14 DAY TRIAL // For months I've been looking for a solution to automatically remove pre-installed software on a computer. I searched high and low but all my endeavors remained unsuccessful and all I could do was to proceed to manually and carefully uninstall all the bloatware available on new computers courtesy of the manufacturer. Most of the software coming with a new computer is installed for commercial reasons and mostly consists in trialware. The manufacturer of the computer puts all those craplets in there just in case you may find it useful, but commercial reasons raise above this belief.
Removing it manually may result in a tedious, time consuming task which is better to be avoided if more comfortable solutions are at hand. Fortunately, there is one way to get rid of certain pre-installed crap you are not going to use anyway. The name of the application says it all: PC Decrapifier. The tool is actually an uninstaller designed to hunt down the most known bloatware shoved up the system. The beauty of the application is that it completes the job automatically requiring the least effort from the user.
We can't speak of the interface as the moment you launch the downloaded executable PC Decrapifier will actually begin its mission to eliminate all crap software on the system. Everything is exceedingly easy due to the wizard that guides you step by step through all the stages of the procedure. Actually, there is more talk than action in the application, as the user is informed of the purpose of the program; next, there is the License which very few users bother to read. One of the final informative steps to be taken point out to the user that it is difficult to the application to make the difference between trial software and paid or full version of the same software, and that is why the user needs to make the necessary selections once the scanning of the system is completed.
With all the talk over it is time for some action. PC Decrapifier can deal with a new computer as well as with an older one (it will smite the same applications). But, as you can never be too cautious when it comes to this kind of things, the application will also provide the possibility of creating a restore point, just in case something goes unexpectedly wrong.
After that, it is just a matter of scanning your computer for bloatware and eliminating it as painlessly as possible. One piece of advice, though: do not expect it to perform miracles. During our testing on a brand new Compaq 6820s with sufficient bloatware for PC Decrapifier to show its benefits over the system, the app failed to remove quite a bunch of trialware. To make a long story short, the application missed all installation related to a Microsoft software, from the infamous Office Activation Assistant to the entire Office 2007 suite, plus some craplet generously offered by HP.
But HP apps were not on the list of software to uninstall, so it is easy to understand why they were dodged by PC Decrapifier. With Microsoft Office Activation Assistant, things are a bit different though, as the app is listed in PC Decrapifier's suite of software that it would normally eliminate from a computer.
However, looking on the bright side, two applications that were on the list were indeed picked up by PC Decrapifier. It's Symantec Live Update and Roxio Express Labeler. These were removed from the system quite responsibly.
But the fact remains that it did not remove everything it should and left quite a wild bunch of trialware behind. Also, taking a look at the list of apps it targets for removal, you will definitely notice that there are very few items available. I really wished it included more software on that list or at least provide proper description for the most famous of them (Microsoft apps which are pretty popular have no description).
Using the software I noticed something that could be considered a glitch by many users: the moment you hit "Back" button you will lose all previously made settings. Not that it would take too long to re-set the app, but not memorizing the configuration and having to do it again is pretty frustrating.
During our testing on a brand new HP Compaq 6820s, PC Decrapifier did not do too good of a job, missing huge trialware which was included on its list of bloat software. But it is a free solution for getting rid of the extra apps the manufacturer of the computer shoves in and it is worth a try.
The Good
As a measure of security, PC Decrapifier will create a restore point before making any changes to installed files. It moves fast and all eliminations are made quite responsibly.
It requires no installation and, due to the wizard guiding and explaining every step, it is exceedingly easy to use by any type of user, regardless of his/her computer skills.
The Bad
Not all craplets are detected and eliminated from the system. During our testing, a huge bunch of trialware was left behind undetected, although it was included on its list.
You cannot submit your crapplication directly from the software and in order to do this you have to check on PC Decrapifier's website under Crapplications section.
The Truth
The application is extremely easy to use and it is definitely worth a try, although I would not put too much hope in it because it proved that it cannot detect all trialware installed on the computer. But, for automatically removing some of the pre-installed crap, it is quite good.
I suggest checking with the list of apps it removes before trying it first, just to see if your computer has any of the supported ones installed (it will not take you long to peruse the two pages available).
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
