Question:

How does Lenovo store and reinstall bloatware on its devices after a factory reset?

I have a Lenovo Legion 5 laptop that came with some unwanted applications, such as McAfee antivirus. I removed them manually, but they reappeared when I performed a factory reset on Windows, even though I did not connect to the internet. I wonder how Lenovo manages to keep these applications on its devices and restore them after a reset. Is there a separate partition or a hidden folder that contains them? Is there a way to permanently delete them? I apologize if this question has been asked before.

Answer:

Bloatware is a term used to describe software that is pre-installed on a device by the manufacturer, but is not essential for its operation. Bloatware can take up valuable storage space, slow down performance, and pose security risks. Many users prefer to remove bloatware from their devices, but sometimes they find that it reappears after a factory reset.

A factory reset is a process that restores a device to its original state, as it was when it left the factory. It is often used to fix software issues, clear personal data, or prepare a device for resale. However, a factory reset does not erase everything on a device. It only affects the main partition, where the operating system and user data are stored. There are other partitions on a device that are not affected by a factory reset, such as the recovery partition, the boot partition, and the OEM partition.

The recovery partition is a special partition that contains the files and tools needed to restore a device to its factory state. It is usually hidden and inaccessible to the user, but it can be activated by a certain key combination or a menu option. The recovery partition is what enables a device to perform a factory reset without an external media, such as a DVD or a USB drive.

The boot partition is a small partition that contains the files and programs needed to start up a device. It is also hidden and inaccessible to the user, but it can be modified by certain utilities, such as boot managers or disk editors. The boot partition is what tells a device which operating system to load and how to configure it.

The OEM partition is a partition that is reserved for the manufacturer of the device. It can contain drivers, utilities, or applications that are specific to the device or the brand. It is also hidden and inaccessible to the user, but it can be accessed by certain programs, such as OEM update tools or OEM recovery tools. The OEM partition is what allows a manufacturer to customize a device and add its own features or software.

Lenovo is one of the manufacturers that uses the OEM partition to store and reinstall bloatware on its devices. Lenovo has a tool called OneKey Recovery, which is a program that can create, restore, or manage backups of the system. OneKey Recovery can also access the OEM partition and install the software that Lenovo pre-loads on its devices, such as McAfee antivirus, Lenovo Vantage, or Lenovo App Explorer. OneKey Recovery runs automatically after a factory reset, even if the device is not connected to the internet, and reinstalls the bloatware on the main partition.

There are a few ways to permanently delete the bloatware from a Lenovo device, but they require some technical skills and caution. One way is to use a third-party program, such as MiniTool Partition Wizard, to delete or resize the OEM partition. This will free up some storage space and prevent OneKey Recovery from accessing the bloatware files. However, this may also disable some features or functions of the device, such as the recovery option or the warranty service.

Another way is to use a third-party program, such as Revo Uninstaller, to remove the bloatware from the main partition. This will not affect the OEM partition, but it will remove the bloatware files and registry entries from the system. However, this may not be enough to prevent OneKey Recovery from reinstalling the bloatware after a factory reset, as it may still detect the presence of the bloatware on the OEM partition.

A third way is to use a clean installation of Windows, which is a process that erases everything on the device and installs a fresh copy of the operating system. This will not only remove the bloatware, but also any other software or data that the user does not want. However, this will also require an external media, such as a DVD or a USB drive, that contains a Windows installation file. The user will also need to download and install the drivers and utilities that are compatible with the device and the Windows version.

Bloatware is a common problem that many users face when they buy a new device or perform a factory reset. Lenovo is one of the manufacturers that uses the OEM partition to store and reinstall bloatware on its devices. There are some ways to permanently delete the bloatware from a Lenovo device, but they involve some risks and challenges. Users should weigh the pros and cons of each method and decide which one suits their needs and preferences.