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July 16th, 2004 17:00
Dell Installed Junk Software Causing Complaints
Hello, we sell a ton of Dell computers every year, but the amount of junk/trial software is getting to be a problem. Almost every system we sell is for a business, and these machines should not have any games or unneccessary applications such as works, wordperfect, etc., but you cannot buy the systems without this junk. In some cases, employees of our client companies could be fired for playing games on the job, and computers always run better if no games have ever been installed.
Increasingly, they are asking us if we can format the harddrives, and install 98! Why? Because their new Dells are slower than their old clones. This is a MAJOR problem.
When ordering a new Dell there needs to be a checkbox labeled "NO EXTRA JUNKWARE", because these are for business, and should not be tainted by junkware.
Incidentally, this includes trial versions of Anti-Virus -- Symantec makes the worst uninstallers in the world, and when there's already been a version of it installed, it often causes problems with installing the corporate/network version of their software. Symantec software should handle this correctly, but they never have, and probably never will, so Dell should not be complicating my job by installing unwanted programs.
jwatt
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July 16th, 2004 17:00
Given that Microsoft's support for Win98 is coming to an end, and there's limited Win98 driver support for newer machines, I don't think Win98 is a viable choice for a new machine.
It's also possible to order systems with no operating system installed (the "N" series) through the Small Business Division, if that's of any interest.
Jim
wayvirgo
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July 16th, 2004 18:00
Well, I'd almost rather buy the system with no OS preinstalled, but the one time I did do that, the system came through with one bad memory chip, which would have been caught at the factory had there been an OS installed.
It's definitely a fact, though, that Dell systems do not perform as well as clones; There have been cases due to viruses, though, where we opted to do a clean install rather than a Dell restore, and the fresh, clean, unadulterated XP that we installed performed MUCH better than the original Dell installed software.
wayvirgo
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July 16th, 2004 20:00
msgale
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July 16th, 2004 21:00
100mph
1.2K Posts
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July 17th, 2004 01:00
CPU Usage – 0
Page File Usage – 49.5 MB
The link in my signature will take you to a page containing sample Windows XP configuration (Step-By-Step Visual Guide) of Dell, OptiPlex GX260. It may help you with your problems.
If you would like to remove “hidden� Windows components (games, etc.), please edit SYSOC.INF to unhide them first. If need more info, please search www.google.com for “sysoc.inf�.
Norton is optional, and can be removed from your original configuration. Additionally, while Norton Antivirus may have some “uninstall� problems, they are relatively uncommon, and can be fixed by downloadable (see Knowledge Base at www.norton.com) utility. Furthermore, the Corporate Edition of Symantec Antivirus is a very good and reliable product. I recently upgraded to version 9, and have no complains.
Here is what I usually buy:
OptiPlex GX260/270
Precision 34/360
PowerEdge 600/1600/2300/2400/4400
Latitude C640/D600
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
msgale
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July 17th, 2004 01:00
100mph
1.2K Posts
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July 17th, 2004 01:00
I am installing it fresh ... Just in case :)
They sent me a notification message some time ago. I went to their site, downloaded the software (~220 MB compressed), and then copied to CD. BTW, v.8 worked fine 2.
msgale
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July 17th, 2004 01:00
INTERNET2000
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July 17th, 2004 02:00
Hello,
I don't think that Dell will ever let the customer choose what to install or what not to install with every piece of software they usually install on the computer at the factory. If you want a clean running computer format and reinstall what you want right when you get the system. That way you can determine what is loaded on the computer.
INTERNET2000
mattcowger
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July 17th, 2004 05:00
And a few more: 98 is a terrible piece of doo doo. Its insecure, slow and poorly designed, not to mention unsupported. I would consider your installation of 98 for a new install (unless required by a piece of software your client uses) borderline incompetance.
wayvirgo
4 Posts
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July 17th, 2004 20:00
Good grief, I didn't say that I actually went with what the customer asked! lol! As for the customer, his specialty is something else, so I wouldn't be so unkind as to refer to him as incompetent, just because he doesn't understand computers very well.
To refer back to a couple of other posts, I don't like Compaqs & eMachines, though I have seen them do okay in the field. We buy Dell, though, because they have a very low rate of DOA systems, and it saves the customer a bunch of money when the system comes with the OS preinstalled, because they don't have to pay us to put it on for them. Plus, OS preinstalls also help to reduce DOA systems.
Clone systems are what I always use for home, but for businesses, they are best served by Dell, whenever they can afford it, due to the reduced labor over head.
100mph
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July 17th, 2004 22:00
We all here were under impression that you are trying to solve a problem, as this is the main purpose of this board.
sawaddi
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July 18th, 2004 15:00