Do you keep OEM Disk Management software installed?

TheMystic · Dec 10, 2021

Most SSDs/ HDDs come with a OEM disk management software that can be used to check disk health, do maintenance, update firmware, etc.

I see that most of them are very large programs

Samsung Magician: 150 MB
Crucial Storage Executive: 250 MB

Do these programs really have to be that big to do what they do?

They also need to be installed with administrative privileges.

Makes me skeptical that these are designed to do more than what they claim to do: Planned Obsolescence.

Can't these softwares be used by OEMs to kill their own product over time in order to encourage you to upgrade?

barman58 · Dec 10, 2021

150MB is a small program these days as an example my Adobe folder in Windows is 9.6GB and Gimp the small editing package is 900MB+

Programs that need to change system files (that are set this way to protect your data ) need to have permissions enough to do their job.

Why would any developer want to risk the discovery, by users, (which is inevitable), of underhand methods that would totally destroy their credibility with all users, it does not make any sort of business sense

TheMystic · Dec 10, 2021

barman58 said:
150MB is a small program these days as an example my Adobe folder in Windows is 9.6GB and Gimp the small editing package is 900MB+

Programs that need to change system files (that are set this way to protect your data ) need to have permissions enough to do their job.

Why would any developer want to risk the discovery, by users, (which is inevitable), of underhand methods that would totally destroy their credibility with all users, it does not make any sort of business sense

The sizes are big only when you compare to 3rd party disk management programs. The size by itself is a concern only in the context of what all is built into it and whether that is necessary.

Planned Obsolescence is REAL. Every big company is resorting to such evil practices. Products are no longer being built with durability in mind. They are designed to fail, and if they don't fail as expected, companies would ensure they do via software updates.

For sure it makes business sense to them, or else why would they all be doing it?

davewin11 · Dec 10, 2021

TheMystic said:
Planned Obsolescence is REAL. Every big company is resorting to such evil practices. Products are no longer being built with durability in mind. They are designed to fail, and if they don't fail as expected, companies would ensure they do via software updates.

For sure it makes business sense to them, or else why would they all be doing it?

Nothing new about PA. See Planned obsolescence - Wikipedia

Whackbag · Dec 10, 2021

Veritasium did a great video about planned obsolescence, there's a light bulb in a firehouse that's been on for like 100yrs & all the bulb manufactures got together and said no way.

But to answer your question no, i don't keep oem anything installed. None of it is necessary

diggy33 · Dec 10, 2021

Yeah, I dont keep any OEM software on my machine. Unless there's a vulnerability being patched I dont worry about OEM updates.

Quandary · Dec 10, 2021

There were OEM components on my laptop, mostly useless, and were blown after a clean install was done. I then install the Intel Driver & Support Assistant and HP Support Assistant. Both are about 45MB.

If the install programs are available from the OEM site then it should be fine to uninstall, and only install if/when you actually need to use them.

NavyLCDR · Dec 10, 2021

Quandary said:
only install if/when you actually need to use them.

I agree with that - if you want to update a drives firmware, for example.

Wisewiz · Dec 10, 2021

@Whackbag Thanks for that video. Well researched, well written, well presented.

ThrashZone · Dec 10, 2021

Hi,
Like most seldom used apps I just turn off starting with windows and also turn off check for updates.
Now pretty docile to keep.

Berton · Dec 10, 2021

My simple take on Planned Obsolence in computing is that, using printers as an example, once a product has been discontinued and no longer sold there is no money coming in to pay programmers to update the software needed to run them properly so they do become obsolete. And the companies can't take money from current projects to do that paying.

cereberus · Dec 10, 2021

pparks1 · Dec 10, 2021

I don't consider 150MB to 300MB a large application anymore.

I do install the firmware and maintenance tools for my SSD's. My WD SN850 has had a couple of firmware updates and both led to resolving some pretty substantial performance issues. Whenever possible, I try to stick with a certain brand of SSD in a machine. So, with my Western Digital SN850 NVMe, I can use the same software to manage that drive as I can with my Sandisk Ulta 2.5" SATA SSD...since WD owns both companies. This way I don't need to install 2 things to get the job done.

hdmi · Dec 10, 2021

TheMystic said:
Can't these softwares be used by OEMs to kill their own product over time in order to encourage you to upgrade?

I can already see the snakes hissing above the customer's head at Walmart. :lmao:

EDIT: I found them again:

Zazoh · Dec 10, 2021

Other than it labeled as Dell, for a Dell computer. How do I know what is Windows and what was added?
I removed all the trial stuff for MS office which I don't need. But I see Clip Champ, is that original Windows or was it added by Dell?

Is there a list of what programs are installed with a base Windows 11 install?

Wisewiz · Dec 10, 2021

Go to Option 5 and scan the list. If you have it, it came with your installation of Windows. If you don't have it, don't worry about it.

Many of the basic installs are listed in Settings > Apps > Apps and Features. If they have an Uninstall option under the three dots, you can ditch them easily. If they don't offer that option, you can try the tutorial's guide, Option 5. It's not hard.

Uninstall Apps in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to uninstall apps in Windows 11. If you no longer want or use an app, then you could uninstall the app to remove it and free up space on the drive. Desktop apps are traditional programs installed by a user. These will not be an app from the Microsoft Store...

www.elevenforum.com

ThrashZone · Dec 10, 2021

Zazoh said:
Other than it labeled as Dell, for a Dell computer. How do I know what is Windows and what was added?
I removed all the trial stuff for MS office which I don't need. But I see Clip Champ, is that original Windows or was it added by Dell?

Is there a list of what programs are installed with a base Windows 11 install?

Hi,
Seems mixed
I read someone stating tictok/ instagram and some other crapware I doubt ms is preinstalling.

Upgrades sure didn't add that nonsense lol
But yeah you can paste both these in power shell for a list to your desktop what is installed

Code:

Terminal apps list
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName >"$env:userprofile\Desktop\Apps_List.txt"
Provisional
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName >"$env:userprofile\Desktop\Provisioned_Apps_List.txt"

Wynona · Dec 10, 2021

barman58 said:
150MB is a small program these days as an example my Adobe folder in Windows is 9.6GB and Gimp the small editing package is 900MB+

Programs that need to change system files (that are set this way to protect your data ) need to have permissions enough to do their job.

Why would any developer want to risk the discovery, by users, (which is inevitable), of underhand methods that would totally destroy their credibility with all users, it does not make any sort of business sense

I'm in agreement with you, Barman. Why on earth would any OEM destroy it's credibility when there are so many end users out here that can catch them in anything egregious . . . It's a given they'd get caught.

TheMystic · Dec 10, 2021

cereberus said:
No.

Got my Crucial MX500 yesterday and here is the CrystalDiskMark result before installing their software Crucial Storage Executive:

The readings AFTER installing the software and enabling Momentum Cache (which Samsung calls as RAPID mode for their SSDs):

Now the readings after UNINSTALLING the software:

Can you explain why the software needs to remain installed for 'Momentum Cache' to work?

I thought that the software is just a means to enable/ disable feature(s) on the onboard micro-controller present in the SSD. Why should the software remain installed to have some features enabled?

Unless there is a valid explanation, I see this as an attempt by the OEM to ensure their software remains installed if certain features must work.

And what is this:

PerpetualCycle · Dec 10, 2021

TheMystic said:
Most SSDs/ HDDs come with a OEM disk management software that can be used to check disk health, do maintenance, update firmware, etc.

I see that most of them are very large programs

Samsung Magician: 150 MB
Crucial Storage Executive: 250 MB

Do these programs really have to be that big to do what they do?

They also need to be installed with administrative privileges.

Makes me skeptical that these are designed to do more than what they claim to do: Planned Obsolescence.

Can't these softwares be used by OEMs to kill their own product over time in order to encourage you to upgrade?

No use. Wasted space. btw I have PrimoCache disk caching software that works at the block level and can persist across boots. Much better than any caching software from the SSD vendors. Only takes 10 MB of disk space for the software (more for the persistent block cache indexing).

Do you keep OEM Disk Management software installed?

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