Kawa-s-Bloat-Remover/QUICKSTART.md

# Bloatware Removal - Quick Start Guide

## 🚀 Quick Commands

### Option 1: Run Immediately (Simplest)
```powershell
# Open PowerShell as Administrator, then:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Remove-AllBloat.ps1"
```

### Option 2: Silent Background Run
```powershell
powershell -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Remove-AllBloat.ps1"
```

### Option 3: Batch File (No PowerShell Window)
```cmd
Run-AllBloat.bat
```

---

## 📋 What Each Script Does

| Script | Purpose | Use When |
|--------|---------|----------|
| **Remove-AllBloat.ps1** | Removes ALL bloatware (HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Dell) | You have mixed systems or want everything at once |
| **Remove-HPBloat.ps1** | HP only | You only have HP systems |
| **Remove-LenovoBloat.ps1** | Lenovo only | You only have Lenovo systems |
| **Remove-ASUSBloat.ps1** | ASUS only | You only have ASUS systems |
| **Remove-DellBloat.ps1** | Dell only | You only have Dell systems |
| **Deploy-ScheduledTask.ps1** | Schedule automatic removal | You want it to run automatically |
| **Deploy-ToRemote.ps1** | Push to multiple PCs | You're managing many computers |
| **Verify-Removal.ps1** | Check if bloatware is gone | You want to confirm removal worked |

---

## 🎯 Common Scenarios

### Single PC - Run Now
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Remove-AllBloat.ps1"
```
Then check results with:
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Verify-Removal.ps1"
```

### Single PC - Auto-Remove Every Startup
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Deploy-ScheduledTask.ps1" -Trigger Startup
```

### Multiple PCs (5 Lenovo computers)
```powershell
$Computers = "PC1", "PC2", "PC3", "PC4", "PC5"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Deploy-ToRemote.ps1" -ComputerName $Computers -LocalScriptPath "Remove-LenovoBloat.ps1"
```

### Verify Removal on Current PC
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Verify-Removal.ps1"
```

---

## ✅ Before You Run

1. **Get Admin Rights**
   - Right-click PowerShell → "Run as Administrator"
   - Or use `Admin: Command Prompt`

2. **Backup Important Data** (optional but recommended)
   - These scripts don't touch user files, but it's always good practice

3. **Note the Script Location**
   - Know the full path to the script file

---

## 📊 After Running

### Verify it worked:
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Verify-Removal.ps1"
```

### Expected output:
```
[+] CLEAN: No bloatware detected
All manufacturer bloatware has been successfully removed.
```

---

## 🔧 Deployment Methods

### For IT/Admins: Schedule Task at Startup
```powershell
# Run as Administrator
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Deploy-ScheduledTask.ps1" -Trigger Startup
```

### For IT/Admins: Deploy to Multiple PCs
```powershell
# Run as Administrator
$PCs = "DESKTOP-001", "DESKTOP-002", "DESKTOP-003"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Deploy-ToRemote.ps1" -ComputerName $PCs
```

### For Group Policy / SCCM
Use `Run-AllBloat.bat` as a startup script:
1. Create a Group Policy object
2. Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Scripts → Startup
3. Add `Run-AllBloat.bat` as startup script
4. Deploy to user OUs

---

## ❓ Troubleshooting

### "Script cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled"
```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope CurrentUser -Force
# Then run your script again
```

### "Access Denied" or "You need admin rights"
- Make sure PowerShell is running as Administrator
- Right-click the shortcut → "Run as administrator"

### "Cannot find path" to script
- Make sure you're in the correct directory
- Use full path: `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\full\path\to\Remove-AllBloat.ps1"`

### Some bloatware still shows up
- Some items are protected or re-installed by updates
- Run `Deploy-ScheduledTask.ps1` to schedule periodic cleanup
- Or disable manufacturer update services manually

---

## 🔐 Safety & Privacy

✅ **What these scripts do:**
- Remove manufacturer bloatware
- Disable associated services
- Clean up registry entries
- Delete installation directories

❌ **What these scripts DON'T do:**
- Remove Windows system files
- Delete user data or documents
- Disable required drivers
- Require internet connection
- Send data anywhere

---

## 📞 Support

If scripts fail:

1. **Check you have admin rights**
   ```powershell
   # Run this in PowerShell - should return "True"
   ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator")
   ```

2. **Run verification to see what's left**
   ```powershell
   powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Verify-Removal.ps1"
   ```

3. **Check System Resources**
   - Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
   - End any bloatware processes manually
   - Then try the script again

---

## 🎓 Learning More

- See `README.md` for detailed documentation
- See individual script files for what packages each removes
- All scripts run with `$ErrorActionPreference = 'SilentlyContinue'` for silent failures

---

**Last Updated:** 2026-07-21  
**Version:** 1.0