Windows Live Update adds unneeded Bing Toolbar?

[ahhaa]

The darn Windows update has downloaded a 157 meg Windows Live Essentials 2011 'Important' Update (KB2434419)

While it has some things I want like Silverlight, Moviemaker & PhotoGallery, it also includes 'MS Social Connector Provider' for Messenger & Outlook, and adds a Bing toolbar...

...whether you want them or not.

I looked at some Firefox pages where probs removing the Bing thing are discussed, apparently the best you can do is disable it. What happens with Chrome seems unknown (or mebbe M$ has found its not nice to fool with Mother Google).

Windows Update will not drop the issue, and I thought I'd check in with you guys and see what can be done about this. Adobe is also trying to install a Yahoo toolbar every time it updates the Flash Player.

wadddayathinkl?

[redwudz]

Unfortunately a lot of programs add 'crap' you may not want. Most times all you can do is use a custom install and you my be able to uncheck them before the install. Bing must be paying a lot to be included. I don't want Bing, so I just disable it. I don't want a SL of toolbars on my browser either, so I kill them all. It takes me a while to clean IE8 up to my satisfaction on a new system.

I also disable automatic updates. Then at least you have a chance to see what those 'important' updates consist of.

[Ai Haibara]

Bing must be paying a lot to be included

They're not paying anything, I'm sure. Bing is the search engine Microsoft created.

[redwudz]

Sorry, it is from MS. Just another useless toolbar to me.

[Ai Haibara]

And me, too. How many people actually want another search-engine toolbar, these days?

Edit: In theory, couldn't this be seen as Microsoft giving their search engine a sort of unfair advantage? Especially if it is a forced toolbar in an update tagged as 'important...'

[edDV]

Yeah and Java updates install an Ask.com toolbar. Adobe flash updates come with nagging McAfee virus scanners.

Alternative is to pay for updates. Just delete them from your programs management app in control panel.

[Poppa_Meth]

Every major browser out there has a search box integrated now. Why on earth do they think anyone would want a toolbar that does the same thing?

[MJA]

I just got scanning for updates . Windows Live Essentials 2011 is under optional,not important

[ahhaa]

If you use SkyDrive (great free cloud service), Silverlight (needed for Netflix streaming), Moviemaker or any of the other 'Lice Eventuals' it is bumped up to important; at least on this Vista lappie...

[TBoneit]

I thought I had read that it included in Windows updates if you do not have a Anti-Virus Installed.

[redwudz]

I've got IE8 down to just three tool bars, the Menu bar, the Command bar, and the Status bar, though it's at the bottom.

I don't want a large portion of my browser screen full of bars and stuff I don't want or need. And I only use IE because of a couple of programs that won't run on other browsers, otherwise I wouldn't use IE at all. I didn't mind IE6 so much, but dislike the newer versions. I also have Firefox and use it on occasion.

Fortunately, most of those add ons are removable through 'Uninstall' in the Control Panel.

[ahhaa]

IE Tab used to work on Firefox- it opened an IE window in the Ff browser.
The same addon seems available for Google Chrome, (haven't tried it tho):

Easily run Internet Explorer within Chrome.
Some websites are still not compatible with standard browsers.
Others, such as outlook web access and sharepoint are relying on IE proprietary technology.
With this extension you can use those websites directly from Chrome.


https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/miedgcmlgpmdagojnnbemlkgidepfjfi