topic Re: What can I uninstall?? in PCs & Accessories

What can I uninstall??

JonnyThunder — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:14:14 GMT

Hello again,

OK - so i've got the Vaio VGN-AR51E. I've restored my disks and removed the majority of software on the PC, but there are a huge number of things left which i'd also like to remove. Here's the stuff I want to keep first....

Magic-I Visual Effects
ALL buttion functionality

Is there a definitive list which highlights what all of the installed software actually does? My Add/Remove list contains all of the following (minus stuff I want to keep)...

AppMon Utility
Browser Address Error Redirector
DSD Direct
DSD Direct Player
DSD Playback Plug-in
OpenMG Limited Patch 4.7-07-15-19-01
OpenMG Secure Module 4.7.00
Settings Utility Series
Sony Video Shared Library
VAIO Content Folder Settings
VAIO Content Importer / VAIO Content Exporter
VAIO Content Metadata Intelligent Analyzing Manager
VAIO Content Metadata Manager Settings
VAIO Content Metadata XML Interface Library
VAIO Control Center
VAIO Data Restore Tool
VAIO Entertainment Platform
VAIO Event Service
VAIO Launcher
VAIO Media 6.0
VAIO Media AC3 Decoder 1.0
VAIO Media Content Collection 6.0
VAIO Media Integrated Server 6.1
VAIO Media Redistribution 6.0
VAIO Media Registration Tool 6.0
VAIO MusicBox
VAIO Power Management
VAIO Update 3

Now, is there documentation anywhere which lists what each of those installations does? I'd like this laptop to be empty of all this stuff. I don't understand why Sony install things like "Power Management". The OS will manage power without additional tools.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please. Am desperate to rid this poor laptop of it's bloatware issues!

Many thanks all,
JT

Re: What can I uninstall??

JonnyThunder — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:41:18 GMT

Ah never mind. I've stipped out everything from Sony! Not surprisingly, the only casualty was the on-screen volume display (the control still works) and the eject button. Once that was done and system restore was switched off, I got Vista running really smoothly.

I may later on, document exactly what I did in case someone else wants to give it a go. makes a big difference. (AR51E model)

Re: What can I uninstall??

jumpsuit — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:13:20 GMT

Good work and congratulations on a superb site name

Re: What can I uninstall??

JonnyThunder — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:14:37 GMT

Lol...

Yeah. Can't believe how well this runs with vista stripped down of all the sony stuff. I only have two Sony installs left on this PC now (Wireless switched and Camera capture utility). It runs wonderfully now.

Re: What can I uninstall??

espenarnesen — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:16:19 GMT

I have a Vaio SZ61 and I was soo impressed with the fast bootup (about 10 minuttes) and shutdowntime (another 10 minuttes), on a out of the box computer, so I installed Ubuntu as dual boot, and Ubuntu works really well with very little care after the install.

To insall ubuntu I used the recovery utility and used it to splitt my C: disk in to a C: and a 😧 disk.
Then I booted from the ubuntu CD and deleted the partition that used to be my 😧 disk (sda3 in ubuntu) and made a linux system disk on sda3 and a 2GB swap as sda4.
Ubuntu automatically detects all your disks and give you the option to choose at bootup what to start: recovery, windows or linux.

I would really like to know what I need to remove in Vista to get it to boot a little faster. Also my vista hangs and crashes all the time (maybe because I am used to real multitasking from Linux, and try to do to many things at once).

-Espen-

Re: What can I uninstall??

Gesmi — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:50:38 GMT

OK, man you motivated me. I already unistalled bunch of the Sony crap. But now I will get rid of more Muhaaahahhaha

Specially the Vaio Content and Vaio Media files, anybody any idea what is it good for?

Re: What can I uninstall??

anonymous2 — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:45:05 GMT

@JonnyThunder:
How did you repair ("eject button. Once that was done...") the eject button?

How did you uninstall Norton 360?
http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=42359&offset=10

VGN-AR51E
Windows Vista Home Premium

Re: What can I uninstall??

drinkfeckarse — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:32:18 GMT

Hey,

I own the AR51m and would love to see your guide.

cheers

Re: What can I uninstall??

helloimgeoff1 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:38:40 GMT

I have a FZ21Z, and noticed there is alot of useless VAIO software installed, and would love to know what to uninstall to do what, I'm wanting similar functionality to what you've got now - I love the Magic-I cam thing, and want all the extra keys to work, S1, and the brightness, as well as media control pad.

I've toyed around uninstalling a few of them, and have accidentally uninstalled ones for the brightness controls, so if anyone knows which VAIO app makes them work again - would be much appreciated.

Re: What can I uninstall??

Gesmi — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:23:16 GMT

What do you mean by the Media Control Pad?

Well, I unistalled all the Vaio Content programs and Vaio Media files, and everything runs without change.

I would guess that the programs for the brighness and the buttons to work is either Vaio event service or Vaio control center.

Re: What can I uninstall??

helloimgeoff1 — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:02:30 GMT

Thanks for that, it was VAIO Event Service, got them all working again now ^^

Re: What can I uninstall??

JonnyThunder — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:36:20 GMT

I'm back from working away, so i'm gonna prepare some instructions to follow on wiping the laptop and starting from scratch (removing all the crap). Will take a couple of days. I'll post it up when i'm done.

Trust me though, removing the junk makes a huge difference. I'd also suggest removing System Restore because that speeded things up for me a great deal too. On a laptop, I tend not to install anything which needs device drivers anyway - so the need for system restore is minimal in my case.

Re: What can I uninstall??

tekp — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:28:40 GMT

Thanks for this, I was too scared to uninstall half the VAIO stuff on my laptop before I read this

I very much look forward to your guide *watches this topic* will it cover software other than the VAIO stuff?

Edit: also, I have 'VAIO Camera Capture Utility' and 'VAIO Camera Utility' :S does anyone know the difference?

What can I uninstall??

ladelne — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:12:29 GMT

Hi all, I'm having the same problem + the laptop sis throwing a few error messages. Therefore, I'm looking on how to clean up my laptop without destroying it! Any luck with the list of programs to be safely uninstalled?

What can I uninstall??

rich912 — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:39:43 GMT

Hi ladeine,

Rather than messing with uninstalling various programs that can leave unwanted files and registry entries I would suggest that you back up all your personal data and then restore to factory settings. If you need help with this let us know your model number.
Rich