Preinstalled Software is computer software which is installed onto a computer before the owner receives it. It is also known as bundled software, bloatware, OEM software, or preload software.
Preinstalled software is often supplied by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the computer, providing applications that are specific to the model purchased, and may include trial versions of certain programs. It may also be included as part of the operating system and provide certain basic functionality, such as a distributed application framework or a basic internet browser.
Many people consider preinstalled software to be bloatware, as it can cause a computer to become slower, occupying system resources and disk space. Additionally, some of these programs may be difficult to uninstall, and can even re-enable themselves after they have been disabled.
Due to these issues, many people choose to reinstall the operating system, or buy a new computer without preinstalled software. Some companies provide a means of removing the bloatware, or offer the user the option of purchasing a computer with a clean install of the operating system.
Preinstalled software is becoming less common, as hardware manufacturers are increasingly offering computers with minimal software installed, and are instead using cloud-based software to reduce the storage requirements on the computer.
