EXORCISE THE DEMONWARE

It might be a trial version of security programs from McAfee and Norton, graphics programs from Corel, multimedia applications from Roxio, or offers from Internet service providers or phone service providers. Even Microsoft has stripped-down versions of its software, like Office, offered up on the desktop of a new PC.

“This stuff is just a headache for consumers. When new buyers turn on their PCs, they’re not expecting to see these buttons and icons, and they become confused,” said Michael Redmond, director of software for the NPD Group, a marketing consulting firm in New York. “But manufacturers don’t want to turn away that free money.”

The applications pop up onto the Windows desktop as icons or toolbars when the computer is first booted. The on-screen attractions invite surprised customers to try this security or DVD-editing program, or that office productivity or photo-editing application. The idea is to send new PC owners to sites to spend money for products or services, or entice them to use a service free for 30 or 90 days, and then buy it.

The bloatware may seem benign despite being a nagging annoyance, but these little programs can bedevil the machines. The free mini-applications can bog down the operating system and slow its start-up, clog the storage capacity of the hard drive and crowd the desktop with unwanted or unused icons or other irritating graphics. “Some customers are pretty vocal when it comes to having this kind of software on their new systems,” said Anne Camden, a spokeswoman for Dell.

There is good reason to remove it. “Our internal tests show that just uninstalling the preinstalled software that you don’t want can improve a computer’s performance by 20 percent or more,” said David Zipkin, senior product manager for Windows at Microsoft. (Most experts believe 35 to 45 seconds is reasonable to boot Windows Vista.)

“We’re very aware of boot-up times for our machines,” said Mike Abary, a senior vice president for marketing at Sony, who is also well aware of customer criticism of just that issue. “We’ve identified which trial apps have caused a negative performance, and either removed them or worked with the vendors to improve them.”

That doesn’t mean that trial programs will be eliminated. Abary says 30 percent of Sony computer buyers eventually use some of the software—what he calls the “bounty.” The bloatware tempest came to a head in March, when Sony—for a few hours—introduced a program called Fresh Start. The feature let some business laptop buyers buy a system free of such software. For the service, Sony charged $50. Eighteen hours later, after an army of consumers reacted angrily to the idea that they would have to pay to remove something they didn’t want in the first place, Sony rescinded the fee.

Tracking down and eliminating bloatware is not hard, but a person unfamiliar with system registries and computer configurations is going to need help. Here are some solutions:

The most severe solution—and the least recommended—is to completely erase the computer’s hard drive and reinstall Vista. The user would have to buy Vista and it may not install the proprietary drivers that run other devices like printers or keyboards connected to a particular manufacturer’s PC. Instead, a user could start by clicking on the “programs and features” icon in the Windows control panel, and follow the steps for uninstalling programs. (Just deleting the icon from the desktop does nothing.)

Microsoft advises using its OneCare Live or Defender, which is part of Vista. Defender stops programs from starting up automatically each time Windows opens. To use it, click on the Start button in Windows, go to All Programs, then to Windows Defender. Find the Tools button, go to Software Explorer, and in the Category box, select Startup Programs.

Still with us? From the list, select the program to disable, and click Disable.

Windows Live OneCare takes the process a step further. It monitors which start-up applications are used only once in a while. Users choose from a list which programs to disable. This performance-optimiser scans for viruses and spyware as well. But it costs $50 a year.

The easiest thing might be to use more software. PC Decrapifier (pcdecrapifier.com) is a free download for noncommercial users of Vista and XP. It locates suspected bloatware and after a request to confirm the miscreant, removes it. Revo Uninstaller (available free at revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html) claims a much faster and more powerful alternative to the Windows Add or Remove Programs function. Its interface is easy to understand, and one can review installations either as icons or in a list view. A large “uninstall” button points the way.

Some companies are wising up and giving consumers some power over what free software is installed. A customer ordering a Dell Studio laptop at dell.com, for instance, can reject trial software from AOL and Earthlink, Adobe Photoshop, and the Microsoft Works productivity program. A buyer might also decline the 30-day trial version of McAfee Security Center antivirus software. The best part is that Dell is not charging for the option.

The PC makers may be getting the word that another solution, also rather extreme, for the buyer sick of bloatware is to switch to Apple. The company does not load trial versions of software on its Macs, iMacs and MacBooks. The machines also don’t automatically load third-party applications when the machines are turned on. Is the message getting through?

“Our business customers have been the most vocal about bloatware, but all people want a better experience out of the box, from purchase to disposal,” said Abary of Sony. “I see a day when there’s none of this stuff on new computers.”

But not this week.
(New York Times)