip it down to the bare minimum before I install the stuff I need?

Second question is if the manufacturer does not provide a Windows CD and a driver's CD how do I rebuild the machine in case something happens to it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jds63]

Are those programs you see as Food and Drink, etc... on Start Menu as seems as though this is where you would see them, they are Metro apps and standard to be there for windows 8.1. As Windows Defender is default Virus, Antimalware scanner and real time protection and if add another real time protection either it will disable Defender or may have to.

McAfee Central is an app that runs in your Windows 8 environment, offering helpful functionality and access to special offers. When you install McAfee Central, a new McAfee Central tile displays on your desktop.

Check Program and Features in control panel this will show you all that is installed and where can uninstall software, but i would familiarize myself with a new system before going and uninstalling stuff as some may be connected to other programs.

If needed driver updates or any other system updates besides through Windows update best place to go is HP's website look under support for your model number. As far as not getting a CD with system a lot of preinstalled operating system manufacturer's do this lately as there is a backup on the system through doing a refresh in Windows 8.1 if needed.


Avast Secureline is this and sure it is only a trial https://www.avast.com/en-us/secureline-vpn

 

[Ztruker]

HP loads a lot of junkware and trial software since they get paid to do so.

Since this is a new laptop. think about doing a Clean Install of Windows 8.1. You can download the iso here:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Then follow this tutorial" http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

It would be a good idea to create the recovery disc set before doing this so you can get back to where you are now if necessary, or do an image backup of the hard drive to an external USB hard drive before reinstalling.

Doing this will give you a clean install with no junk or trial software.

 

[gator2013]

First project and a very important one.

Make your initial system recovery disks. Locate the HP Recovery Manager either in the Apps Section or the HP Support Assistant. On a new PC you can only make this media once and it will allow you to return the PC to Out-of-the-box condition.

Next I would make sure the Windows System Protection (Restore Points) is enabled. You can find this in Action Center (Control Panel) or white flag on bottom of screen. Recovery/Configure System Restore.

Post a screen shot of Programs & Features screen and you will get recommendations on what to remove. HP does include a lot of junk but some of it can be useful but most of it is BS.

Uninstall Apps that you don't want or need.

I have been buying HP PC's for many years and currently have a desktop and laptop, both less than 2 years old. My laptop is only 5 months old so I have a pretty good idea what might be on yours.

 

[Ztruker]

This little gem is great for new computers: PC Decrapifier

I've used it with XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.

Fixed link

 

[jds63]

This little gem is great for new computers: PC Decrapifier

I've used it with XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.

dead link

 

[cipals15]

A screenshot of the things that you are seeing would help us find the best answer to your question.

To check the installed programs on your computer, you need to access the "Programs and Features" section of the Control Panel. The shortcut would be:
1. Press and hold the WINDOWS and R keys on your keyboard.
2. On the Run window, type "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER. A new window should appear with the list of programs currently installed on your computer.

From there, you can remove or uninstall any unwanted programs before installing those programs that you prefer such as Malwarebytes, Avast, McAfee or Trend Micro.

By the way, all the other Control Panel shortcut commands are here: List of control panel commands and shortcut keys

 

[Ztruker]

This little gem is great for new computers: PC Decrapifier

I've used it with XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.

dead link

Thanks, fixed the link

 

[jds63]

This little gem is great for new computers: PC Decrapifier

I've used it with XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.

dead link

Thanks, fixed the link

Your welcome, nice lightweight utility, no install, gotta a laugh at the name De-Crap-ifier ! Reminds me a bit of this software from feature where shows you percentage to keep the software or not. This is rated well, but installs on PC
https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimcleaner.php

 

[broe23]

ZTrucker use the Majorgeeks.com link for the software. No issues with that, and always clean safe software. The issue with the default Metro Apps, is that they are placed in three places. There is a folder that is system only, that holds them, but you can never totally get rid of them.

Norton is a huge problem when you try to get rid of it. You have to manually dig into the registry to get rid of all traces.

 

[Ztruker]

Norton is a huge problem when you try to get rid of it. You have to manually dig into the registry to get rid of all traces.

Use the Norton Removal Tool from the Norton web site. Does a good job of getting rid of all the bits and pieces.

 

[broe23]

Not with Windows 8, because of the design. All it does is remove the operational part, not the bits and pieces that get left behind as ghosts in the registry.

Revo is actually the more preferred software, since you can flush all traces from the Registry also.

 

[gator2013]

Use the Norton Removal Tool from the Norton web site. Does a good job of getting rid of all the bits and pieces.

I agree.

A while back I used the Norton Removal Tool to remove the current version of Norton Internet Security with Backup from my W-8.1 desktop just to test Windows Defender. After it ran, Defender activated immediately just as it should. It has always been my understanding that Defender will likely not activate with traces of any other AV present so the Removal Tool must do a pretty good job. I love Revo and have the paid version and swear by it but my experience with the Norton Removal Tool has been excellent. With REVO I shy away from the Advanced removal feature unless whatever I am removing was initially installed with the REVO Trace feature. I have not tried installing Norton with the REVO Trace Feature, that might be interesting.

 

[jds63]

Use the Norton Removal Tool from the Norton web site. Does a good job of getting rid of all the bits and pieces.

I agree.

A while back I used the Norton Removal Tool to remove the current version of Norton Internet Security with Backup from my W-8.1 desktop just to test Windows Defender. After it ran, Defender activated immediately just as it should. It has always been my understanding that Defender will likely not activate with traces of any other AV present so the Removal Tool must do a pretty good job. I love Revo and have the paid version and swear by it but my experience with the Norton Removal Tool has been excellent. With REVO I shy away from the Advanced removal feature unless whatever I am removing was initially installed with the REVO Trace feature. I have not tried installing Norton with the REVO Trace Feature, that might be interesting.

Trace feature works pretty good, tried it before. Guess as you know when install software right click the setup.exe and select install with Revo.
Norton Removal tool works with version below 2015 only. To me no uninstaller gets every trace, not even Revo as i been using it for few years myself. In past with Norton removal tool to me was good to use after a good uninstaller to look for traces.

 

[Miamicuse]

Thanks guys for the help. I was out on a trip for a few days and just now getting back to it.

Let me answer some of the questions posted here then I have a few more of my own. This is a great forum!

 

[Miamicuse]

HP loads a lot of junkware and trial software since they get paid to do so.

Since this is a new laptop. think about doing a Clean Install of Windows 8.1. You can download the iso here:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Then follow this tutorial" http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

It would be a good idea to create the recovery disc set before doing this so you can get back to where you are now if necessary, or do an image backup of the hard drive to an external USB hard drive before reinstalling.

Doing this will give you a clean install with no junk or trial software.

First of all, when I first unwrapped the laptop I did a bunch of new installs (I probably shouldn't have)...so now it may be too late to do a clean install, but I am also concerned about a clean install of Win8.1 I may not be able to find all the HP add on drivers that's on this laptop. I mean what I have is not a vanilla Win8.1 and I don't have a set of disks from HP like they used to do with previous laptops I bought.

I do have a drive D named RECOVERY which I haven't touch yet.

 

[Miamicuse]

First project and a very important one.

Make your initial system recovery disks. Locate the HP Recovery Manager either in the Apps Section or the HP Support Assistant. On a new PC you can only make this media once and it will allow you to return the PC to Out-of-the-box condition.

Next I would make sure the Windows System Protection (Restore Points) is enabled. You can find this in Action Center (Control Panel) or white flag on bottom of screen. Recovery/Configure System Restore.

Post a screen shot of Programs & Features screen and you will get recommendations on what to remove. HP does include a lot of junk but some of it can be useful but most of it is BS.

Uninstall Apps that you don't want or need.

I have been buying HP PC's for many years and currently have a desktop and laptop, both less than 2 years old. My laptop is only 5 months old so I have a pretty good idea what might be on yours.

Thanks. I made a mistake and didn't make my initial system recovery disks out of the box. Is it too late to do it now that I have installed stuff on it or can it be made from the recovery drive?

As far as what's been installed, I was looking at Windows 8.1 Start screen there was a down arrow on the lower left and when I clicked it I saw a list of installed apps. This screen, there is a lot of stuff here.

I also ran the appwiz.cpl cipals15 suggested and here is a screen shot of that. What I circled in red are items I installed myself.



Any obvious junk?

 

[Miamicuse]

First thing I noticed is that the laptop is pre-installed with Microsoft Office 365 which I don't have a license for. But I have a license for Microsoft Office Professional 2010 so I installed that and it's been working. Should I uninstall the Office 365 which is really annoying if I ran it by mistake it asks me if I want to try it or buy it...

Also, I tried running Skype that came installed and couldn't understand why it kept asking me to register a new MS account? Eventually I found out it was Skype for Modern Windows that I had so I had to download the Skype I knew and installed that. So now I have two Skypes, should I uninstall the Skype for Modern Windows? Is it an integral part of Win8.1?

 

[LetMeIn]

It's been a long time since I had an HP machine but you can go to their website and click on support / drivers & downloads and either enter your systems specs or install an app that will detect your system and a list of software and drivers will show up. You can also call or chat online with HP and request installation media and they will send it to you for a small fee or possibly free. As far as what is on your machine you can try the free Belarc Advisor Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

 

[Miamicuse]

I would also like some advice for antivirus, malware and trojan killers for Win8.1.

It seems on this laptop I have the following software installed by the manufacturer:

1. McAfee Central
2. McAfee LiveSafe Internet Security
3. Windows Defender
4. Avast Secureline

Most of those were installed but after a few days they started the "your trial period has expired and your computer is now completely unprotected please start a subscription..." alerts. So I need to figure out what I need.

I don't need Avast Secureline, at least right now I don't need a VPN.

I came straight from WinXP Pro, skipped Win7, Vista and Win8.0. In the past I have used AVG (FREE) for antivirus, Malwarebytes and RogueKiller. I am wondering if I should install those?

I assume Windows Defender is like "MS Security Essentials" back in the days? Thoughts? Should I use it? Is it part of Windows or do I need to pay or subscribe to use it?

Sorry for so many questions, this Win8.1 experience has me a bit overwhelmed.