New Lenovo PC with Win 7 Pro 64 Advice

I got my new computer yesterday afternoon. It came with Win 7 preinstalled. Unfortunately, it also has other software in the start menu that I would like to either remove or disable to reduce my boot up time. I use Firefox for my browser.

Here is the stuff in the bottom bar on the page that I would like to change:

I would like to remove all the following from the bar, set them so they don't automatically load and place their icons on the desktop.

Internet Explorer
Windows Explorer
Windows Media Player
Google Chrome

What is this?
Simple Tap

It also came with Norton Internet Security - which I believe includes Norton Antivirus. The software has locked the PC firewall, so I cannot manage it myself. I want to completely remove Norton from my system - but I know this is not just a simple uninstall.

I will be installing AVG - should I install it before removing the Norton software?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Right click and unpin.
I'd go with Avast or MSSE as an AV choice. Down load the installer to desktop.
Download to DT.
http://majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html
Disconnect from the net.
Use Control panel's Add/remove to uninstall Norton.
Run the Uninstall utility to clean up.

Install either Avast or MSSE.

Info on Simple Tap.
http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/simple-tap/

Cheers..

 

Agree with Sikvik on the antivirus issue, MSE or Avast! are much less likely to be problematic than AVG from what we've experienced in the last year.

I'd keep Windows Explorer pinned to the Taskbar though - it's all I have there.

 

Thanks for the help.

When I have unpinned the icons, can I just drag them to the desktop or do I need to create a shortcut on the desktop as a separate step?

I assume that, once Norton is removed, I will have control of my firewall back.

The PC also came with Google Chrome and it has an icon in the task bar. I may decide to move it out as well, as Firefox is going to be my primary browser.

I won't be able to do this for quite a while. I though I had set the MS automatic updates to never, but it started up a couple of hours ago, with 26 "important" updates - total size 156+ MB. With my dial up connection, that may take 24 hours.

 

For these.

Click the Orb/start- in the search bar type explorer this will list Internet Explorer (in my case both 32bit and 64bit and IE Safe Mode-no add-ons). Right click and send to desktop as a shortcut. By default I have IE 32-bit in the quick launch.

Do the same for Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player and Google Chrome.

To be honest, I like keeping my desktop uncluttered and prefer to pin in the quick launch. But I guess that's a personal preference.

Yes.

I've set my Windows update to- "Check for updates and let me choose whether to download and install them". Also have placed a check on "Recommended updates".

This way I get all the critical and recommended updates, even when I look up manually.
Screen shot attached. Id' update Windows, as there are probably critical security patches awaiting.

Cheers..

 

MS finally finished downloading a bunch of updates to my PC and they are ready to install.

I think I saw a thread somewhere that contained link to a page listing update recommendations, either skip, optional, delay or install.

Unfortunately I cannot find it. Can anyone help?

 

Ah, yes. That is where I saw it. Thanks

Bill