There is of course a version number in the actual script.
But if you mean I should include the prior versions in the zip file, and have the file names identified by version... Thanks for the idea, I will do that going forward. Now 1.7 and 1.8 are in the zip file.
Version 1.8 is now available:
Consolidated all App removal back into one section, as it had turned out to be impractical to try to do partial App removals. My whole philosophy is to run Windows 10 with NO Apps, and while the Settings App seems more or less necessary, all the others are out. Many of the rest of the decisions in the script - e.g., removal of unneeded services - depend on all the Apps being removed, not just some of them.
Tested against an in-place upgrade using build 14291. There are some error messages emitted during the App removal process, but it does work. I believe there's Powershell work-in-progress by Microsoft. I will be testing with 14295 soon.
My Win 10 test setup settles to 42 processes, some of which are involved with being a VMware VM, and others are those I choose to add to Windows to increase its usability. A well-trimmed Win 10 system can be quite efficient.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
Post by atomicstryker on Jul 7, 2016 9:45:33 GMT -6
Hi there, one of these actually kills WiFi on a Dell Inspiron 7537 with Win10 Pro build 1511 x64. The entire "wireless networks" part of Win10 disappears and the still-existing wireless network device refuses to send or receive a single byte.
Sorry about that, and thanks for reporting. Wifi stuff is actually disabled on purpose, as the system on which I'm applying the changes doesn't have it.
There are some services and scheduled tasks that will have to not be removed/Disabled in order for wifi to work.
Restore your system and start by removing the instructions that stop and disable the WlanSvc ("WLAN AutoConfig service") and remove the instructions that disable \Microsoft\Windows\NlaSvc\WiFiTask and \Microsoft\Windows\WCM\WiFiTask jobs in the scheduler.
There may be more but I have no way of testing.
Please bear in mind that my script takes a system to just what *I* need in a lean, minimal desktop setup.
Hi there, one of these actually kills WiFi on a Dell Inspiron 7537 with Win10 Pro build 1511 x64. The entire "wireless networks" part of Win10 disappears and the still-existing wireless network device refuses to send or receive a single byte.
10 is the most diabolical autonomous get online OS i have ever used. In all the versions i've run/tested i've never used my wi-fi network to get online. If MSFT could figure out a way to remotely connect the ethernet cable ,they would invest billions in that.
Wi-Fi(non)sense has been deprecated in recent builds. My wireless access point breathes a sigh of relief
1. Removed all "cloud-integrated" Apps from Win 10 (the subject of this thread) to get it to shut up.
2. Tweaked the bejezus out of Win 10, including making many undocumented or at best not well known registry settings and disabling scheduled jobs to get it to shut up.
3. Run a number of tools such as O&O ShutUp10, W10Privacy, and others to find even more undocumented settings andget it to shut up.
4. Implemented my own local DNS server where I ensure certain server names like *vortex.data.microsoft.com and *telemetry*microsoft* to be resolved to "not found" to get it to shut up.
5. Populated my hosts file with entries to resolve such things as iecvlist.microsoft.com to 0.0.0.0 to get it to shut up.
6. Installed, configured, and am maintaining a rigorous "deny outgoing connections by default" configuration with Sphinx Firewall to ensure it stays shut up and that I know if and when it tries to blab.
In short: Multiple lines of defense and detailed reporting.
And even with all that in place, programs like Visual Studio, Skype, occasional system services, etc. STILL occasionally try to send data to destinations "in the cloud".
I don't have anything to hide, but it's the principle of the thing - and I sure don't relish taking on an ongoing fight with the OS vendor to prevent their taking my data.
So I say "no thanks" to bringing Win 10 into MY business. The problem with "Windows as a service" is that I can already do computing more effectively and securely than Microsoft can, so why should I want THEIR services? NO THANKS, MICROSOFT. SERIOUSLY. Take your Apps and shove them.
Post by atomicstryker on Jul 16, 2016 13:56:35 GMT -6
Oh thanks for that. I didn't realize and did not check the script line for line either.
How can you tell the difference between Skype reporting telemetry and your actual communication? As i understand it, the newest version even caches files you send somewhere that is not in fact your receiving peer's computer. It has the advantage of not having to be online when he accepts, but is obviously unsafe.
I was only judging from the attempts to contact several servers known to receive telemetry. I suppose it's possible Microsoft uses them for other things, but I sense patterns there.
For what it's worth I've lost all ability to transfer files with Skype - and not because of any tweaking. I ran an old version and regained it, and when that was updated to the latest file transfer just stopped working. I don't think Microsoft wants us transferring files that way. I think they want us to use OneDrive.
I did extensive testing with a colleague who's running Skype on Mac. We simply can't transfer files any more. It goes out - even uses network bandwidth - but the files never arrive at the other side. How nice of Microsoft to take our files and leave us with nothing.
Post by atomicstryker on Jul 18, 2016 6:02:22 GMT -6
Quick feedback: Simply re-enabling the WLAN service makes wireless services work again, who would have thought. I've also re-enabled the Windows Firewall, as with WFC it actually is a firewall that does the job.
Glad to hear you got your wireless network working again, AtomicStryker.
Speaking of firewalls, there's an upcoming release of a good commercial 3rd party firewall product that will become available in the coming months: Version 8 of Sphinx Windows 10 Firewall Control
Once 8 is released you'll really want to have a close look at it. I can't yet disclose exactly why, but trust me, it will represent no less than a quantum leap forward in ease of setup and maintenance of a deny-outgoing-by-default firewall.
Just to be clear, the current version, 7.5, is good - no doubt - but version 8 is not available yet. Watch for it. It'll be well worth evaluating, even if you've looked at the product before.
Yes, it works with 14393, though there are always a more things that could be done. And keep in mind I've only had a few days to use 14393 after running Windows10ReTweaker. Here's a screen grab:
Things I've discovered that need attention so far:
- There's another new (and unneeded) member of the Unistack Service Group that should be disabled.
- ApplicationFrameHost now tries to contact msdl.microsoft.com, and it didn't do so before. I need to see if it's possible to configure it not to do so.
- There are 6 more processes running on an idle desktop than before, and also several more services. That can probably be trimmed down.
- There are almost certainly more scheduled tasks than in 10586, and I have not yet had time to sweep through the list to find out if any more of them need to be disabled.
BEFORE RUNNING THIS SCRIPT
Be SURE you don't want Apps or the App Store or the ability to resurrect them. Be SURE you don't want cloud-integration / Settings Sync / OneDrive. Be SURE you don't want Cortana.
This script does its level best to trash all the new stuff and return the system to a lean, local-account-only, secure, quiet desktop system. It's getting less and less feasible to have a pure desktop system as Microsoft continues to put all its eggs in the Metro/Modern/UWP basket.
You should know that despite the success in achieving the above, I have simply chosen not to upgrade any of my hardware systems to Windows 10. I *only* use it in a virtual machine, for testing.
You ever thought about M$ having a bounty for their employees to bring to their engineers attention attempts like these here or other forums, and deploying steps in countering your retweaks or other peoples attempts to alter their OS? MS is not the old way it was...
Maybe some kind of measures are needed like a password to see this thread or any future developments. I know it's hard to not trust people and need other testers inputs as well as some complements to encourage your hard work.
I mean it's nice to see you going up against a goliath, wished I knew something to help you. I'm not an under the hood guy. If there's not a guide I'm lost. Just my thoughts to protect your work and yourself/company.
I think it's this Big Data I'm reading about, not limited to an OS knowing all about us but, the whole internets structure being used and all devices connected to it.
Argue, I hate this regional blocking thing for video content! Apparently, your PBS link does not work outside of the USA. The secondary link does work, sort of, but it is laden with click baiting stuff before you can actually watch the video, so user beware.
Yeah, I've thought about Microsoft reading this stuff... I hope they do - they can KMRIA. I'm not going to run their new software any time soon for anything other than a curiosity. I've bought Microsoft software my entire career (going back to their very first offerings). I've influenced entire corporations' spending. But they'll get no money in their App Store from me or anyone who'll listen. They need to be taught that their current path is not the right one.
Respect and trust are hard won and lost easily. They had it, but because of their evil moves these past few years those are LOOOONG gone now. News flash: They're not coming back soon, and guess what? Microsoft simply is no longer smart enough to make new software that's "must have".
Argue, I hate this regional blocking thing for video content! Apparently, your PBS link does not work outside of the USA. The secondary link does work, sort of, but it is laden with click baiting stuff before you can actually watch the video, so user beware.
I guess I should be more conscious of a forums web community as being global and state something about any links I would offer. Sorry it hadn't occurred to me before your encountered result. I meant nothing but good.
Yes these links I accessed from the US, I do use a VPN to the US and Adguard 6, KIS and Emsisoft defense.
Once again I'm sorry for yours or anyone's bad experience of my links.
Yeah, I've thought about Microsoft reading this stuff... I hope they do - they can KMRIA. I'm not going to run their new software any time soon for anything other than a curiosity. I've bought Microsoft software my entire career (going back to their very first offerings). I've influenced entire corporations' spending. But they'll get no money in their App Store from me or anyone who'll listen. They need to be taught that their current path is not the right one.
Respect and trust are hard won and lost easily. They had it, but because of their evil moves these past few years those are LOOOONG gone now. News flash: They're not coming back soon, and guess what? Microsoft simply is no longer smart enough to make new software that's "must have".
-Noel
AMEN and SOOOOO true Man!
Though only catching M$ at Vista point - I wondered what about all the die hard XP'ers comments I'd read...
Mustabeen one heck of a change for that M$ crowd... I held out from Win 7 but played with a lite version I'd found.
Hated Win 8/8.1 as mush as Win 10 at first but, liked you've said Win8.1 is the most current OS of MS which can be adjusted close to like that of a desktop version for the home or workstation. Can your Tweaker / Re-Tweaker script be ran safely on Win 7 or 8/8.1?
data and technology will be the death of the virus called "the human race"
I am startling to see this myself.
Or are they looking for the best, brightest and easily re-engineered people to colonize other worlds?
Makes me think and reflect why the US cities interstructures (electric-gas-water-etc.) hasn't been updated with the newest learned technologies, solar - wind - AI. Is there a World War 3 pending on some horizon in our future.
Why so much money is spent in regards to off planet research... Not on our cities interstructures.
Is there some floating city on an Ocean somewhere or deep underground where this is happening, the top .002 percent of reported dead's and missing people are being re-engineered in an attempt to an off planet lifestyle.
Yes this is the stuff of a science fiction realm, but also true if humans can think it - only time before it's real.
Argue, I hate this regional blocking thing for video content! Apparently, your PBS link does not work outside of the USA. The secondary link does work, sort of, but it is laden with click baiting stuff before you can actually watch the video, so user beware.
I guess I should be more conscious of a forums web community as being global and state something about any links I would offer. Sorry it hadn't occurred to me before your encountered result. I meant nothing but good.
Yes these links I accessed from the US, I do use a VPN to the US and Adguard 6, KIS and Emsisoft defense.
Once again I'm sorry for yours or anyone's bad experience of my links.
NoName
Yes, I do owe you an apology too if I appear to have come down a little too hard on your good intentions. The information you have presented in your posting is actually quite good. As for the rest of it, I do take the appropriate measures to safeguard my system where necessary, but for testing purposes, I also run near basic system configurations where I can also see the other stuff going on too. Regional content blocking is a more recent development that has become rather annoying to those of us who happen to be a part of the international set. I did not mean any disrespect by what I had posted.
@ Rick - No an apology is not needed, as I had learnt something too. The hardness was because of the misfortunes of web internet use, we all have come to know, I stand at your shoulder with protest of it as the web becomes more monopolized to advertising than information. In short - the added hoops and detours to get at this information. I personally would had given some advice of warning to, if I had known before hand. Apology accepted but, never needed by me.
If we all aren't learning something daily - we get left behind. As in my case I have to relearn what I've forgot most of the time. Struggling to understand most, as it's interconnection ability and pro's with con's.
A wise person once told me, all things are good - it's just not all thing's are beneficial to each one's life. That's where I'm at - finding the most beneficial information to add in my life.
I do thank you Rich for the heads up.
@-Noel, I see and catch your drift - experienced in an virtualized Win 8.1 OS first. Or at least having a good third party recovery program to use. More reading is needed to understand virtual OS on my part. Without connecting the dots here, I see you do offer a Guide for Win8.1 - in short are there scripts mentioned in this Guide of your? I think the guide would be most beneficial when it comes to having to reinstall Win8.1 for me. As I have done many removals, reg. tweaks and the like, that in time I've found across the web. So contained in a guide would be a time saver for me and relying on your experience of testing is a bonus as well.
@nonameme, I do have a Win 8.1 guide, but it's not script-oriented. I only felt the need to create a script when Win 10 reached the frenetic pace of REQUIRING a reinstall several times a year. But it was all wasted effort, as I finally chose to - more or less permanently - just not install it for anything other than a curiosity in a VM.
Win 10 has simply reached a stage where it's less capable than ever of being turned into a real workhorse, and at the same time Microsoft is ensuring it has to be re-tweaked almost continuously. Not to mention it's unstable.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
@-Noel Any chances of you'll revise your Wim.8.1 Guide, including things you've learned since x86/x64 and with a strong possibility of adding scripts for all of Metro cr_p removal as well as other undesirable M$ stuff removal. It would be so nice to have a generic HOME version of the OS - no extras, just the needed basics for common desktop use.
When other users of Win 10 come to the same conclusion as yours and a light bulb goes off. Where else can they turn but go back to a time and M$ OS they felt a lot more control over. If they haven't already realized and returned to Win8.1.
Still M$ knows this and is probably really working hard to patch any differences now it can in that OS. It's one answer of why for the change up in the method delivery of M$ updates to start.
The only good thing of M$ recently was they allowed a free upgrade to Win 10, not charging us. To bad it wasn't all that we wanted and a lot more of what we didn't want/need for a desktop OS. I've seen it as a ploy to compete with Google from an OS stance in surveillance capitalism. This may be why M$ is fighting hard to changing it up and locking it down in the OS from users interventions. Reverting back any and all changes to the OS made thus far by a user. At some point M$ figures users will just give up and accept it. HA !
Even when the time comes and Win 8.1 isn't supported by M$ anymore, I can still see it being used. Shadow Defender would make surfing still safe, and virtualized (still need more knowledge myself on this) is a possible usage.
Yes ad blocker was on and I accessed from the US, so your mileage may be totally different from mine. Just a HeadUp on my encounter, I saw nothing wrong in viewing the posted link.
<Rick> Good video. It's almost hard to believe that at one time Windows 98 was the resource hog, but even then, it still ran circles around what Windows 10 can do on today's modern hardware and look a heck of alot better doing it.
May 25, 2021 22:55:12 GMT -6
<Rick> As stated elsewhere, So much for the launch of Windows 11, "The Great Crash." Myself, I had a hard time getting into the site listed above, when I did get in, the video was partly done and then it crashed. There has been many other reports of crashing.
Jun 24, 2021 9:52:33 GMT -6
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<Rick> I see Microsoft has been very quick to pull down reports of site crashing regarding the Launch of Windows 11 on the Microsoft Insiders forum.
Jun 24, 2021 9:57:31 GMT -6
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<Rick> The rebroadcast is working okay.
Jun 24, 2021 11:00:25 GMT -6
<Rick> With reports of people being able to install the dev-edition of Windows 11 on machines not meeting spec, I thought I would give it a what-the-heck try. Lucky me, I'm caught in the downloading, doesn't meet spec, clearing, re-downloading loop on my machine!
Jul 2, 2021 7:08:46 GMT -6
<Rick> I've recently purchased a license for ArcaOS from www.arcanoae.com/ to play with. First impressions, it's still OS/2, but it now has a Linux twist to it.
Jul 2, 2021 7:32:53 GMT -6
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<dozrguy> laptop shit out and am stuck buying a new one. os win11 as fucked as win10 was?
Oct 2, 2021 12:56:10 GMT -6
<Rick> Let's see ..., my impression of Windows 11 is that it is a spruced up version of Windows 10 requiring a 64-bit processor plus a piece of security hardware that is less than 4 years old in order for it to run.
Oct 4, 2021 18:25:49 GMT -6
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<Rick> On the plus side, Microsoft is supposed to be supporting Windows 10 for some time to come for those of us still using systems with I7 or older processors.
Oct 4, 2021 18:44:35 GMT -6
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<dozrguy> i tried installing win10 om the 'shitout' pc this morning usung media creation. EPIC FAIL! went into an endless bootloop. win7 reinstalled just fine
Oct 21, 2021 11:23:38 GMT -6
<dozrguy> STILL so much bullshit and so little time for the kiddie ideas from the hill. My new laptop (MSI GE 11-UH461) would be an awesome "10" machine but because of Winblows I can only give it a "2"......wasted $3500
Oct 27, 2021 9:36:47 GMT -6
<Rick> Hello. Just checking in.
Mar 17, 2022 10:46:54 GMT -6
<isidroco> Each new w10 update adds >100000 useless files to \Windows\Servicing\LCU\Package_for_RollupFix... folders. Even in a SSD takes time to delete that stuff. In each version they manage to worsen stuff.
Mar 27, 2022 16:14:51 GMT -6
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<dozerguy> still traffic here?
Oct 9, 2022 17:32:44 GMT -6
<Rick> No, there does not seem to be very much traffic these days. I still check in from time to time.
Oct 9, 2022 20:08:58 GMT -6
