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It is faster, and certainly cleaner, to reload Dell machines from the restore disc included in the shipment. Keep it off line until you have your base anti-virus product installed then go on line for updates to the AV - first. Completely removing all the garbage that ships with the machine will take longer than a complete rebuild. Since you are rebuilding with the restore disc, you don't have a licensing issue. Don Bosman Information Technologist Libraries, Michigan State University 100 Library East Lansing, MI 48824-1048 [log in to unmask] (517) 432-6123 ext 233 Fax (517) 432-8374 -----Original Message----- From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Gorentz Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 8:57 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [MSUNAG] Google on Dell computers A handful of new Dell computers is on its way to us. I wonder if they come pre-installed with this Google "spyware." http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=8930 Yeah, that's a fairly broad definition of spyware, and this stuff doesn't seem to include the "personalization" features that are the ones I really would not want on our computers. I'm not sure there are even any "call home" functions in it. Just the same, there is no good reason to trust these people, given their checkered history on privacy and civil liberties issues. And I'd like all of our browsers to operate the same out of the box. If nothing else, it's a good windmill-of-the-day to tilt against. It sounds as though there are several components that need to be removed if one doesn't want it. Has anyone seen a complete, definitive list. I've seen some discussions about what to remove, but nothing remotely authoritative even by internet standards. I'm also wondering if the MSU Computer Store routinely negotiates terms that would keep such things out of MSU-purchased computers, at least. (I suppose this forum is not the authoritative source for information on that, though!) John Gorentz