What is your standard Windows 10 "de-junking" routine after an in(re)install?

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kindasmart

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I just upgraded to Win10pro 64-bit on an i4770k mini-ITX system. 16 GB RAM, 840 pro SSD, onboard graphics. What is your standard Windows 10 "de-crapifying" routine after an in(re)install?

Do you use any de-crapifying programs? I spent a bunch to time googling "how to I remove xyz from win10" and ended up using powershell and running a bunch of cryptic commands. Is there a better way? Recommended FREE ad/malware/spywere blockers, etc. Do this and that. I must do this. Don't do that. Etc. Thanks.
 
First thing I do is install OpenShell as I can't stand the 10 desktop and it's stupid tiles. I then install Shutup10 to disable additional tracking etc.
 
I am not the most active member these days but I just remembered reading an article about a week or so ago that covers and offers what looks like "legit" utility tools for what you are asking. Go here:
MakeUseOf website???

Talks about: 1) Windows Decrapifier 2) Windows Debloater 3) Essential Clean-Up

I think it is worth a looksey over but most of what I wanted I found out and already do on my own. These utilities just seem to compile and offer the scripts in an all-in-one.

Hope this help or anyone else reading.
 
I'm curious what the expectations are of these tools. Win10, like Windows before it, caches a lot of stuff into unused RAM. It knows when to jettison this cache to allow apps to use the space. It takes "an amount of disk space" that is seemingly a lot, but Windows is expected to do a lot. For reference, the current Intel integrated GPU drivers, *the drivers for an integrated GPU*, is a 550MB EXE file.

My old gaming rig, and current backup gaming rig, is an i7-4790K with a GTX1080 and without "decrapifying" it, Windows 10 can handle 4K gaming and current gen VR without issue. Is there some optimization I'm missing?
 
pendragon1 said:
i go through the apps list and remove the junk and then tweak startup items. thats really about all thats needed. techyescity on yt has some decent tweaking guides you could check too.
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This is what I do also. Not sure if there is a need for anything more?
 
Any specifics, beside the O/S, on anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-virus, browers/plug-ins, etc, apps?
 
SuperSubZero said:
I'm curious what the expectations are of these tools.
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I wonder has well (if the expectation is actual significant performance gain and not just seeing less junk when you would ever go into the start menu for some reason or elsewhere.

I can see this being very helpful on a laptop or other oem preinstalled OS, but for straight install on modern hardware
 
Just run the Chris Titus Tech Debloat scripts. Then once I am done with that, I boot into my Ubuntu 20.04.3 daily driver and call it a day. :)
 
LukeTbk said:
I wonder has well (if the expectation is actual significant performance gain and not just seeing less junk when you would ever go into the start menu for some reason or elsewhere.

I can see this being very helpful on a laptop or other oem preinstalled OS, but for straight install on modern hardware
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For Windows 10, Microsoft has an approved way to modify the stock Start tiles on the installation USB, that doesn't involve Powershell scripts. Like if someone doesn't want Spotify and Roblox and TikTok to install, there's a way to do that. Look up LayoutModification.xml. It's a beautiful thing, and doesn't even need a sysprep.

In Windows 11 they made it Layoutmodification.json, and it.. totally doesn't do what it's expected to do. I guess. MS had a documentation page about it which they quickly 404'd for some reason.

I'm not sure where the OP was trying to go, but I know in some circles there's a belief there's an XP-esque footprint Windows 10 out there somewhere, which no, there isn't. Modern Windows is big. Modern MacOS is big. Many mainstream modern Linux distros are big. It's wasn't long ago the Ubuntu installer still fit on a CD-ROM. It's 2.6GB now.
 
Nope, no reason to. Install, update it, and install the latest drivers for your hardware. I'll go through Apps and remove unused items, but they aren't really consuming much in the way of space.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements, I simply do not want misc junk when I click "start". Some of the apps you can right-click | uninstall. Done. But others I had to use powershell. Example: Remove Xbox from Windows 10.
 
kindasmart said:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements, I simply do not want misc junk when I click "start". Some of the apps you can right-click | uninstall. Done. But others I had to use powershell. Example: Remove Xbox from Windows 10.
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xbox is considered a os component now, thats why you cant just uninstall it.
 
kindasmart said:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements, I simply do not want misc junk when I click "start". Some of the apps you can right-click | uninstall. Done. But others I had to use powershell. Example: Remove Xbox from Windows 10.
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You can just right click and hide stuff. ezpz. Takes about 30 seconds.

1633467148284.png
 
B00nie said:
Lol, hiding menu items is not exactly 'de-junking' the OS. All that crud will remain installed and taxing the system and leaving vulnerabilities open.
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The person was answering someone that just said: I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements,
kindasmart said:
Ummm I tried right-clicking and I could not find any "hide" option. I should maybe figure out how to make a folder called MISC-CRAP on Start and just move everything into it.?!?
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Me neither, I do tend to use the powershell route.
 
B00nie said:
Lol, hiding menu items is not exactly 'de-junking' the OS. All that crud will remain installed and taxing the system and leaving vulnerabilities open.
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Fine with me. It’s not 1998 anymore, I don’t agree that anything in that tiles menu is “taxing” my modern 5800x system.
 
criccio said:
Fine with me. It’s not 1998 anymore, I don’t agree that anything in that tiles menu is “taxing” my modern 5800x system.
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yeah start menu icond are not "taxing" nor "vulnerabilities", that i know of....
 
For personal equipment, I install Windows from USB and as soon as it gets to the out-of-box experience (OOBE) after the first boot with the blue screen that says they're getting stuff ready, I mash whatever button it is to open a command prompt (F8 or Shift + F8?) and then run gpedit.msc -> Computer Configuration -> Admin Templates -> Windows Components -> Cloud Content -> Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences: Enabled. Probably also some other things in there.

If you don't like the junk that comes included with Windows 10+, I would start the install with network disconnected, disable the consumer experience stuff after the first reboot, run gpupdate from the command prompt after making the change, close command prompt and connect network.

Info: https://www.jorgebernhardt.com/turn-off-microsoft-consumer-experiences/

P.S. Not sure if this applies to Windows 10 Home.
 
I mix in disabling certain services, O&O Shut up 10, and powershell to remove components depending on how much I want to bother with the system. Then Start10 so I never have to look at or use the new start menu. I gave the default start menu a brief go initially, and it caused Explorer to crash while trying to find some local application on Bing. If it's for a client or family member I'll usually only remove a few things with the o&o tool.
 
LukeTbk said:
The person was answering someone that just said: I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements,

Me neither, I do tend to use the powershell route.
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vulnerabilities?
 
kindasmart said:
I just upgraded to Win10pro 64-bit on an i4770k mini-ITX system. 16 GB RAM, 840 pro SSD, onboard graphics. What is your standard Windows 10 "de-crapifying" routine after an in(re)install?

Do you use any de-crapifying programs? I spent a bunch to time googling "how to I remove xyz from win10" and ended up using powershell and running a bunch of cryptic commands. Is there a better way? Recommended FREE ad/malware/spywere blockers, etc. Do this and that. I must do this. Don't do that. Etc. Thanks.
Click to expand...
The answer is MSMG Toolkit. Because you have to debloat pre install, since a lot is not uninstallable once installed.

People thinking they can run powershell commands post install have no clue.
 
Thanks for all the additional info guys. I haven't played with my mini-ITX box much after the initial Win10pro install, just removes some apps via powershell. Now that I have some more info I'll probably wipe the install and try again. ;)
 
kindasmart said:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not concerned about disk space or performance improvements, I simply do not want misc junk when I click "start". Some of the apps you can right-click | uninstall. Done. But others I had to use powershell. Example: Remove Xbox from Windows 10.
Click to expand...
The Xbox app neither takes much disk space nor impacts performance. If you don't want to see it when you click Start, unpin the tile. Done.
 
SuperSubZero said:
The Xbox app neither takes much disk space nor impacts performance. If you don't want to see it when you click Start, unpin the tile. Done.
Click to expand...

I unpinned everything. I don't like the fact that when I click the "Start" button I see a list of 10+ apps that I will never, ever, use. MANY you can't uninstall, hide, or delete without some cryptic powershell command. I simply want the apps THAT I INSTALL plus a few useful things, notepad, calculator, etc.
 
kindasmart said:
I unpinned everything. I don't like the fact that when I click the "Start" button I see a list of 10+ apps that I will never, ever, use. MANY you can't uninstall, hide, or delete without some cryptic powershell command. I simply want the apps THAT I INSTALL plus a few useful things, notepad, calculator, etc.
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you can turn those off, but youre left with that big blank useless spot. this is one thing i can understand people being upset with. at least let people choose what goes there.
 
kindasmart said:
I unpinned everything. I don't like the fact that when I click the "Start" button I see a list of 10+ apps that I will never, ever, use. MANY you can't uninstall, hide, or delete without some cryptic powershell command. I simply want the apps THAT I INSTALL plus a few useful things, notepad, calculator, etc.
Click to expand...
Xbox is way down in the X's. I don't know how often you scroll that far. What other apps are bothering you?
 
Unchecky

Keeps friends and family PCs and laptops clean. Also run it on mine cos even I get caught out when in a hurry.
 
The best answer to this thread is Ameliorated Windows: https://ameliorated.info/

They have pre-made Windows isos (gray area whether legal or not as they don't require a product key yet are activated. But AFAIK and how they explain in their site, it's not flat out illegal either. You CAN use your own product key if you want, although not required)

or there's a guide to make your own ISO you can use from the site if you don't trust their ISO (a bit complex/involved, and you require access to Linux to modify the Windows installation media further to fully remove baked-in junk).

The method and scripts are all open source.

Yes it is legit.. as in it works and isn't spyware or anything. It's relatively well known but at the same time not talked about much for some reason. I've used it with Windows 10 successfully and is the most in-depth de-bloat you can do. The only caveat is it completely disables Windows Updates - meaning no further updates once you install the media. You'll have to grab a new ISO or wait for them to make new scripts and de-bloat the install media and install Windows again if you want to when a new big Windows patch comes that you want/need. I believe you can also inject update packs via WSUS or WSUS-like service according to their guides, but I haven't tried myself, it sounded like too much of a headache.

Unfortunately they have to do this because if you remove all the baked in stuff and don't disable updates, it'll all be re-downloaded and re-installed/re-activated through updates since Windows is so pervasive. So they must disable Windows Updater completely.

I heard you can use NLite as well on the ISO but it's no where near as through and deep de-bloat and privacy restoring as Ameliorated Windows.

Otherwise for an easy but not as deep clean that you can use on an existing install, https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

good place to plug this website for more privacy-centric tools; https://www.privacytools.io/
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Furious Nerd said:
The best answer to this thread is Ameliorated Windows: https://ameliorated.info/

They have pre-made Windows isos (gray area whether legal or not as they don't require a product key yet are activated. But AFAIK and how they explain in their site, it's not flat out illegal either. You CAN use your own product key if you want, although not required)

or there's a guide to make your own ISO you can use from the site if you don't trust their ISO (a bit complex/involved, and you require access to Linux to modify the Windows installation media further to fully remove baked-in junk).

The method and scripts are all open source.

Yes it is legit.. as in it works and isn't spyware or anything. It's relatively well known but at the same time not talked about much for some reason. I've used it with Windows 10 successfully and is the most in-depth de-bloat you can do. The only caveat is it completely disables Windows Updates - meaning no further updates once you install the media. You'll have to grab a new ISO or wait for them to make new scripts and de-bloat the install media and install Windows again if you want to when a new big Windows patch comes that you want/need. I believe you can also inject update packs via WSUS or WSUS-like service according to their guides, but I haven't tried myself, it sounded like too much of a headache.

Unfortunately they have to do this because if you remove all the baked in stuff and don't disable updates, it'll all be re-downloaded and re-installed/re-activated through updates since Windows is so pervasive. So they must disable Windows Updater completely.

I heard you can use NLite as well on the ISO but it's no where near as through and deep de-bloat and privacy restoring as Ameliorated Windows.

Otherwise for an easy but not as deep clean that you can use on an existing install, https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

good place to plug this website for more privacy-centric tools; https://www.privacytools.io/
Click to expand...

Don't know what Telegram is but it reeks of a scam. Not going there.
 
Since I haven't played with my "new" Win10pro ITX box much recently, I went ahead and installed Start10 tonight. Love it so far and it gave my ole dumb-ass self the Win7 experience I fell in love with in 2013. And yes I was late to the party installing Win7, just as I was really late waiting until 2007 before installing XP!?!

Any recommendations regarding the various FREE alternatives to Start10 beside the ones mentioned above?
 
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