Getting rid of bloatware

[turianlannister]

Firstly, please read this post completely before you comment.

How do I get rid of the pre-installed (cr)apps that come with Windows 10?

I'm a PC gamer I don't want X-Box on my laptop for example, I also don't want anything that was developed for a tablet either (I'm firmly of a believe that a PC is a PC and a tablet is a tablet, the operating systems for each should be developed separately)

I despised Windows 8 so much that when my last laptop had it I jumped at the chance to pay my computer repair dude to upgrade me back to Windows 7

That laptop got an SSD harddrive a few months later

It was so quick and user friendly that it was a shock how sluggish and slow my new Windows 10 Lenovo laptop is.

I'm waiting for an SSD drive to my Lenovo (I heard that soon it won't be possible to play new games on a Windows 7 machine as some drivers needed to play PC games won't be compatible with Windows 7)

 

[Paul NZ]

Uninstall the apps that you dont want. If it's Pro, then go to the store / settings. Untick update apps automatically

If it's not Pro then it maybe harder to keep them off,since they'll keep reinstalling. Whether you like it or not

 

[cherry blossoms]

You'll need to figure out what drivers specific to your laptop are needed. Some applications running may be specifically for those (like trackpads).

For the bloatware specific to Lenovo, you'll need to dig in your installed program list and decide what you don't want.

For general Win10 tweaking, the following is a GENERAL guide for the latest fall creators update (1709) ymmv.

Some things to try to reduce CPU /Disk usage:

Turn off Windows built in XBox app video recording. The latest windows update moves this switch outside of the App. Even if video is encoded on the GPU, it still has to be moved across the bus to be written to storage.

Disable Cloud saves and Synchroniztion in your Gaming Clients (Steam, Origin, Uplay, etc)

Disable OneDrive if you can live with that.

Turn off storage sense

Go to your settings tab if you haven't already and look at all options under all headers. Turn off functions you don't need.

Delivery Optimization is usually on. Seems to treat your PC as a torrent source for Win updates. Turn it off.

Game Mode may cause stuttering, try turning it off.

Some people have reported success with using Utimate Windows Tweaker using the "Security and Privacy" section, then the "Privacy" tab settings. I prefer a more granular approach but ymmv. Links given at end of this post.

Services to consider disabling: (Some telemetry related, ymmv depending on your particular usage scenarios)

Anything Adobe depending on usage or setting to manual
NVidia telemetry (using autoruns is helpful here also)
Connected User Experiences
Delivery Optimization
dmwappushsvc
DNSClient (esp if running a large HOSTS file)
Geolocation Service
Microsoft (R) Diagnostics Hub
Microsoft App-V Client
Net Tcp Port Sharing Service
Program Compatibility Assistant
Remote Registry
Routing and Remote Access
Shared PC account management
Smart Card
Superfetch (if using an SSD)
User Experience Virtualization
Windows Biometric Service
Windows Search (big hog that runs in the background)

Use Autoruns from Microsofts Sysinternal Utilities to see what is being autostarted. Many autostart items will NOT be listed conventionally in Startup. See what is being started up and what items specific to your system might be dumpable.

Disable Live tiles that you don't need.
Disable Background functionality for Apps that you don't need or Don't need them doing that.

Turn PreFetch off: (Requires going into the registry)

How invasive is your Antivirus? Many functions you can turn off in "helpful" all in one suites. YMMV of course depending on your usage habits. I run Avast for instance, but ONLY run the Web and File Shield because of my browsing habits/computer usage. Everything you don't need is background churn.

Using a program like W10Privacy to start turning off telemetry churn that windows only gives you SOME options available to turn it off. Programs such as these help so you don't have to go hunting a bunch of stuff in Group Policy Editor or dig in the registry.
Read the choices it offers though, some items you may want to keep on, even among the green items in W10Privacy. Run this oner in Admin mode, and give it a bit to present the interface (it scans throughout the system 1st to find current settings before giving you the tweak menus) It only seems like it's locked up at first.

CCleaner has a nice function as well in it's tools that sees some of the installed stuff that isn't in the default add/remove programs list and app list and can also click uninstall from there.

Program downloads:

Ultimate Windows Tweaker:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-4-windows-10

W10Privacy:
https://www.winprivacy.de/english-home/

Microsofts Sysinternal Utilities AutoRuns:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

CCleaner:
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

 

[turianlannister]

If it's not Pro then it maybe harder to keep them off,since they'll keep reinstalling. Whether you like it or not

Thanks Microerectiledysfunction!

I wonder how much money they'd make if they said 'hey we're going to make a Windows operating system based on Windows 7 and constantly update it but you have to pay $50 a year subscription fee to get the updates'

I'd gladly pay it if it meant I never had to deal with Windoze 8/10/any future operating system that puts preinstalled XBox or tablet (cr)aps on my PC


I'd switch to Linux but I want the option to play future games in my favourite franchises on release day and not wait weeks until they're cracked for Linux

 

[Paul NZ]

I've got pro here and man i t was annoying when the stupid apps kept reinstalling automatically. I would uninstall them the next day another app had installed

Didnt know how to fix it until I read online it was as simple as turning update apps automatically off under settings after you're in the store

No apps have been installed since