Bloatware on new HP laptop

I just bought a new HP ProBook laptop which has the following bloatware installed:

HP Client Security Manager
HP Connection Manager
HP Sure Click
HP Notifications
HP Support Assist

I’m inclined to remove all except Support Assist unless anyone can advise me any of the rest are useful.

A trial version of Office 365 is also provided which doesn’t appear in installed programs. I uninstalled the related apps but I’m unsure whether this expunged Office 365. How do I remove all traces of Office 365?

Has it got a fingerprint reader? The security lets you do things like securely remember password

@Steve C -- My HP desktop is 3 years old. The only bloatware I'm familiar with is HP Connection Manager and HP Support Assistant. My machine had a trial of Office and I did what you did. It doesn't show up anywhere and Geek Uninstaller (portable) doesn't show it either, although CCleaner does under "applications". There's never anything there so I ignore it.

As for HP Connection Manager, it was offered through HP Support Assistant and for me it was a big mistake. Totally screwed up ethernet and WiFi and I used Macrium to get back in business. When it was offered again, I sent it to the HPSA trash bin and it's never been offered again.

HP Support Assistant has offered some audio, ethernet and WiFi drivers as well as updates for HP diagnostics. Never has it offered drivers for my Intel and AMD display adapters. In fact, the support webpage for my machine only shows the original AMD driver (four years old) and two very old Intel drivers. Since they're customized, updates are not available from the AMD and Intel websites. However, when Windows 10 updated to 1803, Windows Update did automatically install a newer Intel graphics driver and it's still in use now with 1903. No problems.

Your mileage may be better with HPSA as it is with some of my friends. I do use the Intel Driver and Support Assistant and while it won't update the graphics driver, it does take care of the other Intel items on my machine.

Sorry to be so long. Good luck with the new machine!

Samuria said:

Has it got a fingerprint reader? The security lets you do things like securely remember password

It does have a fingerprint reader

Crizal said:

@Steve C -- My HP desktop is 3 years old. The only bloatware I'm familiar with is HP Connection Manager and HP Support Assistant. My machine had a trial of Office and I did what you did. It doesn't show up anywhere and Geek Uninstaller (portable) doesn't show it either, although CCleaner does under "applications". There's never anything there so I ignore it.

As for HP Connection Manager, it was offered through HP Support Assistant and for me it was a big mistake. Totally screwed up ethernet and WiFi and I used Macrium to get back in business. When it was offered again, I sent it to the HPSA trash bin and it's never been offered again.

HP Support Assistant has offered some audio, ethernet and WiFi drivers as well as updates for HP diagnostics. Never has it offered drivers for my Intel and AMD display adapters. In fact, the support webpage for my machine only shows the original AMD driver (four years old) and two very old Intel drivers. Since they're customized, updates are not available from the AMD and Intel websites. However, when Windows 10 updated to 1803, Windows Update did automatically install a newer Intel graphics driver and it's still in use now with 1903. No problems.

Your mileage may be better with HPSA as it is with some of my friends. I do use the Intel Driver and Support Assistant and while it won't update the graphics driver, it does take care of the other Intel items on my machine.

Sorry to be so long. Good luck with the new machine!

I’ll ditch the Connection Manager. Thanks for your useful reply

Steve C said:

I’ll ditch the Connection Manager. Thanks for your useful reply

No problem. Again, enjoy the new lappy.

I've uninstalled most of the HP bloatware but the following services are running as Automatic:

HP Analytics
HP App Helper HSA
HP Hotkey UWP
HP LAN/WLAN/WWAN Switching UWP
HP Network HSA
HP System Info HSA

Are any of these useful and which can be disabled e.g. using Autoruns?

Perejon said:

I do not think any of the HP services are necessary for the working of your HP ProBook laptop. Since no HP applications are on your laptop currently, you can set the status of the services from automatic to manual or stop it.

Will disable in Autoruns but I was concerned about the 2 network related services