Bloatware Removal Utility (BRU)

Bloatware Removal Utility, for automating removal of pre-installed, factory bloatware from devices running Windows 7-10 and newer. Silently removes items selected if possible. Preselects common bloatware. Can remove Win10 UWP/Metro/Modern/Windows Store apps and provisioned apps.

Bloatware Removal Utility Removes common bloatware from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Sony, Etc Supports Powershell 2+, Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 (Winver 6.1+) and newer - including removing Win8/10+ UWP (metro/modern) Apps. Reboot before running this script and after running it (if anything is removed)

Intended use

MSPs (Managed Service Providers), IT Professionals, Computer Repair shops and those who need to uninstall bloatware on a machine may find this useful. Careful! It will pre-select Microsoft Office and other applications you may want to keep. Review the list prior to clicking on 'Remove Selected' as it will be uninstalled and not recoverable. Use at your own risk!

Imaging would be a good way to set up multiple computers of the same model as there are sometimes issues with restoring images to dissimilar hardware. Also if you happen to have many different models of machines or would like to quickly and quietly remove the default bloatware that comes with many HP, Dell, and a few others this script supports this can automate that process to save you time and free you up for other more pressing concerns. This script will bring up the uninstallers and remove items silently in most cases. I've used it mostly for HP ProBook/EliteBook/ProDesk and varients and also Dell Insprion/Lattitude/OptiPlex/Precision. HP is by far the worst when it comes to preinstalled bloatware.

History/Inspiration

I've credited many of the original ideas and parts that helped make up this script inside it with comments on the relevant sections. There were some 'HP bloatware' removal scripts out there but they didn't get everything and weren't totally automated. I've tried to make this as automated as possible but still feel those scripts were valuable in getting the right approach to solve this problem and contributed to my work so they are appropriately attributted as well.

Creating the Uninstall Helpers folder

Supporting files that are needed should be saved to the "BRU-uninstall-helpers" folder (named exactly that without the quotes).

You'll need to create that folder and get the appropriate uninstall helper files to support removal of programs like: McAfee products HP JumpStart Apps HP Client Security Manager Office Click-2-Run apps (Preinstalled O365 which prevents Business licensed versions from installing)

The folder 'BRU-Uninstall-Helpers' should be in the same location as the PS1/BAT files:

The contents of the 'BRU-Uninstall-Helpers' folder.

Obtaining Specific Bloatware Uninstall Helpers

streams.exe (for unblocking files and preventing script from getting closed without warning by Windows SmartScreen) Streams v1.6 By Mark Russinovich may be downloaded from: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/streams Place the streams.exe in the BRU-uninstall-helpers folder (streams64.exe is not needed). When the .Bat file is run as administrator it will check for streams.exe and run the commands to remove the Zone.Identifier info that it was downloaded from the internet. If it isn't removed, Windows Smartscreen may suddenly close the Powershell script before it is able to run.

devcon HP Client Security Manager Uses DevCon to disable/reenable DVD/CD drive during uninstallation to prevent an HP uninstaller bug. https://networchestration.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/how-to-obtain-device-console-utility-devcon-exe-without-downloading-and-installing-the-entire-windows-driver-kit-100-working-method/

WASP HP JumpStart Apps or 'VIP Access' (Comes with old Norton) Uses the WASP uninstall helper https://wasp.codeplex.com/ It is a dll file called WASP.dll.

To get the WASP.dll file Download from https://web.archive.org/web/20210701003323/https://codeplexarchive.blob.core.windows.net/archive/projects/WASP/WASP.zip

In the zip file, Go to the releases\4\55453160-4bf6-41a4-be7f-7cacc781b9b6 file and rename it .zip

The file you need is inside that as WASP.dll, (ver 1.2.0.0, 42kb).

The snap-ins aren't needed just the dll file.

OffScrub23.vbs Microsoft Office/C2R Office365 Preinstalled Apps Uses updated OffScrubc23.vbs for 2013/2016/2017/2018 https://github.com/OfficeDev/Office-IT-Pro-Deployment-Scripts/blob/master/Office-ProPlus-Deployment/Deploy-OfficeClickToRun/OffScrubc2r.vbs

MCRP.exe McAfee (Consumer) Applications Uses MCRP.exe https://download.mcafee.com/molbin/iss-loc/SupportTools/MCPR/MCPR.exe Note: MCRP 10.4+ needs a key to run silently. To get the key for that version you can run MCPR in GUI mode at least once and use ProcMan to see the command line arguments to copy the key needed to run it. Then you can edit Bloatware-Removal-Utility.ps1 (search for "$mcprKeys =") to put in the version of the new MCPR and the key so BRU can use it silently again. If you find new keys for new versions you can submit a pull request to have it added to the original repo (arcadesdude/BRU).

Usage

For silent / command line usage see the next section. Below is for GUI usage (default).

Right Click and run as administrator on the BAT file (not the PS1) file.

The program will get all installed software and show you a list you can pick from what you want to be removed (silently if possible). It may take 30 seconds to 3-4 minutes to show depending on the speed of the device it is running on and the total number of installed programs.

Carefully review the selected items. Remember this is intended for factory fresh systems to remove bloatware and prepare them for your specific setup -- intended for preparers of computers and IT professionals. Don't simply click remove selected without reviewing the program list.

Disclaimers aside, The pre-selected items are built from fuzzy, regex patterns which you can modify in the script. It matches bloatware against lists of items, and doesn't match other items (like drivers and such). Special cases are handled after the general list and done in a specific order (as some programs require others to be removed first (HP Client Security Manager is one such program that needs several programs removed prior to its removal, for example)).

Check the Options if you want to change automatic reboot after uninstall of all programs, confirmation prompts and System restore point options. There are some specific Windows 10 options as well.

The setting recommended UWP apps auto download off option is supposed to stop UWP and windows store 'recommended' applications from being automatically pushed and installed. In newer windows versions 1703 and on, it may not actually work (or on non-educational/enterprise versions of Windows 10). Note that whenever a windows update is installed, Windows tends to reinstall these UWP/suggested/recommended applications which end up being games or promotional content.

The other Windows 10 specific option 'set default start menu layout for new users' will not affect any existing accounts or current users. If a new user profile is created it will though. What this does is once the bloatware UWP apps are removed, they're also unpinned from the start menu so the new user won't see the uninstalled UWP bloatware applicaitons. This doesn't always seems to work and may give an error about the tiledatabase unless windows is updated first. So for setting up the computer, create your setup admin account first, update windows completely, then run this script to remove the bloatware and set the default start menu layout, then create the new user account which should start off without the default tiles pinned to the start menu.

Silent / Command line usage

To run from command line launch either an admin command prompt and type powershell or launch an administrator powershell.

You may have to set your execution policy to allow scripts to run. If you have Windows SmartScreen on you may have to right click the ps1 file and click Properties then Unblock file and OK. Or use the PS3+ command Unblock-file.

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

The following command line options are supported.

-silent (or -quiet or -s)

Silent mode. Without this switch the GUI will run and manual user input will be required.

-nd (or -id or -ignoredefault or -ignoredefaults or -ignoredefaultsuggestions or -nodefaultsuggestions)

This will not reference the built in suggestions lists so you'll need to use this with -include, -exclude and/or -includelast (-specialcases)

-reboot -rebootafterremoval

Reboots after running silently. You can check the log (see next section) for details after script runs.

-include -includefirst

This will allow you to choose what you want to include. This comes after the default list if that is used or, if you want to not use the built in suggestions be sure to use the -nd switch (or other above aliases) to prevent the default detection list of including what you don't want. You would include using Regular Expressions (escaped and case-INsensitive). The list to include is separated by | if you need to use | in the program name you can escape it with a preceeding backslash \ Here is an example:

`"-include "PROGRAM\ NAME|Something-else|HP\ .*"`

-exclude -filter

This will allow you to exclude (not detect) items you don't want to match. This matches text in Regular Expressions but it is escaped in the program so you would enter examples such as:

-exclude '"keyboard","driver"'

If you have more than one item and are using Powershell Version 2, you'll need to wrap the strings into a single quoted string (like in the example above). If you're using newer Powershell versions you don't have to do that and can just put in the items to match in quotes separated by commas without having to wrap the entire string in single quotes.

What you put into each "string" above will turn into a single Regex escaped string like ".*keyboard|driver.*" That is done automatically by the program so you don't have to escape it here.

-includelast -specialcases

This is for programs you want uninstalled AFTER everything else. Useful for stuff that needs to come after other stuff to be removed properly (*cough* HP Client Security Manager *cough*). This matches text in Regular Expressions but it is escaped in the program so you would enter examples such as:

-includelast '"HP Client Security Manager","HP Support Assistant"'

If you have more than one item and are using Powershell Version 2, you'll need to wrap the strings into a single quoted string (like in the example above). If you're using newer Powershell versions you don't have to do that and can just put in the items to match in quotes separated by commas without having to wrap the entire string in single quotes.

What you put into each "string" above will turn into a single Regex escaped string like ".*HP\ Client\ Security\ Manager|HP\ Support\ Assistant.*" You don't have to do that but it is good to know that happens in the program automatically.

-includefile -selectionfile [File Path (default: c:\BRU\BRU-Saved-Selection.xml)]

This uses the saved file that is created in the GUI with the 'File, Export Selection' option to create the selection list file used when running silently.

If using this includefile option, the options ignoredefaults, include, exclude, includelast (specialcases) are all ignored and not applied. This also skips the default suggestions list. This assumes the file supplied has programs already chosen and ready to remove. Speeds up removal of bloatware for batches of the same selections (i.e. all same model with same installed bloatware).

-win10leaverecommendedappsdownloadon

This will keep the default Windows 10 option for Windows to download those random, recommended game apps like Candy Crush and such. If you don't include this option this script will set the registry keys to stop that unwanted behavior (default).

-win10leavestartmenuadson -keepstartads

This option will keep the Win10 ContentDeliveryManager Ads that appear in the start menu. Not having this option will remove the ads and export the default option so new default accounts won't see them. It doesn't affect existing Windows accounts.

-norestorepoint -skiprestorepoint -nr

This skips the Windows Restore Point creation attempt which is on by default.

-dry -dr -dryrun -detect -detectonly -whatif

Dry Run / Detect Only / WhatIf mode will not remove anything but show you what your -include and -exclude (and -specialcases) filters will target if you're working on trying to target just specific software to be removed.

Full example from Powershell admin prompt:

Remove All HP apps and do the Client Security Manager and Support Assistant last: .\Bloatware-Removal-Utility.ps1 -silent -nd -includelast '"HP Client Security Manager","HP Support Assistant"' -include '"HP\ .*"'

If you find a setup that works for you you can modify the batch script to specify the options. The current batch script will also run the streams.exe program if you've included it in the uninstall helpers folder to remove the download zone information from the PS1/VBS/BAT/EXE files so Windows SmartScreen doesn't stop the script from running when launching.

Log

Logfile will be saved in c:\BRU (or you can edit script to suit your needs). If running with the automatic reboot option this is handy to see if something did not automatically uninstall and what error message was given.

After running

Be sure to reboot after running this as some programs need a reboot when uninstalling. Also you can compare the programs and features list of currently installed programs and see if there is anything left you would need to manually uninstall.

Version History

08/25/2022

• Added default detection for Lenovo Ai Meeting Manager Service
• Updated README

08/17/2022

• Fixed MCRP running silently again (see the section above Obtaining Specific Bloatware Uninstall Helpers for more info)
• Added silent removal arguments for McAfee Security Scan Plus
• Updated README

05/20/2021

• Fixed Office 365 detection (MS Calls it Microsoft 365 now) thanks to jduke-halls
• Added Feature to save GUI selection list to file and then use that silently. Good for customizing different 'batches' or brands of bloatware for removal.
• Changed HP UWP app detection, now targets company prefix of HP (AD2F1837) instead of by individual app names
• Added UWP not match exclusion for "HPPCHardwareDiagnostics"
• Added back Powershell v2 support (updated BAT file to use STA mode if PSv2 or lower to support dialog boxes and removed * output streams redirector (which is PSv3+ only).
• Attempt alternate method of suppressing errors when removing UWP apps that are already removed.
• Updated README

03/21/2021

• Updated comments, haven't been testing Powershell 2 so updated to show support for 3+ (it may still work in 2 but I haven't been testing in it and dropping support for version 2).
• Updated removing McAfee from taskbar (unpinning) if it was there after McAfee removal. Removed verbose output when deleting the MCPR during McAfee Removal.
• Fixed some UWP apps not getting removed by adding additional removal and suppressing most removal output (sometimes Win 10 Version 2004 still shows error removing on the 2nd and 3rd attempts when it worked on the first attempt). Apps like Lenovo Vantage are removed correctly on the 2nd removal attempt now (some apps would always fail on first attempt due to Windows bug). Found the fix in a Lenovo uninstall script.
• Tweaked default suggested uninstall list, Lenovo apps no longer need a space after 'Lenovo' to be considered for the default list.
• Added Microsoft Getstarted UWP app (Welcome to Windows 'tour')
• Added "Lenovo System Update" to exclude list by default
• Fixed/Updated Core regular expression matching again for more consistent include/exclude when using command line options.
• Added some edge cases error handling when the programs list is very small to not throw an error.
• Updated README

10/07/2020

• Fixed Matching issues. Rewrote core matching and fixed issues matching when exclude list blank in silent/cli options.

09/20/2020

• Fixed Matching issues. Rewrote core matching and fixed out of order or match/not match issues with command line options.
• Updated Inclusion/Exclusion default suggestions.
• Excluded "Dell MD Storage" from default suggestions
• Added "HPSureShield" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPSupportAssistant" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPPrivacySettings" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "FarmHeroesSaga" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Norton" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Norton Security" UWP app to suggested apps
• Minor display fixes

01/28/2020

• Added LenovoUtility (Vantage) UWP app detection to the list of suggested apps to remove.

11/27/2019

• Added Added ASUS software including ASUSGiftBox, ASUSPCAssistant (MyASUS) and McAfee Security (UWP) app detection to the list of suggested apps to remove.

11/23/2019

• Added logging full command line options if run silently
• Fixed https://github.com/arcadesdude/BRU/issues/5 "-includelast or -specialcases not working"

10/17/2019

• Added "HPInc.EnergyStar" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPPrinterControl" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPPrivacySettings" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPSupportAssistant" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPSystemEventUtility" UWP app to suggested apps

08/29/2019

• Fixed minor bug in programs list generation

06/02/2019

• Fixed bug in function refreshProgramsList when adding registry results from multiple keys

03/24/2019

• Fixed detection of MS Office UWP apps
• Fixed selection bug when generating default detected list of bloatware when running in command line options mode with more than one match
• Added silent removal support for "Lenovo App Explorer"
• Updated documentation

10/06/2018

• Added silent command line options, custom include/exclude lists, dry run/WhatIf option, etc - see Silent / Command line usage section
• Added URL in GUI about window to the github link
• Fixed match detection bugs and updated comments to match what they are. Only the included items need to be manually Regex escaped
• Fixed Batch file launcher to fix SmartScreen issues (to prevent Windows SmartScreen from closing script window)
• Fixed GUI list checked items when refreshing programs list
• Updated McAfee uninstall helper launch args
• Updated documentation, fixed typos, etc

9/16/2018

• Added streams.exe command in batch file (from Sysinternals) to remove Zone.Identifier so scripts won't get closed without warning by Windows SmartScreen. You'll need to download that separately and put streams.exe in the BRU-uninstall-helpers folder. See "Obtaining Specific Bloatware Uninstall Helpers"
• Changed Windows Store version of Office detection for preinstalled UWP Office
• Added "CookingFever" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DragonManiaLegends" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HPBusinessSlimKeyboard" UWP app to suggested apps

6/05/2018

• Added "Viber" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "ACGMediaPlayer" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "BlueEdge.OneCalendar" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "HiddenCityMysteryofShadows" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "LenovoCompanion" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "LenovoCorporation.LenovoID" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "LenovoCorporation.LenovoSettings" UWP app to suggested apps

4/13/2018

• Added "McAfeeSecurity" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "LinkedInforWindows" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "MediaSuiteEssentials" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Power2Go" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "PowerDirector" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "PowerMediaPlayer" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DellCustomerConnect" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DellHelpSupport" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DellProductRegistration" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Microsoft.Office.Desktop" UWP app to suggested apps (Windows Store version of Office)

3/01/2018

• Added "HPWorkWise64" UWP app to suggested apps
• Excluded "HP Battery Recall Utility" from suggested apps
• Fixed - Increased delay in between removing UWP apps from 2 seconds to 4 seconds
• Added Screenshot of script running/removing bloatware

2/28/2018

• Added "SpotifyAB" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "CaesarsSlotsFreeCasino" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DisneyMagicKingdoms" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "DolbyAccess" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Duolingo" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "PhototasticCollage" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "PicsArt" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "TheNewYorkTimes" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "TuneInRadio" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "WinZipUniversal" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "Wunderlist" UWP app to suggested apps
• Added "XINGAG.XING" UWP app to suggested apps
• Option 'After removal set "recommended" UWP app auto-downloads off' now also sets HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager\SystemPaneSuggestionsEnabled to 0