Win10 SPAI!
Disclaimer: None of this is mine; it’s all from other people’s articles. Credit to blah blah blah (/jk, but can’t be arsed referencing them all).
This presumes you are running Win10 (upgrade: Windows activation is tied to your hardware not a product key) and went for the ‘don’t save anything’ option when installing from the media creation tools > USB (or similar method).
Before/During Installation
Do
not use
Express Settings. Hit
Customize, and make sure everything is turned off.
It's strongly preferred that you use a
local account with Windows 10 (you can still sign in to individual apps with a Windows Live ID/Xbox ID or whatever, inc. App Store, though why you would want to I don’t know yet)
After Installation
- Head to
Settings > Privacy, and disable
everything, unless there are some things you really need.
- While within the Privacy page, go to
Feedback, select
Never in the first box, and
Basic in the second box.
- Disable
Cortana by clicking the
Search bar/icon.
-
(Optional) Disable web search in Search by going to Settings, and turning off
Search online and include web results.
- Change the name of your PC by going to Start (or hitting the Windows key), typing
About PC, and clicking
Rename PC.
- Set a Static IP if you use one (Repair will switch you back to DHCP).
Up to You
Replace Microsoft Edge/Internet Explorer with
Firefox,
Chromium, or any forks/variations of them.
Replace Windows Media Player with
VLC or
MPC-HC
Replace Groove Music with
Foobar2000,
Winamp, or
MusicBee.
Replace Photos/Windows Photo Viewer with
ImageGlass or
IrfanView.
Personally I use Firefox with Ghostery, NoScript, AdblockPlus and https anywhere.
Tor Browser for those who know why!
1) Disk Cleanup (remove system files) - Kills off the Windows.old folder and makes more room.
2) Defrag (SSD – optimise your drive).
3) Edit your host file to block advertising – add these
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt or
http://paste2.org/A1sv86VF to the host file.
Hosts is in “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc” and you may need to ‘take ownership’ before it will let you write to it (Read only/no access). Make sure you back it up as well, the amendment could break steam overlay apparently (not checked that yet).
If you are struggling with the file permissions etc, try this
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/
4) Disable peer updates for Windows update:
Start > Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered > switch it OFF
5) Wi-Fi Sense :
Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Wi-Fi settings. In here, you basically want to disable every option you see, as well as tell Windows 10 to forget any Wi-Fi networks you’ve signed into in the past.
6) XBox app, Candy Crush app, and other bloatware
Download
CCleaner and use its uninstall tools to remove all the crap. While you're in there be sure to clean up your start-up entries and (not really recommended IMHO) registry entries.
Anything that is not removable via CCleaner you should try to remove via Apps and features.
Important in CCleaner: UNCHECK WINDOWS DEFENDER from the Applications list.
Leaving that checked it will clean up items that defender needs to update, and will cause further definition update to windows to fail.
For more persistent bits try this
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/3f10k0/things_to_removedisable_in_windows_10/ctkmplz
Or this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/3fbdjl/its_the_little_things_that_make_all_the_difference/ctnkwiy
Or this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/3fbdjl/its_the_little_things_that_make_all_the_difference/ctnhiz0
Or This:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/3fbdjl/its_the_little_things_that_make_all_the_difference/ctnk0mw
7) Disable One Drive:
Requires W10 Pro/Enterprise:
search > gpedit.msc > computer configuration > administrative templates > all settings > double-click "prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage" > click "enabled" > click OK. Change will be applied the next time you open File Explorer or maybe reboot.
7a) While still in the
Group Policy Editor, go through
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender, double click
Turn Off Windows Defender, hit
Enabled, then apply.
7b) Remove OneDrive
Paste this in to a notepad text file (not wordpad) and save as ‘removeonedrive.bat’ (make sure you have ‘Hide extensions for known file types’ unticked in ‘Folder Option > View’. Then Run As Administrator.
http://pastebin.com/zw70xK8e#
Nothing nefarious, works a treat.
8) Disable "Telemetry"
Open up the
Group Policy Editor by launching
gpedit.msc as an administrator. Go through
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double click
Telemetry, hit
Disabled and then apply.
NOTE: This only truly works in the Enterprise edition, but the final step provides a decent enough workaround for Pro users.
Start > Run > Services.msc
Find, stop and disable:
DiagTrack
Dmwappushservice
Open an elevated command prompt and copy and paste these lines:
sc delete DiagTrack
sc delete dmwappushservice
echo. >%programdata%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
cacls.exe "%programdata%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl" /d SYSTEM
9) Make file explorer default to My Computer instead of Quick Access Open explorer:
Click the view tab, all the way to the right click on options then "change folder and search options". In the general tab the first option "Open File Explorer to" change to This PC.
http://gfycat.com/AptSizzlingAlbacoretuna
Those who care about using older start menus classic shell has a beta out for windows 10.
http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3449
10) To turn off auto downloading updates and prompts to install.
FYI only works on Pro, Home edition does not have gpedit.
Go to Windows Update -> Advanced settings -> Change "automatic" to "Notify to schedule restart". Then go to your settings -> Network & Internet -> Advanced options, turn "Set as a metered connection" On.
https://i.imgur.com/4m9nnVR.png
11) To change the white toolbar colour on top of every window look
here
12) Dark Theme (I know you Testies love it on the Forum so here ya go).
http://www.howtogeek.com/222614/how-to-enable-windows-10’s-hidden-dark-theme/?PageSpeed=noscript
13) How to turn back old mixer volume control style in win10.
enable old volume control
14) Disable the integrated web search and just want to search your system:
Click start hit any key, click the dashes on the top left, click settings, turn off "search online and include web results".
15) Disable Windows Defender
Permanently disable Windows Defender using the steps outlined on
this page.
People using Professional/Enterprise can just do it with gpedit.
While still in the
Group Policy Editor, go through
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender, double click
Turn Off Windows Defender, hit
Enabled, then apply.
I installed Avira, it’s pretty good.
16) disable the lock screen if you want (replaces the old Ctrl+Alt+Del)
17) F**king Sticky Key!
Right click start button, click "ease of access center", click "make the keyboard easier to use" (least accurate description possible), then uncheck all the boxes in "set up mouse keys", "set up sticky keys", "set up filter keys".
Guide to more aesthetic options:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3f48kd/windows_10_tips_and_tricks/
Congratulations, you are the proud owner of the Bastard Son of Win7 and Win8.1 WOOOHOO!
Please let me know if I've missed anything, got it wrong or it plain doesn't make sense, I will mend my ways!