setting up new PC - why so many Dell components?

9 apps? Really? I doubt I need them all. I am a strong believer in Less is More. I've seen the domino affect way too many times. How many updates have inadvertently broken something subtle way down the line. Give me clean and lean all day long. I don't want all this protection/hand-holding. Very cynical of software competency these days. I was going to uninstall DellSupportAssist but ran into this article which slowed me down.


even that uninstall has caveats. Why do these hardware manufacturers have to make stuff so complicated? Just let Windows do Windows. Its good enough.
Or give me the choice at startup before your crap is installed and explain what it does and why I need/want it (in plain speak not marketing speak) and what it depends on, if anything. I miss my W7 waaaaaaaaah. :-(

Any words of advice on this topic in general and these particular services?

I had the same issue , just be careful of what you remove from The Dell software. Some things if you remove them will break your system. In 11/2025 I was advised that the only way to rid yourself would be to perform a Clean Install of Windows. That could be an issue with your Dell Support Warranty. I did not do that as I did not see it as that big of an issue. Just be careful going forward and that would mean restore points and image backups before any action.