For the list
Expect a boatload of spam and viagra ads next.
Q: I needed to reload the driver for my HP 5650 due to a recent rebuild of my PC, and I was hesitant to go to HP, because I wanted the driver, not 80MB of ads and crapware/spyware.
A: Elsewhere in the thread- it’s been noted that HP has a ‘drivers only’ option for this printer that comes with less unneccessary crap bundled. Contolling what gets through- from this install and any others that you’ve acquired over time can be accomplished many ways, but keeping it simple and easy is usually appreciated.
Go to:
http://www.ccleaner.com
Download CCleaner and install. I use this thing frequently- the only complaint is that I’d be careful to uncheck the install option that installs the Yahoo toolbar. I hate toolbars. All of them. Unneccessary drain of resources without contributing anything that I want.
In CCleaner, go to Tools—>Startup. You’ll see a list of things that automatically start every time you start your computer. Some of them do useful things, others are just slowing your machine down. You don’t need any of them to boot, so you probably won’t get yourself into much trouble here. I’d leave alone any that have to do with the anti-virus or anti malware software that you may be running. Right-click on any items that have anything to do with HP and select ‘disable’. Reboot and they’re gone. If you decide that you can’t live without something that you’ve turned off, just go back in, right-click on it, select ‘enable’, and reboot again.