Which PC makers offer a "clean" load of Windows?
May 5, 2018 1:35 PM Subscribe
I need to buy 2 new computers for my business, 1 desktop and 1 laptop. They need to be Windows machines, unfortunately, due to the software we have to run on them.
Sadly, most 'off the shelf' Windows machines come overloaded with bloatware and 'productivity tools'. What I want is a completely clean load of Windows 7 (or 10) Pro 64, but I don't want to have to do it myself.
Years ago, when Sony offered their Vaio line, you could custom order their PCs with a clean load of Windows. Is there anyone out there now who offers this?
Please do not suggest we build our own machines; I do not have the patience for that.
Sadly, most 'off the shelf' Windows machines come overloaded with bloatware and 'productivity tools'. What I want is a completely clean load of Windows 7 (or 10) Pro 64, but I don't want to have to do it myself.
Years ago, when Sony offered their Vaio line, you could custom order their PCs with a clean load of Windows. Is there anyone out there now who offers this?
Please do not suggest we build our own machines; I do not have the patience for that.
Anything marked "Signature Edition" on the official Microsoft store comes a clean install of Windows and no third-party crap. I ordered a Lenovo PC through them and have been happy with it.
posted by Flannery Culp at 1:46 PM on May 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Flannery Culp at 1:46 PM on May 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
Windows 10 makes it easy to clean a new machine of bloatware. You definitely want Windows 10, not Windows 7.
posted by Nelson at 2:56 PM on May 5, 2018
posted by Nelson at 2:56 PM on May 5, 2018
The devices with the cleanest install of Windows 10 that I know of are made by Microsoft.
For reasons, I have a flash drive that Microsoft sent me with (what is supposed to be) a clean, consumer-oriented copy of Windows 10 and I did still have to delete some ad icons from the start menu. By ad icons I mean icons for apps that weren't installed, that I didn't want, which when clicked would lead to the download page for the app in the Windows store.
posted by Verba Volant at 4:52 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
For reasons, I have a flash drive that Microsoft sent me with (what is supposed to be) a clean, consumer-oriented copy of Windows 10 and I did still have to delete some ad icons from the start menu. By ad icons I mean icons for apps that weren't installed, that I didn't want, which when clicked would lead to the download page for the app in the Windows store.
posted by Verba Volant at 4:52 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In my experience, most "mom and pop" computer stores will build a PC for you according to your specs, and they'll install whatever operating system you want. There's a local store that I've used for years to buy all the PCs for work, and the husband-and-wife owners there are super-helpful. I think most cities probably have at least one store like that.
posted by alex1965 at 5:56 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by alex1965 at 5:56 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10startfresh
What Flannery Culp said. Run this tool on any (up to date) install of windows 10 and it will remove any non-standard software. You can use this tool on your Dell or HP that has extra stuff installed and it will remove the extras that Dell or HP installed.
In addition any machine bought from the 'windows store' will have no additional software regardless of manufacturer.
posted by kzin602 at 6:25 PM on May 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
What Flannery Culp said. Run this tool on any (up to date) install of windows 10 and it will remove any non-standard software. You can use this tool on your Dell or HP that has extra stuff installed and it will remove the extras that Dell or HP installed.
In addition any machine bought from the 'windows store' will have no additional software regardless of manufacturer.
posted by kzin602 at 6:25 PM on May 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Another vote for just doing this yourself. It's not hard and you'll not only save some money but you can buy any model you like.
You'll need a USB stick which is at least 4GB in size and about an hour of free time - of which half of it will be just letting the computer do its thing so you can leave it alone and do something else. Even if you buy a USB stick for this sole purpose, you'll still save money as you pay a far bigger premium for a clean install.
Some good instructions (which include the, often forgotten, steps to backup your drivers and then quickly restore the missing ones) can be found here.
posted by mr_silver at 5:55 AM on May 6, 2018
You'll need a USB stick which is at least 4GB in size and about an hour of free time - of which half of it will be just letting the computer do its thing so you can leave it alone and do something else. Even if you buy a USB stick for this sole purpose, you'll still save money as you pay a far bigger premium for a clean install.
Some good instructions (which include the, often forgotten, steps to backup your drivers and then quickly restore the missing ones) can be found here.
posted by mr_silver at 5:55 AM on May 6, 2018
That Start Fresh thing seems to offer no advantages at all over just doing a normal clean install from normal Windows 10 installation media, as far as I can see. If it kept the OEM installation's drivers it would be useful, but it says it doesn't.
posted by flabdablet at 7:04 AM on May 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 7:04 AM on May 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @alex1965 - there are 2 such shops within a 5 minute walk, so I’ll go talk to them. Thank you for the suggestion.
posted by nickthetourist at 9:58 AM on May 6, 2018
posted by nickthetourist at 9:58 AM on May 6, 2018
Late to the party.
https://www.pcdecrapifier.com
This software has been around for at least a decade, I run it on any new machine. Does what it says on the tin -- scans your puter looking for what they know to be garbage, give you a report with recommendations, what options for each piece of garbage they've found. It's a free download.
Another nice piece of freeware is Ninite (www.ninite.com). It's a one-stop shop for almost all software that we love, all kinds of utilities, music software, image software, on and on. And it's always the latest/greatest version of each piece of software, which is nice.
Last. If you go with a WIN7 or WIN8.1 machine, and if you do *not* want Microsoft slamming WIN10 on your machine without your wanting WIN10, there is a simple utility that closes to door to Microsoft hijinks. It's another piece of freeware -- GWX CONTROL PANEL -- load it onto your puter, get the settings right, it runs in the system tray. Takes almost no cycles from your machine. I'm staying with WIN7 and WIN8.1 as long as I can, I find it loathsome that WIN10 calls home and tells Microsoft every move I make.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:55 PM on May 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
https://www.pcdecrapifier.com
This software has been around for at least a decade, I run it on any new machine. Does what it says on the tin -- scans your puter looking for what they know to be garbage, give you a report with recommendations, what options for each piece of garbage they've found. It's a free download.
Another nice piece of freeware is Ninite (www.ninite.com). It's a one-stop shop for almost all software that we love, all kinds of utilities, music software, image software, on and on. And it's always the latest/greatest version of each piece of software, which is nice.
Last. If you go with a WIN7 or WIN8.1 machine, and if you do *not* want Microsoft slamming WIN10 on your machine without your wanting WIN10, there is a simple utility that closes to door to Microsoft hijinks. It's another piece of freeware -- GWX CONTROL PANEL -- load it onto your puter, get the settings right, it runs in the system tray. Takes almost no cycles from your machine. I'm staying with WIN7 and WIN8.1 as long as I can, I find it loathsome that WIN10 calls home and tells Microsoft every move I make.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:55 PM on May 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
There are several retailers on Amazon (and Newegg) that sell Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) preloaded with Win10, I assume bare without any additional crapware.
A CHUWI LapBook 12.1 I have was just a barebones version of Windows 10 when I received it.
posted by nickggully at 1:44 PM on May 5, 2018