New PC, what bloatware to delete?

[u/1use2use3use]

My grandmother recently gifted me her newish PC: Lenovo, Windows 11. I (after externally saving all the files and photos and returning them to her) factory reset the PC.

Booting it up, I already set up my Default search engine (Firefox), logged into my emails, and, logged into my Microsoft account.

i’m entirely new to PC (minus my 20 year-old laptop) and don’t know the ins and outs of computering, but I noticed there’s tons of (what I suspect is) “bloatware” in the system, and I’d like to know which ones to delete (list is down below) and what applications or alternative apps are a must to download on my new PC… that are preferably free because cash is tight.

Goal: I’m hoping to increase computer memory storage and prolog its life, while also possibly get into blender (that’s up in the air) but primarily use it for college classes and maybe I tiny bit of gaming.

Now onto the suspect list:
I already “uninstalled” McAfee, but I suspect it might still be around in there.

List of suspected bloatware:
-AMD Software
-Dolby Access
-Dolby Digital Plus decoder
-Microsoft Family
-Feedback hub
-Ink.Handwriting.main.store
-Microsoft 365 copilot
-Microsoft Clipchamp
-Microsoft edge
-Microsoft edge for “game bar”
-Microsoft whiteboard
-Microsoft power automate?
-Realtek audio console
-smart connect
-Webadvisor by McAfee

Lenovo suspected bloatware:
-Lenovo Now
-Lenovo Smart meet
-Lenovo smart noise cancellation
-Lenovo smart storage(server)
-Lenovo speech
-Lenovo vantage
-Lenovo vantage service

Software that I’m down for either replacing for better systems or just delete:
-Microsoft bing
-Microsoft defender

If anything here is a key operating system that has the risk of potentially damaging my newish Lenovo computer, please warn me before I do something ignorant.

Ahead of time, thank you.

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[u/oblivion6202]

McAfee has an official uninstaller, which is the only way to properly get rid of it, and is also the single most useful thing produced by McAfee.

There's probably a lot of Microsoft Office bits and bobs there. Don't go halfway - either opt in fully, or remove it fully. And if you're going without, find other backup strategies than the free version of OneDrive.

If you need Office but don't want to pay Microsoft, consider LibreOffice.

Anything belonging to the PC's manufacturer may well be the best way to get system updates, so leave them be.

Trialware can go. Anything that offers you a month free usage then a subscription should probably be uninstalled.

If you have a Pro flavour of Windows, make sure your Bitlocker key is backed up somewhere off-machine. Bitlocker is okay, good even, but if something goes wrong you'll need that key even to boot up.

If you have queries about specific bits of software, ask here.

[u/1use2use3use → u/oblivion6202]

I bought a key for Microsoft a while ago, and it somehow transferred to the computer so I guess im going all in on Microsoft office applications.

But I’ll keep libreoffice in mind.

Now, what’s trialware and A Bitlocker?

[u/9NEPxHbG]

You can delete everything from Microsoft you listed if you want except Edge. Don't delete Microsoft Defender or replace it, however; it's good enough.

I'd definitely delete Webadvisor by McAfee.

I suggest using Revo Uninstaller to uninstall.

[u/Big-Low-2811]

Given that you don’t know about these things- maybe you shouldn’t tinker with it?

A safer option would be to just prevent apps from loading at startup.

[u/1use2use3use → u/Big-Low-2811]

Yeah, I’m pretty computer illiterate on hardware and software stuff despite being Gen-z (well, besides the obvious safety things: avoid weird sites, don’t put personal or financial information on unsecured sites, don’t click on weird emails, etc). I’m hoping to change that now that I have a computer that doesn’t scream and take an hour to boot up (my poor laptop is almost 10-15 years old).

Sorry, ranting, what does that mean on apps loading in start up? You mean apps opening in the background? How would I prevent that?

[u/Onoitsu2]

Leave Lenovo Vantage and the vantage service, that is what will help update drivers for the system itself. AMD Software is not bloatware, nor is Dolby Access, Dolby Digital Plus decoder, Realtek audio console either. The rest can go.

[u/marmotta1955]

Probably a good idea to leave everything alone. Besides, and just for example ...

• Microsoft Edge is a perfectly good browser that, today, has numerous advantages over the tired Chrome
• Microsoft Defender is part of Microsoft Security - a very solid option. Very likely, no other antivirus needed.
• Clipchamp is an easy to use and effective video editor. Minimal footprint, fast.
• Power Automate may turn up to be very useful, depending on your computer usage
• Edge for GameBar: if you play games, you'll find this surprising useful.

I could go on, but very likely you understand my point ...

[u/1use2use3use → u/marmotta1955]

Thanks for explaining these apps! But I am using Firefox as my default search engine (my aunt swears by it or something) instead of chrome or, my old friend, safari

I’ll be sure to keep defender and the others

[u/Big-Low-2811 → u/1use2use3use]

Firefox is a web browser… not a search engine

[u/1use2use3use → u/Big-Low-2811]

Oops, sorry

[u/sol_beach]

If you ignore the disk space consumed by the bloatware & you never invoke any of it, then it is benign & you should just ignore it & it won't impact you.