Yes remove it...

Thanks. It is gone, as is Ebay, Skype, Bingbar, and maybe something else. I'll have more questions. Stay tuned.

I'm sure loving my new Dell...I can't believe how much zippier it is, and wish I would have treated myself to a new computer long ago. Live and learn.

If you want we can look at all the installed programs by doing the exercise below:

Please download MiniToolBox http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/farbar/MiniToolBox.exe and run it. Active link below....

Checkmark following boxes:

List Installed Programs

Click Go and post the result.

Click on the link, save the file to the desktop, then double click it.

Here is a link that might be useful: ToolBox.exe

on a new pc the pc decrapifier is your friend!! use it!
The PC Decrapifier Wipes Unwanted Junk

If you did not use a special removal tool for the McAfee you need to it is horrible about leaving behind a ton of files and registry items, you can use the free app remover and there is also a free removal tool from McAfee
AppRemover

list for removal tools
Antivirus Product Removal Tools

with a new pc a very very easy way to get all the stuff you want is to use ninite it will install it all for you and make sure not to get any of the extras like the toolbars etc.
Ninite

Be sure to get all your security layers installed! Malwarebytes, superantispyware and spyware blaster for sure.

oh and just because it is new don't forget to update all the other really important things that let in infections like java, adobe products and flash!
I would just use the secunia tool either online scan or installed to help keep all of those updated. It is the major way we see most infections get on computers.
Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI)

Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI)

I prefer to not install a 'lot' of 'helpful' programs just as I don't want updates automatically downloaded and installed.
I think you can have too much of a good thing. Automatic downloads slow my computer (ISP is not all that fast) and I'm left wondering just what is making things so slow. If I don't have a lot of 'stuff' then I won't have to remember to update it all. I may get Ninite though.

zep, I'll get the toolbox.exe later tonight and hopefully be able to get the results posted.

My best idea to date for me was to strip my laptop of unwanted programs when new. Then made a 100gb backup partition with disk management, (microsoft recommends 200gb so you can have a couple days worth of backup inages).

I instantly saved a myOEM system image to that partition with control panels Backup & Restore. So I can quickly restore C drive to factory new.. minus the garbage. With 100gb, that partition still has plenty of room for windows to make a single daily image and backups of personal.

Thanks Mikie. I'll be working on 'Creating System Recovery' once I get it stripped and any necessary things updated.

Ok...new question...In Control Panel and "uninstall or change a program", I see Adobe Air installed on 7-3-12 but under Size it is blank. When I go Start, all programs, I don't see Adobe Air. Is it something that is downloaded but hasn't been installed? Delete? What to do?

Adobe AIR is a cross-platform runtime that enables you to use your existing Flash/ActionScript or HTML/JavaScript development skills and tools to build and deploy applications, games, and videos outside the browser and on mobile devices.

Don't think you will be using that anytime soon, so you could delete it without issue

if its in uninstall .. uninstall it. Is what I would do. I'd probably use RevoUninstaller.

Chances are its showing Zero size because its not been used, or installed, until you check box an agreement or push an agree button to their terms .
... it, along with all the other free 'crap' is usually sitting in one folder waiting for you to use it/or them before it actually installs.

Ok, Adobe Air is gone.

Mikie, ahhh...probably so.

I'm down to 39 programs installed with a total size of 1.15 GB.

Please do not neglect getting the latest updates to java and adobe products this is with out doubt the biggest vulnerability you can have, old outdated versions of these are seen daily in the infected computers that we see the worst infections in.
Doing security updates is not a place to scrimp.
The secunia link is an online scan you don't have to install any thing.
Spyware blaster doesn't use resources it sits there and protects you, no scans to do, just update it every few weeks hit the enable protection option thats it, no reason not to have it.

Please do not neglect getting the latest updates to java and adobe products
Under Programs, I don't even see Java and all I see for Adobe is Adobe Reader V and when I click that, I see nothing about updating.

The secunia link is an online scan you don't have to install any thing.
Ok, got the link saved and will try it later.

I suspect just as there are programs installed that I don't need, there are some that I will likely 'really' need, like Java....but then maybe there is something installed that takes the place of Java. hmmmm.....

I will often run without java for weeks before some website complains 'java required', then I decide... install or not for them. Mostly used at game sites. Kind of like Adobe Air.. maybe some eBay or other desktop add-on use it, stuff that you may never use.

Same here, I can't do without Javascript because almost all sites use it but I would probably never miss Java. I don't do games though and usually when I do, they're Flash based.

http://java.com/en/download/faq/java_javascript.xml

I will often run without java for weeks before some website complains 'java required',
Well I found out I needed it when I went to the Secunia site to do an online scan. I downloaded it, but it doesn't show under All Programs from the Start menu.

When I go to Control Panel Add and Remove I see I now have
Java (TM) 7 Update 5
and
Java (TM) 7 Update 5 (64 bit)
and
JavaFX2.2.1

Does that seem right? Did I maybe download the wrong thing with Java (TM) 7 Update 5, like maybe that was the 32 bit? It doesn't take much for me to goof things up.

I still haven't done the toolbox.exe yet.

I'm not a gamer either.

Please do the toolbox thing...so we have it in one place

MiniToolBox by Farbar Version: 23-07-2012
Ran by Sue (administrator) on 12-08-2012 at 13:14:44
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (X64)
Boot Mode: Normal
***************************************************************************

=========================== Installed Programs ============================

Adobe Flash Player 11 ActiveX (Version: 11.3.300.270)
Adobe Flash Player 11 Plugin (Version: 11.3.300.270)
Adobe Reader X (10.1.3) (Version: 10.1.3)
Advanced SystemCare 5 (Version: 5.4.0)
ATI Catalyst Control Center (Version: 2.009.0714.2131)
Catalyst Control Center - Branding (Version: 1.00.0000)
Catalyst Control Center Core Implementation (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Graphics Full Existing (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Graphics Full New (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Graphics Light (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Graphics Previews Common (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Graphics Previews Vista (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center InstallProxy (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Catalyst Control Center Localization All (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
ccc-core-static (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
ccc-utility64 (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
CCC Help Chinese Standard (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Chinese Traditional (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Czech (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Danish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Dutch (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help English (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Finnish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help French (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help German (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Greek (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Hungarian (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Italian (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Japanese (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Korean (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Norwegian (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Polish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Portuguese (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Russian (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Spanish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Swedish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Thai (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCC Help Turkish (Version: 2009.0714.2131.36830)
CCleaner (Version: 3.21)
D3DX10 (Version: 15.4.2368.0902)
Dell DataSafe Local Backup - Support Software (Version: 9.4.67)
Dell DataSafe Local Backup (Version: 9.4.67)
Dell DataSafe Online (Version: 2.1.19634)
Dell Edoc Viewer (Version: 1.0.0)
Dell Getting Started Guide (Version: 1.00.0000)
Dell Home Systems Service Agreement (Version: 2.0.0)
Dell MusicStage (Version: 1.6.225.0)
Dell PhotoStage (Version: 1.5.0.130)
Dell Product Registration (Version: 1.1.3)
Dell Stage (Version: 1.7.209.0)
Dell Stage Remote (Version: 2.0.0.43)
Dell Support Center (Version: 3.1.5907.16)
Dell VideoStage (Version: 1.3.0.2214)
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer (Version: 1.0.0)
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer (Version: 7.4.3203.136)
Google Update Helper (Version: 1.3.21.115)
Java Auto Updater (Version: 2.1.6.0)
Java(TM) 7 Update 5 (64-bit) (Version: 7.0.50)
Java(TM) 7 Update 5 (Version: 7.0.50)
JavaFX 2.1.1 (Version: 2.1.1)
Junk Mail filter update (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Mesh Runtime (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile (Version: 4.0.30319)
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended (Version: 4.0.30319)
Microsoft Application Error Reporting (Version: 12.0.6015.5000)
Microsoft Office 2010 (Version: 14.0.4763.1000)
Microsoft Security Client (Version: 4.0.1526.0)
Microsoft Security Essentials (Version: 4.0.1526.0)
Microsoft Silverlight (Version: 4.1.10329.0)
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU] (Version: 3.1.0000)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (Version: 8.0.61001)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729 (Version: 9.0.30729)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17 (Version: 9.0.30729)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148 (Version: 9.0.30729.4148)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.6161 (Version: 9.0.30729.6161)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable - 10.0.30319 (Version: 10.0.30319)
Mozilla Firefox 14.0.1 (x86 en-US) (Version: 14.0.1)
Mozilla Maintenance Service (Version: 14.0.1)
MSVCRT (Version: 15.4.2862.0708)
MSVCRT_amd64 (Version: 15.4.2862.0708)
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430) (Version: 4.20.9870.0)
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB973688) (Version: 4.20.9876.0)
PlayReady PC Runtime x86 (Version: 1.3.0)
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver (Version: 6.0.1.5977)
Skins (Version: 2009.0714.2132.36830)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile (KB2468871) (Version: 1)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile (KB2533523) (Version: 1)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile (KB2600217) (Version: 1)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended (KB2468871) (Version: 1)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended (KB2533523) (Version: 1)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended (KB2600217) (Version: 1)
Windows Live Communications Platform (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Essentials (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Essentials (Version: 15.4.3508.1109)
Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant (Version: 7.250.4225.0)
Windows Live Installer (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Language Selector (Version: 15.4.3508.1109)
Windows Live Mail (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Mesh (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Mesh ActiveX Control for Remote Connections (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Windows Live Messenger (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live MIME IFilter (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Movie Maker (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Photo Common (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Photo Gallery (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live PIMT Platform (Version: 15.4.3508.1109)
Windows Live Remote Client (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Windows Live Remote Client Resources (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Windows Live Remote Service (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Windows Live Remote Service Resources (Version: 15.4.5722.2)
Windows Live SOXE (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live SOXE Definitions (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live UX Platform (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live UX Platform Language Pack (Version: 15.4.3508.1109)
Windows Live Writer (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
Windows Live Writer Resources (Version: 15.4.3502.0922)
WOT for Internet Explorer (Version: 12.8.2.0)
Yahoo! Messenger

**** End of log ****

Uninstall both of those Google Toolbars, unless you have a specific reason for wanting them.

Do you know where this came from? Advanced SystemCare 5 (Version: 5.4.0)

These Are ok,
Java Auto Updater (Version: 2.1.6.0)
Java(TM) 7 Update 5 (64-bit) (Version: 7.0.50) That's because you have a 64Bit operating system!
Java(TM) 7 Update 5 (Version: 7.0.50)
JavaFX 2.1.1 (Version: 2.1.1)

All the Dell stuff I'd leave for now.

All the windows live stuff I'd leave for now.

And as has been said you could get rid of Google toolbars, other then that looks ok..

Uninstall both of those Google Toolbars, unless you have a specific reason for wanting them.
They are gone. Thanks!

Do you know where this came from? Advanced SystemCare 5 (Version: 5.4.0)
Yes, I installed it. I've used it for years and like it. It does several things. Thanks!

Now for my next question. This screen is too wide for my viewing pleasure, just surfing. Is there a way to resize and Lock it to the size I like, so I don't have constantly resize it?
Windows7 and Firefox, if that makes any difference.

Ok. Believe it or not I don't know how to do the screen thing off the top of my head, others will...

Resize by grabbing the edge of the firefox window with the mouse and make it work for you once... I dont use firefox often. but it and IE always open at the last size I sized it to at the last position. I just stick mine to right edge and leave two rows of desktop icons showing on the left.. works for me.

Ccleaner may kill that, if check marked to clear the Windows Size & Location cache

Ok, it seems to be staying resized pretty well, until once in a while I 'fatfinger' something and it goes to full wide size.

Now I'm going to attempt to hook up the printer and don't have the installation cd...think the installation cd is in the old processor. I'm downloading what I think I need. Will report back.

Unbelievable. It's hooked up and working. Can you believe it?

Now, if I just had my System Recovery Back-up made, but will have to go to town to get a USB key or a DVD-R/DVD+R/Blu-ray Disc. What would anyone suggest getting? I'm leaning toward the Disc.

You don't need a Blue-ray disk for the system recovery backup. Any regular DVD will do. You can even use CDs but that will take a bunch. Go with either DVD-R or DVD+R, it doesn't really matter these days since all seem compatible in all PCs. Be sure you label them and store in a safe place.

Ok...I just copied what it said I needed from the instructions.

The installation from my old Dell was all on one disk. I'd be afraid I'd mess up the installation if it ended up on multiple CDs. Maybe I should say that there would be more chance for error on my part.

The instructions also said that the USB key should have a minimum capacity of 8 GB. Well, when I go to Control Panel, I see there are 45 programs now with total space of 1.12 GB. So what gives with them saying I need a minimum of 8GB? I'm guessing that it would all go on one of the disks at the link below.

About them...it says, "This recordable DVD features AccuCORE technology which is 100x more scratch resistant than standard discs.
Fights static, repels stains and fingerprints"

Here is a link that might be useful: 25 DVD+RW Re-Recordable DVD 4.7GB

The restore disks contain everything needed to restore your PC to the way it was when you bought it. Windows, programs, junk - all of it.

Another senior moment. I meant to add that there's probably a restore partition on your hard drive but if the drive fails then you need the restore disks. Maybe you could use the windows backup feature to make a copy of your hard drive the way it is now and that would restore what you have now if you have to put in a new drive. I would probably do both to be sure.

One more Sue and I give up. Backup and restore are in the control panel but it's easy to find in Win 7 just by clicking the start button and type 'backup and restore' in the search box. It will find it and you will see the option to create a system image.

I've had bad luck with DVD-RW Change your DVD player and suddenly they dont work.

Think I would buy & just use standard old one time writable DVD-R for my restore disks ...(dash R is most popular & will work in older DVD players when you burn that file for use on a neighbors old pc)

I like Bob 414's suggestion of making a backup of your hard drive the way it is NOW (minus the junk, etc) and use that for restoration if needed rather than the "out of the box" restore. Would save lots of work later, if needed. That's what I have done on my old XP now because of its age. I have an up to date "clone" of the hard disk that I can use to restore in an emergency, and I make a new one every month after the MS updates are installed. The longer a computer has been in use, the more sense this makes.

I like Bob 414's suggestion of making a backup of your hard drive the way it is NOW (minus the junk, etc) and use that for restoration if needed rather than the "out of the box" restore.
Well actually there are no "out of box" restore disks, which is why I've been getting the 'junk' off of it, and installing only what I really want/need.

Once I get the DVD-R disks, I'll Create a System Image Disk and then a Create a System Repair Disc

Oh...btw Mikie...I later read in the quite brief instruction booklet included with the computer that Back-Up does not support rewritable discs.

Ok...so is it disc or disk. My booklet refers to them as disc.

More later as the ongoing 'set-up' saga continues.

If you use the Dell restore disc/disk function, it will be "out of the box" including all the junk, because it will make a copy of the restore partition that Dell put on your hard drive. So your intention to make a system image disk is exactly what I would do.

I made the "restore" disks on my HP, and actually used them, but after you've had the computer a while, this "out of the box" restore becomes a "pain in the a**" because of all the changes that you have made. Sounds like you are on the right track and all should go well for you. Congratulations on the new machine!

Once you get a pile of blank dvd-r's - Its a good idea to make the oem Dell Restore Disc's.
Someday when you least expect it.... You will need it/them.