Latest responses to “Buying A New Laptop Computer And Getting Rid Of Sony VAIO Bloatware” Copyright 2013, MoneyBlueBook.com 469590 2011-03-05T18:40:54-08:00 Jenna Lol --- I know this is a while after your post, but I just stumbled upon it. I had to do a full system restore yesterday after Windows update screwed up my SONY laptop. :( What a hassle. After three years of customizing my laptop, I am left to once again purge out all of the infamous sony bloatware!!!! It really is ridiculous...the startup programs alone. Anyway, your article made my laugh. :D 407980 2009-09-04T10:01:10-07:00 best rakeback I really like the screens on the sony laptops but to be honest the price is the thing that shys me away from buying them. I tend to stick with Hewlet Packard now! 407970 2009-07-22T15:14:33-07:00 Claudia What's the deal with the Magic-i visual effects s/w? Noticed you deleted. Will I want it with the Webcam, though? I have no idea. Prob not as I have never needed a webcam in any other computer before, but now that I have one, maybe I'll use it. The driver is getting in the way of another app I want to use. My question is, since the webcam is also driven by ArcSoft, if I DO want to use it, will I then be screwed if I take off the Magic-i? Also, just out of curiously, don't you need Java? 407910 2009-05-03T02:57:43-07:00 Raymond Maria, My understanding is that all recent Sony VAIO models come pre-installed with the Hard Disk Drive Recovery system, accessible by pressing F10 at boot time. This means that the recovery image is located in a hidden partition on the hard disk and they should be able to automatically reload and install all of the necessary operating system software and drivers. I recommend calling the Sony hotline to find out the precise NVIDIA graphical drivers required by your laptop model. The outsourced Indian customer service technicians were able to help me out. 407960 2009-05-03T02:27:11-07:00 Maria Ugh, I almost cried while reading the post - my VAIO SZ broke a month ago: it just had started freezing and Windows weren't responding... They reinstalled the Windows but lost all the other software.... Nothing helped anyway... If I manage to fix it, does anyone know where I can download the NVIDIA drivers?.. 407950 2009-03-20T13:06:57-07:00 sajag smartwi connection utility is an useless program 407940 2008-09-22T23:57:44-07:00 Bruce Interesting article. I do maintenance on computers from time to time, and one of the free products I usually run on a person's new computer is called PC De-crapifier, which goes through many of those programs and removes them. www.pcdecrapifier.com (I have no affiliation with that person, just a useful tool). 407920 2008-09-01T19:27:19-07:00 Patrick I purchased a computer from Dell's small business unit a couple months ago. They are actually cheaper than a comparable computer from their home office unit, and come without any bloatware. That sold it for me. 407930 2008-08-20T16:00:24-07:00 Richard @ Student Scrooge For me, laptop size/weight and product reputation and customer service were definitely most important -- I need my laptop to be light and portable, and have been very happy with the ultralight I chose a few years ago (a Dell). One thing it looks like you didn't really mention -- battery life, which can also be huge. As far as bloatware, I think you made the right call. You might want to consider keeping Adobe Acrobat Professional, though, as that can let you do some useful things with PDF documents, especially if you're publishing ebooks and the like.