I have been running Linux both on my desktop and on my laptop for a couple of years already, and it just works. Recently I decided to sell my laptop to get on a better one, though, so I figured I would need to load a fresh Windows install on it (after all the probability of finding another Linux user to buy it is pretty low).

So I just loaded the OEM Windows copy, installed it, and once I was done BAM! All those bad memories came back suddenly. How much preinstalled crap do they manage to put on those things?

I know that this is not Microsoft’s fault. PC manufacturers are bloating the installs to make some money from the software vendors. I find this annoying nonetheless. And if you think there is not enough crap on that install, just consider that it came both with Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security 🙂 .