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Microsoft will clean your 'crapware' for $99

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 May 2012 3:01 User comments (13)

Microsoft will clean your 'crapware' for $99

Microsoft will now begin cleaning away all your pre-loaded PC bloatware for $99.
As most new pre-built PC owners know, the bloat/crapware is installed by the hardware makers and paid by the vendors (usually). Examples of the bloatware include subscriptions to anti-virus software, e-reading alternatives, Adobe products, "tuning" software, vendor specific help links, and Best Buy junk like links to Geek Squad.

For the $99 fee, Microsoft will remove all the bloatware, install Microsoft Security Essentials, offer 90 days of premium phone support and even reformat Windows 7 including data transfer.

Unfortunately, the program is only available at actual Microsoft Stores, which there are only 16 of in the U.S., mainly situated around California.



While it doesn't eliminate the problem (of bloatware being sold to highest bidder), this is at least a step in the right direction for the average consumer.

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13 user comments

116.5.2012 15:17

Alternatively, just backup all your important files and install a vanilla version of Windows.

Seriously.

216.5.2012 15:29

Originally posted by ROMaster2:
Alternatively, just backup all your important files and install a vanilla version of Windows.

Seriously.
No shit!

316.5.2012 16:01

What is so hard about uninstalling them yourself for free?

416.5.2012 16:20

Almost every old person who can't do this has a kid who can do this for free... Or at least you should know someone who can do it.

516.5.2012 16:44

Decrapifier will do this for free and much easier than one at a time.

616.5.2012 17:28

Scam-backs-Micro$oft: This service should be free. They are the one that put it there in the first place!
This is like the Phone-books long time ago: If you do not want your name listed and show, you have to pay-for and now on days, If you want your name to show, you have to pay-for WTF!

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 May 2012 @ 5:38

716.5.2012 19:08

Originally posted by ROMaster2:
Alternatively, just backup all your important files and install a vanilla version of Windows.

Seriously.
Except that 90 percent of people with PCs don't know how to do this.

816.5.2012 21:37

How is this any different from commercial skipping. All those programs paid HP/Dell/whoever to be there, and Microsoft is just deleting them? How much of that $99 are they sharing with Mcafee/Adobe/etc? If those programs being there is what keeps the PC so cheap (which is what the manufacturers say), then how can Microsoft just delete them? This looks just the same as commercial skipping and ad-blocking to me.

Dirkmaster

917.5.2012 14:21

Originally posted by DirkMaste:
How is this any different from commercial skipping. All those programs paid HP/Dell/whoever to be there, and Microsoft is just deleting them? How much of that $99 are they sharing with Mcafee/Adobe/etc? If those programs being there is what keeps the PC so cheap (which is what the manufacturers say), then how can Microsoft just delete them? This looks just the same as commercial skipping and ad-blocking to me.

Dirkmaster

WELL SAID!!! I can imagine the OEMs will not be happy with this at all. I don't like bloatware but I sure appreciate the PC being cheaper. I hate to see it get to the point we have to jailbreak our pcs too...lol

1017.5.2012 14:58

Originally posted by dEwMe:
Originally posted by DirkMaste:
How is this any different from commercial skipping. All those programs paid HP/Dell/whoever to be there, and Microsoft is just deleting them? How much of that $99 are they sharing with Mcafee/Adobe/etc? If those programs being there is what keeps the PC so cheap (which is what the manufacturers say), then how can Microsoft just delete them? This looks just the same as commercial skipping and ad-blocking to me.

Dirkmaster

WELL SAID!!! I can imagine the OEMs will not be happy with this at all. I don't like bloatware but I sure appreciate the PC being cheaper. I hate to see it get to the point we have to jailbreak our pcs too...lol

And let me say, before anyone suspects I'm a troll, that I think that Decrapifier is an AWESOME piece of software. My comments are more a reflection of the sorry state of copyright/patents/owner's rights in the present environment.

1117.5.2012 21:12

That's the same deal and price that Best Buy and Circuit City used to do. MS is just jumping into the business now.

1225.5.2012 09:49

I love it!

M$ has always seen their users as morons. I just remember their desktop clean up that never removes any M$ product. It will probably do the same, remove all products that were not made by M$. Anyone stupid enough to pay M$ $99 to do something they should do themselves deserves to be screwed.

1325.5.2012 10:36

That's the first thing I do when I get a new PC.Get rid of all their free trial crap that is only good for 60 days.

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