Thinkpads Forum

new T60p coming soon. would appreciate any pointers to up-to-date info on removing unwanted bloatware, especially:

- a description of what each thing does and why one would want it or not want it.
- detailed procedures for removing specific items

another family member also has an X60 tablet on order. is there much difference in the bloatware between the two models?

MountainMan wrote:new T60p coming soon. would appreciate any pointers to up-to-date info on removing unwanted bloatware, especially:

- a description of what each thing does and why one would want it or not want it.
- detailed procedures for removing specific items

another family member also has an X60 tablet on order. is there much difference in the bloatware between the two models?

I'd find that to be quite useful as well.

As would I. If there are any of the current members who feel like they are up to the task (perhaps a combined effort where people can add / remove things in replies) and then make a sticky post for each model?

Guys, ThinkPads have been coming with Google stuff and some reports of AOL icons, but IMO there is no "bloatware."

There are a LOT of Lenovo utilities running from the get-go. This is because the majority of Lenovo business customers rely on these utilities for simple and effective management of their machine.

That said, here are a couple tips:

*If you're not planning on enabling the security chip, uninstall CSS 7
*Personally I find no use of the Message Center, at least the last time I used it (1+ years ago) it delivered messages I didn't really need
*Play with Access Connections; if you find the Windows wireless config utility sufficient, uninstall it. But it does have a lot of great features
*Uninstall the Google software per your desire

Honestly from there I find most of the Lenovo utilities very useful and wouldn't uninstall them. But again, play with them and uninstall what you don't use.

Once you are done customizing the machine, use Rescue & Recovery to make a base install image to restore to

i received my T60p a few days ago. it's true: these laptops have far less bloatware than many other vendors' machines.

here's what i've removed:

• Symantec Client Security, LiveReg, LiveUpdate (replaced with: Comodo, AntiVir, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search&Destroy, SpywareBlaster)

• Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer

• Picasa2

• ThinkPad Client Security Solution (i naively thought this would speed up system boot and logging in after standby. it turned out to be slow as molasses. at boot-up it takes 20 seconds just figuring out whether or not the security chip is present!)

haven't yet decided about Google Desktop. does it have any spyware-like tendencies?

I received mine last week. I have to agree that the ThinkVantage utilities are indeed useful. However, they are not for everyone.

As far as google desktop, you can configure it so that it's not intrusive. But it's very darn fast when you need to find some file. That being said, if it's not to your liking, or if you are well organized, remove it and you don't lose anything.

As one of the administrators of this site (jdhurst) said in another discussion, the symantec client security that ships with TPs is business grade, and it's quite good. I normally get Kerio firewall (I get the full version for free at work) and AVAST, but I am keeping the symantec until it expires.

I like Picassa because it's easy to publish pictures with it, but that's just a matter of preference and of configuration.

Other than that, I don't think there's much bloatware in TPs.

MountainMan wrote:ThinkPad Client Security Solution (i naively thought this would speed up system boot and logging in after standby. it turned out to be slow as molasses. at boot-up it takes 20 seconds just figuring out whether or not the security chip is present!)

when i wrote the above, i didn't realize you could use the fingerprint software independently of the Client Security Solution. i'm now running the fingerprint software without the Client Security Solution, and it's working great without slowing anything down.

Mounatin Man, could you run me thru the steps to get rid of Client Security Solution. I too still wanted the fingerprint access, but can't/am afraid to start deleting without some guidance.
Thanks

You can uninstall Client Security Software and still uses the Finger Print Reader feature.
There is a seperate Finger Print Enrollent Software in your ThinkVantage folder.

I personally did a CUSTOM factory restore and select not to install Acrobat Reader, Symatec bloatwares, and google bloatwares.

Then after windows done installing, I uninstalled MSN and Windows Messenger, as well as Client Security Software.

Lastly, I choose not to load Message Center during bootup.

ShaggyDog wrote:Mounatin Man, could you run me thru the steps to get rid of Client Security Solution. I too still wanted the fingerprint access, but can't/am afraid to start deleting without some guidance.
Thanks

i think you can do the following:

(1) start, control panel, add/remove programs => remove Client Security Solution

(2) start, thinkvantage, thinkvantage fingerprint software => enroll fingerprints and enable logon support

in my ignorance, i followed a slightly different path. client security has an automatic nag screen that pops up every time you log on. i went thru that setup process, then later uninstalled client security and re-enabled fingerprint logon.

justthinking wrote:
I personally did a CUSTOM factory restore and select not to install Acrobat Reader, Symatec bloatwares, and google bloatwares.

so far the custom factory restore is my favorite new feature from the October, 2006 refresh. Strange that this 'feature' is not available on other T60's and widely known.

hoya wrote:

justthinking wrote:
I personally did a CUSTOM factory restore and select not to install Acrobat Reader, Symatec bloatwares, and google bloatwares.

so far the custom factory restore is my favorite new feature from the October, 2006 refresh. Strange that this 'feature' is not available on other T60's and widely known.

Is the custom factory restore something you configure ahead of time or a restore you configure at the time you do it? Phreak's post suggests saving a config for restore, so I think maybe it's necessary to set things up the way you want it and then save for later possible restore. Or maybe that's just one possible scenario.

I've done little so far with my new T60 except to get rid of Google Desktop (IIRC). I'm not currently using the TP for business or have serious security concerns so I probably won't want the CSS at all or secutiy chip enabled.

I am using the fingerprint software for logging on, but find it sometimes very aggravating. I initially washed my hands, dried them and scanned all 10 fingers, and sometimes I get in easily but sometimes it takes me a couple of minutes to pass the reader test, which is, of course, very aggravating. I suppose I should try reentering my prints, but I'm tempted to disable the reader entirely and use just a password.