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Hi everybody.

This is not really a problem with my computer, but I would like your opinion on the matter.

I just bought a Gateway computer from Best Buy and got their removal of bloatware service for 30 bucks, which I find is a rip off, but it was the last one of that model and it had already been done to it.

Anyway - I turn on the laptop and the first thing that pops up is Norton, begging me to try it and eventually buy it. While I do understand that a antivirus program is seen as being important to a PC, it's still something forced upon me and would not be in a clean bought version of Vista.

I snoop around in the computer, not altering anything, just looking and find that the shortcuts for AOL, NetZero and Office trial have just been placed in a folder on the desktop. The install files still remain under my Program Files folder.

I also check out what games I have and while I do enjoy Solitaire and Spider, I am not sure I like the idea of having Wildtangent games on my system, when I was promised that I would have a clean system after their service! I like to get my systems dirty on my own, thank you.

While it's not horribly hard to get rid of these things I still think that they did a crappy job. The only thing that might be a hassle to remove is Norton, as I have read that using the remove program tool is not going to get rid of it completly and tinkering with the registry has to be done.

So, having to do this kinda makes me mad, as I was made to believe that I would have a clean Vista that I could make a clean backup CD of, if things went bad one day.

I really think I should get my 30 bucks back! What do you guys think?

I abhor this as well. I notice that Dell likes to force bloatware upon its users too.


Installing trial software on new computers is indubitably a profitable revenue model for the computer manufacturers, but consumers should be allowed at least an opt-out version. The manufacturers should also ensure that the software that they bundle with are reputable and trusted software. If I were them, I'd probably not include software like WildTangent, which has dubious components that may gather information about the computer system.

Just my 2 cents.

Hello and welcome to PCHelpForum.

Take it back tell them off and get your cash back ASAP.

Have you tried add and remove in control panel?

Download and run this:http://www.download.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10854684

This tool hopefully will rid you of the rubbish on your machine.

Please post back if you need further help.

JB.

Thank you guys. I will take it back and complain knowing that my reasons are valid. Now how to I mark this as Resolved?

Marked as answered.

Good luck.