Windows 8.1/Lenovo y510p - Getting set up, deleting bloatware, etc.

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glass009

Honorable
Oct 19, 2013
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0
10,510
Hey guys,

I just bought a Lenovo Ideapad y510p. The boot time isn't as fast as I was expecting it to be, although after I ran a windows update it got better (around 30sec.)

I've been reading around on the internet and a lot of people have said that performance improves a lot after they get rid of all the bloatware and unnecessary apps, but NO ONE has specified what bloatware they removed so I don't really know what I should be getting rid of.

(Although I deleted McAffee right off the bat)


Also the Apps start page (or Pokki, or Start tile page or whatever you call it, the desktop with all the app tiles on it) has a TON of useless looking junk on it. I don't know if all that junk is the same from computer to computer, so normally I would post a screenshot but I can't find MS Paint or a Windows 8 equivalent to paste the screenshot to.


So basically I'm asking, what should I get rid of and what should I keep?

(I can post a screenshot if someone tells me how to find Paint)



Also, does anyone know any tips on how to optimize performance on this thing? Or anything else I should do to get this thing set up right off the bat?
 
Solution
SchizTech
OK, Lenovo Appstore can go as well as Photos. Lenovo Reach is some sort of cloud integration thing. Veriface is a security tool which uses facial recognition to log in to the PC. I'd kill all of the above
As to the Cyberlink stuff, you can keep PowerDVD if you plan to watch DVD movies, or Power2Go if you expect to need to burn DVDs or CDs. Otherwise, they can go. PowerDirector and PhotoDirector are video and photo editors.

The preinstalled Webroot antivirus is likely a trial version which will ask for a paid subscription at some point. You might consider getting rid of that and using a free one like avast.

Evernote seems to be a cloud note-syncing tool with which you can save notes to be available on all your devices if they...
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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Jan 16, 2011
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It's hard to answer precisely since I can't see what is pre-loaded, but definitely go to the Control Panel to uninstall anything that doesn't look essential. If there's a toolbar, nuke it (I'm allergic to browser toolbars - take up space and slow the browser, no thanks). If it looks like something you'll use, let it stay but anything else is fair game.

Also remove unneeded programs from startup. In Windows 8 it's been moved from System Configuration utility (msconfig) to the Task Manager under the "Startup" tab. Even if you keep those programs you may not want them loading at every boot, so disable them in this menu.

IF you wish to share a screenshot:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/take-screen-capture-print-screen#take-screen-capture-print-screen=windows-8

and upload to a free image host like http://tinypic.com/

Good hunting.
 
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glass009

Honorable
Oct 19, 2013
9
0
10,510
Thanks.

I uninstalled pretty much all the apps that were a 'free trial' as well as some that I know I'll never, ever use, like a karaoke app (wtf?) so I think I got most of the obvious ones so far.

There's a few that I'm not sure of, like Lenovo's 'Stagelight' program. Not sure what it is, I think some kind of music creator/editor program. I doubt I'll ever use it but I'm also hesitant to uninstall it because I don't know what it might be essential or not, like it may have my audio drivers attached to it or something.

(not exactly a computer genius)

Thanks for the tip on finding the boot program list, I was just going to use autoruns but that's prolly a better way of doing it.


I also found out that I DO have MS Paint, just took me awhile to find it. So I'll upload a couple screenshots once I finish getting my files transferred and finish setting up firefox and my security programs.
 
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glass009

Honorable
Oct 19, 2013
9
0
10,510
Here are the screenshots.

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/5752/ydfn.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img38/6362/kheo.png
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2196/9i9t.png

What would you guys keep/get rid of?

~Cyberlink Pro is some sort of photo editing tool, as is the CameraMan app. Not sure why they thought I needed two of them.
~Stagelight is a music creator/editing program, normally costs $10 but it's fully installed on this machine. Kinda seems like a cool thing to have, but I probably will never use it.
~Evernote Touch I'm not sure what the heck it is. I think you make notes with it...
~The app on the start menu called 'Companion.' I have no idea what it is.
~FilmOn is an app for watching Live TV. kinda cool but other than Fox 5 and Pix 11 all the channels seem to be like indie/youtube channels.
~Nitro8 reader is a pdf reader, most people said they uninstalled it and use adobe instead, which is what I'll be doing as well.

Lenovo photos also appears to be totally useless, I think it's a photo editor where you can make prints and postcards and stuff, but it lists prices for the items so I'm pretty sure that one's going to go.

I have no idea what Lenovo Reach and Veriface are.


There seems to be a lot of redundant apps/programs on this thing. For instance I have 3 photo editors, 2 or 3 app stores, etc. Not sure which ones I should keep and which I should get rid of.


Any help or opinions would be appreciated.




*EDIT: I checked my boot menu, I don't see anything I would consider junk, it's all from Intel, nVidia, Microsoft. So I don't think there's much to be improved there.
 
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SchizTech

SchizTech

Judicious
Jan 16, 2011
5,278
57
32,640
OK, Lenovo Appstore can go as well as Photos. Lenovo Reach is some sort of cloud integration thing. Veriface is a security tool which uses facial recognition to log in to the PC. I'd kill all of the above
As to the Cyberlink stuff, you can keep PowerDVD if you plan to watch DVD movies, or Power2Go if you expect to need to burn DVDs or CDs. Otherwise, they can go. PowerDirector and PhotoDirector are video and photo editors.

The preinstalled Webroot antivirus is likely a trial version which will ask for a paid subscription at some point. You might consider getting rid of that and using a free one like avast.

Evernote seems to be a cloud note-syncing tool with which you can save notes to be available on all your devices if they all have the app.
 
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