Are there any actual free programs that clean up all bloat ware on a new laptop? Without them putting hidden stuff in?

What OS would be helpful. I assume you mean Windows.

If running Home, that's half the problem. It's got more crap than Pro, and lacks support for Group Policy. If you can run Pro, it's a big help.

WinDebloat on Github works very well.

Even better is to use the LTSC (Long-term Service Channel) versions of Windows. These already have almost no bloat, and won't break stuff from updates, because they only get security updates twice a year. No monthly feature updates.

The LTSC link above also has activation scripts, provided by microsoft.

What OS would be helpful.

What other OS comes pre-installed with bloatware? I guess maybe chromeos?

The comments here are really reinforcing the stereotypes about Lemmy.

No lie. OP is clearly asking about a factory Windows install.

"LINUX!"

Yeah. We know. That wasn't the question.
How do I see the mod log for someone else? I want to see!
- You go into the modlog and search their username in the username field. It looks like Nougat's replies were all removed for spamming along with mine, which I kinda agree with

https://christitus.com/windows-tool/

This is a good one, been using it for years if I ever need to install Windows for some godforsaken reason.

Don't use a pre-installed OS, ever. You don't know who's had their hand in it between the manufacturer and you.

Wipe it and install from scratch; Windows, Linux, whatever.

What's the best version of Windows, and the best place to get it?
- At the moment, Windows 10 IoT LTSC.
  
  https://massgrave.dev.

Honestly? Easiest method is to do a fresh install. I use Windows LTSC which essentially skips all the bloat and spyware in consumer versions of Windows.

If a fresh reinstall isn't viable, there's a collection of batch scripts someone built a while ago called Tron (it fights for the user!). It does a lot of diagnostics, repair, debloat, and optimization, but takes a long time to run.

https://github.com/bmrf/tron

Tron comes with a huge caveat: make sure you know what you're doing, and don't run it blindly.
I got the laptop less than a week ago was basically asking just to make sure i got at least 90 percent of the stuff but wanted to make sure.

At this point basically all drivers will reinstall automatically from windows update. Just grab a USB drive and reinstall windows fresh if you don't want to deal with uninstalling everything.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

This, and for missing drivers, I always have a SSD with SDIO and the latest driver pack (something like 30GB)
- I can't believe this is the first time I've heard about this tool. Amazing
Also, if Windows was ever activated on that machine, it's good to go forever. Far quicker to reinstall and wipe (as part of the process) than mucking around removing crap.

SOURCE: Done this a 100 times for corporate machines.

irm christitus.tech/win | iex

in admin command prompt

For context because running random commands from the internet with an admin prompt is how you rm -fr /*

https://christitus.com/windows-tool/

It can go through and disabled bloat, install what you wasn't and hard set config on windows.
Good lord how did I just learn about this? This is amazing it's like Ninite on steroids.

Simply uninstall everything you don’t want. There’s not a lot, MS told OEMs to stop loading excessive crap a while back else they would make them stop loading anything at all.

You can uninstall any 3rd party antivirus. Defender is good enough these days.

using a third-party utility to forcibly remove or delete programs is somewhat risky and may screw something up or otherwise cause more problems than you believe it to be 'fixing'.

nearly all the 'bundleware' on mass market systems is well-behaved (as far as uninstalling goes), these days. just uninstall the crud you don't want. leave stuff designed for the hardware, though, like hotkeys and osd and whatnot. if you're unsure if something is needed, ask someone knowledgeable.

then go through windows settings and turn off the crap you don't want or use tried-and-true shutup10 (which works with 11, too) and its 'recommended' settings. note that disabling settings in it may require you to use that utility again later to re-enable something (some settings can no longer be modified from windows itself unless switched-back by su10), so keep the shutup10 executable around in case it's needed later.

Yup. I've installed and re-installed Windows more times than I care to count, and this is basically my method when dealing with new PCs with bundleware. It's not like the bad old days. The provided uninstallers work just fine as long as the PC is from a reputable source.

BCUninstaller is pretty good

I've heard good things about privacy.sexy.

If you're running Windows, do a fresh install of stock Windows version, because manufacturers like HP often add keyloggers and shit into their own tools.

ok now you got me curious keyloggers? not that you have to but can you cite where you read that? I think it would be a neat read and something to search for. no sarcasm in that.
- Happened in 2017. Twice.
- I've experienced it personally when my ex got her laptop back then and the antivirus software would immediately go off on nearly all HP programs that were preinstalled.

The windows installer, just wipe the thing and reinstall

Install this app All you gotta do is install it to a USB and boot from it and then bloat free! 😎

https://get.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/

😛

windows generally collects all unnecessary data in a folder, including some system files that aren't required, its called system 32 (I think originally it held 32 bit programs in 64 bit systems, which were obsolete and just "failsafe" options) but they don't want you to know this so they hid it deep in the system and also removed your permission to delete this.