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Windows10Debloater: Script to remove Windows 10 bloatware (2021)

237 points by prvt 4y ago

th3wyatt 4y ago
https://github.com/clong/MakeWindows10GreatAgain https://github.com/clong/MakeWindows10GreatAgain I've used this one in the past. Works pretty well.
sprremix 4y ago
These links have already been shared in this thread, but I'd still like to share what I did recently. For the vast majority of debloating I use Sophia[1] and just use the defaults so it's basically fire-and-forget, which I very much like. For any additional de-bloating, like removing OneDrive integration, I use individual scripts from [2]. I've recently switched my development laptop to a Macbook Pro and it's hilarious to note the difference in installation process between the two. The MacOS experience is embracing the "it just works"-concept, no configuration required and everything is taken care off. Whereas the Windows experience is basically you get a thin shell and you need to install these 20(!) updates in order to start configuring your drivers, installing packages and "debloating". In the end I've accepted that Windows and MacOS both have a place in this world and neither have the perfect approach to an operating system. OS's are such a personal experience. [1] https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows [2] https://privacy.sexy/ https://privacy.sexy/
c0d3x_ 4y ago
[dead]
oynqr 4y ago
Okay, now tell me why I would use this instead of installing LTSC.
- 2Gkashmiri 4y ago
  this is for people who are already on a non-ltsc model... i have a problem with LTSC though, it constantly wants to install "security updates" which fucks up my rdpwrap.... is there a way to disable that?
  - dmitrygr 4y ago
    windows update service and windows update medic service can be deleted, this'll solve the issue
  - oynqr 4y ago
    Group policy is your friend. I always disable automatic updates and Defender.
- CamperBob2 4y ago
  Okay, now tell me how I can purchase a single-user license for LTSC.
  - _chu1 4y ago
    Do what you want cause a pirate is free
  - miles 4y ago
    https://tinyapps.org/blog/201811300700_windows_10_ltsc.html https://tinyapps.org/blog/201811300700_windows_10_ltsc.html
    - Elinvynia 4y ago
      None of the links in that post to purchase the license work anymore - 2 out of the 3 sites outright say "product not found" while the last one says it was discontinued at the start of this year.
      - miles 4y ago
        My apologies, the links have not been updated since 2018, though the principle/method still stands. A cursory search turned up this current link (the price has gone down to $237.99): https://www.cdw.com/product/windows-enterprise-ltsc-upgrade-license-1-device/3800600?pfm=srh https://www.cdw.com/product/windows-enterprise-ltsc-upgrade-... As the post explains, it's a good idea to confirm the details with a rep before buying.
  - vbezhenar 4y ago
    I always buy Windows licenses on ebay, they're pretty cheap there.
- taspeotis 4y ago
  How much you agree these are problems is subjective, but there's a list of issues with LTSC here [1]. Honestly I wish Microsoft would just take my money and avoid advertising in paid products. [1] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-and-security/say-no-to-long-term-servicing-channel-ltsc/ba-p/714795 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-a...
  - DanAtC 4y ago
    I see no downsides here
- intelVISA 4y ago
  LTSC/LTSB is a life saver, if they ever stop doing it I don't think I'll be able to run a Windows VM again...
_Algernon_ 4y ago
Better Windows 10 debloater: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overview https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overvi...
- bogota 4y ago
  I mean if we are nitpicking ubuntu is pretty bloated you should compile your own os from scratch.
  - m_mueller 4y ago
    But only by shining sunlight onto your SSD!
    - KronisLV 4y ago
      I think this references this XKCD, in case anyone is curious: https://xkcd.com/378/ https://xkcd.com/378/
    - nousermane 4y ago
      I understand you're being sarcastic, but there are plenty of intermediate options between "use Ubuntu" and "chisel transistors from a rock". In particular, if you want to dab into comping your OS, Gentoo is a good start. Or, if you want to go a bit deeper right away, Linux From Scratch (LFS) project has you covered.
      - BrandoElFollito 4y ago
        Having used Gentoo and LFS, it is good to install it once to understand how Linux works but long term it is annoying. Arch is a better middle ground IMO.
        filchermcurr 4y ago
        Hmm. I actually had the opposite experience. I've been using Gentoo for decades now and haven't found it to be problematic at all. What did you find annoying about it long-term? I tried Arch and found the divide between distribution packages and AUR to be strange. I assume distribution packages are trustworthy, but a lot of things aren't available there, so you have to use AUR. But my understanding is that AUR is all user contributed and unvetted, so it's essentially like the olden days of downloading an exe and hoping for the best. Unless you go to the effort of scrutinizing every script, I guess. Updates seem to be hit or miss too. I had some AUR packages that suddenly failed with circular dependency issues and later a full system update made the machine unbootable, which wasn't tons of fun. That's when I went back to Gentoo. :P To be fair, though, I stopped using Arch after about a couple of months. I could be remembering things wildly incorrectly when it comes to the package management stuff. Unbootable update, though, I remember vividly!
lewantmontreal 4y ago
I’ve noticed it’s better to install Windows without a connection to the internet. There will still be some packaged in software you might want to rid of, but at least not the advert apps like duolingo, candy crush and netflix. Then disable automatic installation of apps via Windows update and clean it up before allowing it to the internet. Actually reminds me of how you absolutely should not install Windows XP with the ethernet cable plugged in back when more home computers were directly connected to the Internet. That thing would be chock full of worms within minutes, so you had to first install a software firewall while offline.
- kro 4y ago
  Installing without internet connection also has the major benefit that it allows you to use a local user account rather than forcing you to signup for an online Microsoft/hotmail/.. account
  - vox_animarum 4y ago
    And even if you want to use an online account for e.g. OneDrive you do not want to login when installing windows because it names your user folder to an abbreviated version of your email.
  - type0 4y ago
    You can install it with local user, it just takes more time and they will nag you so you have to press ESC a couple of times. Most people don't know about this and are coerced into creating MS account, this isn't even some sort of dark pattern, it's a completely fraudulent practice.
    - npteljes 4y ago
      I just installed from a freshly downloaded Win 10 ISO, and there was either no option for a local account, or I just haven't triggered the way to escape creating an online account. At that point, there simply was nowhere to click on the UI, I had the choice of either creating one on the spot, or using one that already exists, and that's it. Really hated the experience.
boomboomsubban 4y ago
Does Windows 10 really come with various Zune software? I thought the Zune was discontinued around 5 years before 10's release.
- ale42 4y ago
  The internal names of some apps are still keeping the "Zune" name in them...
  - boomboomsubban 4y ago
    I looked that up and they were replaced by 2012. So it'd still be strange to have then on Windows 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_software I figure the script started as a Windows 8 debloater, and when updating it they went "well, surely nobody would want those installed" without worrying if they ever were installed.
moontear 4y ago
I personally like Sophia Script a lot to initially configure Windows to my liking: https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows It also does a lot more than „debloat“ which is a loaded term on itself because tastes are different. Someone might like having certain things included in their installation, some don’t.
tweakimp 4y ago
So sad that this is necessary. Same for Smartphones apps you cant uninstall and all these unwanted settings you have to opt out instead of opting in.
system2 4y ago
We should have something for Windows 11. Starting from the bizarre right click option menu fixes, task bar height, taskbar clock issues, freezing start menu, everything rounded back to squared edges, etc...
- rewgs 4y ago
  These are all pretty trivial registry changes. A PowerShell script should do it.
- noisem4ker 4y ago
  https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher
  - system2 4y ago
    Well, thanks for this.
  - HeckFeck 4y ago
    It's entirely written in C. Impressive.
  - e12e 4y ago
    Interesting (and a little scary, lol). Are there any patches/replacements for the windows 11 lock screen yet? (eg: one with only slideshow, no pop-ups)?
defrost 4y ago
O&O Software GmbH, Berlin do a nice suite of 'free' tools to remove apps and limit telemetry in Windows 10 and 11; see: O&O AppBuster | ShutUp 10 [1] https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster [2] https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 * Free of charge for private users, companies and educational institutions
- vidyesh 4y ago
  Plus they also warn on each step the consequences of choosing those options and remind the user that this should be run after every update just in case MS enables/resets some of the disabled telemetry. Very pleasant UI/UX.
- DavideNL 4y ago
  I disabled Windows (11) Updates with this tool, nevertheless it updated itself this week… sigh. (and yes, i ran it frequently, after the previous/last update too.)
  - defrost 4y ago
    All the tools and scripts I've seen essentially make the same changes to disable certain behaviours. However It appears Microsoft still forces certain critical (in their eyes) patches for zero days and can therefore do the sme for less critical things. For 2+ years I've had a Windows 10 instance with updates (automatic and notifications) disabled .. and it has honoured that setting. I manually update every few months after reading the details on the pendings and cross reading on Bleeping Computer | elsewhere for patch issues. Two days ago - I woke to a rebooted computer with a forced "critical security update" applied. I'm not happy - if microsoft can do that, then so can anyone that infiltrates their patch push ala Solar Winds etc.
02020202 4y ago
Just a tip - i use tinywall firewall to prevent windows from doing anything in the background. i used the built-in firewall as well but windows has multipel services that can act as proxy for other services to avoid blocking. tinywall is simpler. i only disable it for updates, WHEN I WANT TO UPDATE. it has been working for me flawlessly. also, install windows without internet connection.
mherrmann 4y ago
Or, you know, you could just run an OS that doesn't come with all the bloatware, such as Linux. I know, I know. Not an option for many for corporate reasons or because you need some Win-only apps that don't work with Wine. But more people should consider it.
- Mountain_Skies 4y ago
  The main thing holding Linux back is Linux evangelists and their desperate need to read a Dale Carnegie book or two.
- npteljes 4y ago
  Individual action leads to nowhere after this point. As long as the public sector default to Windows, schools teach Windows and MS Office, and businesses mostly use Windows, Windows it is. People sure as hell don't bother learning a new operating system just to use at home, and they wouldn't also if Linux was this default either. Valve is doing the good work, for one, by creating a new computing platform for Steam on Linux.
  - cube00 4y ago
    Given the way Chromebooks are infecting education, I'm not sure the schools space is as safe for MS anymore.
    - tssva 4y ago
      My daughter is in the 10th grade and has never used Windows. For the past 4 years she has used a school provided Chromebook and outside of school work she uses Android or iOS devices.
- cpach 4y ago
  macOS is very enjoyable and not bloated IMHO.
  - nicbou 4y ago
KronisLV 4y ago
There was also O&O ShutUp10++, which gives you pretty granular control over what you want to enable or disable: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 For example, I might want to disable telemetry or certain app permissions, also disable the OneDrive integration with Explorer (because I use NextCloud or something else), but leave automatic driver updates on and allow Windows Defender to work. It doesn't really remove software on its own, but it's a nice tool to have, and even illustrates how certain settings have changed across Windows updates (they just keep enabling telemetry with each update). Addendum: on a slightly less related note, it feels like Windows 10 is the new Windows 7, a decent OS that people will stick with for a while in lieu of migrating over to Windows 11. In my case, it's because the redesign feels wholly unnecessary but also breaks things like my vertical taskbar (about which the developers said that they don't care because people like me are niche users[1]) and then there was the whole TPM fiasco. Honestly, the only things keeping me on Windows at this point are gaming (around 25% of my Steam games can run on Linux) and software like MobaXTerm, for which I haven't found capable alternatives (e.g. GUI SSH/RDP/VNC/... client with integrated FTP/SFTP and the ability to split terminals, whilst being able to do simultaneous input in all of them, or disable either with a checkbox, e.g. send input to 7/9 open sessions). [1] https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/vertical-taskbar-windows-11/432c173f-63c6-435e-9f63-45d4db952732 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/vertic...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- AnonCoward42 4y ago
  > (they just keep enabling telemetry with each update) I don't know, but this feels really illegal. It probably isn't, but this alone made me really nervous about using Windows. It feels like using Spyware.
  - johnebgd 4y ago
    Windows has been spyware since windows 10. Unless you could get your hands on what they called LTSB but they have done all they can to make that a difficult endeavor. I for one also personally only use Windows for gaming at this point and even then I’m astounded with how well SteamOS works on a steamdeck to play games.
mordae 4y ago
Steam runs on Linux. Just saying...
- sitzkrieg 4y ago
  and how many anticheat games do?
  - jeroenhd 4y ago
    Quite a few, actually. The Steam Deck made swathes of Steam games previously incompatible work with Linux. EasyAntiCheat notably works on any game that bothered to update its libraries, for example. There are still plenty of titles that don't work, though. Personally, I don't care enough about them to find out if there are any fixes or workarounds, I generally just add the game to my "broken" list and play something else until the game developers fix their problems. If you stick to Steam, though, there's a good chance your favourite games library will just work out of the box. Epic is actively anti-Linux so don't expect games on the Epic store to work and god forbid you try to use the crapware EA and Ubisoft force you to install. N=1, but I've been doing all of my gaming on Linux and almost everything on Steam just works for me. I've only had trouble running Halo but I found out that that was because of some kind of DRM sabotage by Microsoft, so I just ignored the game and moved on.
- sgtnoodle 4y ago
  You can certainly play plenty of games on it. The user experience is materially worse, though. While these are complaints, I appreciate that Valve is making an effort to support Linux. Just tonight I was mucking around with Remote Play from my Linux desktop to an Android phone. * Lock screen got in the way. Attempts to unlock remotely froze the client. * Game launched in windowed mode, ended up shifted and cropped. At least it launched! Putting it into borderless mode got it to fill the client screen properly, but rendered at a higher than optimal resolution. * Sound didn't work on the client, only the host. Checking "play sound on host" fixed it?! At least I eventually got it all to work. SteamVR in Linux sort of works too. * Async reprojection doesn't work and leads to horrible artifacts. The option to disable it globally is missing, and you have to go deep into the per-app settings. * Sound has a 50% chance of being borked. Unplugging the headset sometimes fixes it. * If you have an AMD GPU, its automatic power profile causes latency spikes several times per second. You either need to write to sysfs entries, or install third party daemons, and you need to add a kernel option in grub. Fun! * Bluetooth power management for base stations doesn't exist, except for some third party scripts. * If I have multiple monitors enabled, the headset fails to go into direct mode. * The virtual controllers shown in the base environment are rendered as if the z-buffer is inverted, or maybe the normals are backwards. I'm pretty sure it's a bug in AMD's openGL implementation. Google Earth works great. Attempts to launch Star Wars: Squadrons so far have failed.
bananamerica 4y ago
I love Linux but I'm convinced we need an actual for-profit alternative in that space that is not coupled with Apple hardware.
- DoingIsLearning 4y ago
  Zorin OS, is exactly what you describe, it's free but you can pay for support and some extra bells and whistles. Zorin OS is basically Ubuntu with sugar coating but in my view it does address all the usability/UX criticism coming from people transioning away from Windows/Mac. I am a long time Debian user but I transioned both my parents away from Windows using Zorin OS. Really happy with the experience overall. I am not sure they really grasp it but they love it, for them it's just a "free Windows my son installed".
- fsflover 4y ago
  How about https://puri.sm https://puri.sm?
- badsectoracula 4y ago
  > actual for-profit alternative The profit incentives are what brought Windows to the state it is today.
draugadrotten 4y ago
There is also AME aka Ameliorated Windows 10 "Windows 10 minus the spyware plus added stability and security." - https://ameliorated.info/ https://ameliorated.info/
- nikanj 4y ago
  ”We have deleted all the Windows Update binaries. This makes the system more secure” I…what. Disabling Windows Update, and billing it as improving security?!
  - imiric 4y ago
    I suppose the rationale is to give the user control over when and what they want to update. You can manually download and install individual updates from MS without being forced to use Windows Update.
    - vbezhenar 4y ago
      Those who disable Windows Update are very unlikely to bother to research which updates they need IMO.
- imiric 4y ago
  These are great images for running in throwaway VMs, but how trustworthy is the project and how safe are the changes for using on bare metal as a primary OS? I haven't audited the scripts they use, but I'm always concerned about running any custom Windows version cooked up by a random person.
longrod 4y ago
Windows is the only OS that needs a debloater. Sometimes Windows seems like it's a Chinese OS.
- nicbou 4y ago
  What is Chinese supposed to mean in this context?
  - DAVer98 4y ago
    I think he meant Windows feels like a cheap counterfeit knock off of itself
    - sprremix 4y ago
      If he meant that, a "knock off OS" would have sufficed. It looked like to me he was referencing the mass surveillance in China. In either case, unnecessary racist in my opinion.
- irusensei 4y ago
  Lately I’ve been calling it Microsoft BonziBuddy OS.
andai 4y ago
This seems like the right place to ask, does anyone know a lightweight Explorer alternative? I basically just want Windows XP explorer on Windows 10. I don't need tabs or dual panes, I just want it to be as fast as it used to be. Whenever I run XP in a VM, I'm amazed that explorer windows not only open instantly, but fully drawn! In W10 it takes half a second to even respond, and then another half second while it draws the UI elements one by one. If I move a folder, Sublime Text detects it instantly, but the same explorer window I used to move it takes several seconds to register the change it itself made...
- Daedren 4y ago
  I'm a fan of Directory Opus. It's -far- more feature filled than Explorer, yet it's much faster at opening (assuming the service is turned on at startup).
  - opless 4y ago
    +1 for DOpus, though as much as I pester the devs they refuse to develop for the mac :-P
  - jmnicolas 4y ago
    IMHO DOpus is an OS in itself ! Way too bloated / complicated for my tastes. Of course YMMV.
  - Double_a_92 4y ago
    I just don't like the design of this, or any other explorer alternative for that matter. It always has some very outdated feel to it... combined with an extremely cluttered view. Like texts and icons and buttons and options that I would never need all over the place.
    - ivank 4y ago
      All of those toolbars and lister layouts are extremely customizable.
qwerty456127 4y ago
Why is Windows Camera considered bloatware and meant to be removed? Is there a better free app to replace it with?
- technion 4y ago
  Unfortunately this is a pretty common tech support query. A lot of these "bloat" scripts are designed by people knowing exactly what they are doing, and meant for such people. Some of them do things like Disable Defender and even Windows Updates. Which is fine if you know why you want those things, but people trying to get dad's computer some extra performance have dug a lot of holes for themselves with debloat scripts. In particular the Windows Store is not always possible to reinstall once removed.
- Nexxxeh 4y ago
  For normal home users? I don't know. For us lot? VLC. Just be sure to turn down the ridiculous 300ms buffer when you open your device.
fishoutofth 4y ago
I could be wrong, but this seems like a surefire way to make your system develop weird quirks. Just looking at the issues someone seems to have restart/shutdown take 15 minutes: is this because of debloater or just regular windows things? Who knows?
- sccxy 4y ago
  I agree. Those debloaters/registry cleaners always make more problems than they solve.
- npteljes 4y ago
  O&O's similar thingy even tells you this for some options: that you should only use them if you're really sure that you want the effect. This is what made me give up tinkering with Windows, it's just improbable to get it doing what you want, it will instead do what they want.
hrez 4y ago
https://privacy.sexy/ https://privacy.sexy/
- icare_1er 4y ago
  That is amazing, thanks. It actually deserves its spot on the frontpage of HN.
  - hrez 4y ago
    Sure, submitted.
    - j1elo 4y ago
      I think the "sexy" word is making it auto-dead by some software spam filter. I vouched for it, but it will take several vouches before the link is accepted. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32436211 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32436211
      - MerelyMortal 4y ago
        It still showed dead until I vouched for it, but it was six hours old at 1 karma meaning no one is probably going to see it. I resubmitted it at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32440745 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32440745 thinking it would bump the karma at least like other duplicate submissions, but it made a new submission, and it looks like it's probably dead as well.
      - inglor_cz 4y ago
        I vouched too.
      - e12e 4y ago
        Thanks for linking to the submission - I vouched too - but it's still dead.
        e12e 4y ago
Datagenerator 4y ago
Install Linux or FreeBSD?
ur-whale 4y ago
> debloater Not needed AFAIC. I only keep windows around to run the oddball app. that doesn't run either on the web or native on Linux. These are increasingly rarer, typically of the gaming persuasion (e.g. MS Flight Simulator). For these, I run a windows instance inside a VM, one distinct VM for each app. The spyware crap and all the other useless shit windows comes bundled with only gets to see me use a single app, through a different IP each time (VPN), usually once every couple of months. Only downside is it uses up a bit of disk space, but that's dirt cheap these days. OTOH, it's very easy to manage, every app gets installed on its own clean windows environment, and uninstalling is as easy as dumping the VM. For my main work env. and anything privacy related, I run on a bare-bone, heavily trimmed Debian with a Cinnamon desktop.
katkatkatkatket 4y ago
That's fantastic, but (like related problems, like "blocking advertising", "making your social media platform act the way you want", "setting up your desktop/IDE just right", and "debloating Android"), you have to consider the amount of time and effort you are dedicating to fighting the enormous amount of resource devoted to making those software tools the way they are. For one, you will ultimately not win. For another, past a certain point, it should become clear that the tool you are using is not made for your use case.
quickthrower2 4y ago
So this is a disk formatter? j/k of course
dsign 4y ago
I don't get Microsoft. Come on, the game is up. Everybody knows that the bloatware is because Microsoft derives money from it. That annoying screen at installation time asking you to sign your soul and those of your loved ones? MS gets X bucks per user per year in whatever twisted revenue they can derive from your (and your loved ones) personal data. Wouldn't be best to sell a version of Windows (they offer tons of versions of Windows) for...gasp...money? I would gladly pay a hundred bucks every few years for the next iteration of Windows if it doesn't treat me like a twat.
- layer8 4y ago
  Windows officially already costs money (though Microsoft doesn’t seem to enforce it). And you can buy the Enterprise version for $MONEY which cuts down at least some of the crap.

237 points by prvt 4y ago

https://github.com/clong/MakeWindows10GreatAgain https://github.com/clong/MakeWindows10GreatAgain I've used this one in the past. Works pretty well.

sprremix 4y ago

These links have already been shared in this thread, but I'd still like to share what I did recently. For the vast majority of debloating I use Sophia[1] and just use the defaults so it's basically fire-and-forget, which I very much like. For any additional de-bloating, like removing OneDrive integration, I use individual scripts from [2]. I've recently switched my development laptop to a Macbook Pro and it's hilarious to note the difference in installation process between the two. The MacOS experience is embracing the "it just works"-concept, no configuration required and everything is taken care off. Whereas the Windows experience is basically you get a thin shell and you need to install these 20(!) updates in order to start configuring your drivers, installing packages and "debloating". In the end I've accepted that Windows and MacOS both have a place in this world and neither have the perfect approach to an operating system. OS's are such a personal experience. [1] https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows [2] https://privacy.sexy/ https://privacy.sexy/

c0d3x_ 4y ago

[dead]

oynqr 4y ago

Okay, now tell me why I would use this instead of installing LTSC.

2Gkashmiri 4y ago
this is for people who are already on a non-ltsc model... i have a problem with LTSC though, it constantly wants to install "security updates" which fucks up my rdpwrap.... is there a way to disable that?
- dmitrygr 4y ago
  windows update service and windows update medic service can be deleted, this'll solve the issue
- oynqr 4y ago
  Group policy is your friend. I always disable automatic updates and Defender.
CamperBob2 4y ago
Okay, now tell me how I can purchase a single-user license for LTSC.
- _chu1 4y ago
  Do what you want cause a pirate is free
- miles 4y ago
  https://tinyapps.org/blog/201811300700_windows_10_ltsc.html https://tinyapps.org/blog/201811300700_windows_10_ltsc.html
  - Elinvynia 4y ago
    None of the links in that post to purchase the license work anymore - 2 out of the 3 sites outright say "product not found" while the last one says it was discontinued at the start of this year.
    - miles 4y ago
      My apologies, the links have not been updated since 2018, though the principle/method still stands. A cursory search turned up this current link (the price has gone down to $237.99): https://www.cdw.com/product/windows-enterprise-ltsc-upgrade-license-1-device/3800600?pfm=srh https://www.cdw.com/product/windows-enterprise-ltsc-upgrade-... As the post explains, it's a good idea to confirm the details with a rep before buying.
- vbezhenar 4y ago
  I always buy Windows licenses on ebay, they're pretty cheap there.
taspeotis 4y ago
How much you agree these are problems is subjective, but there's a list of issues with LTSC here [1]. Honestly I wish Microsoft would just take my money and avoid advertising in paid products. [1] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-and-security/say-no-to-long-term-servicing-channel-ltsc/ba-p/714795 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-a...
- DanAtC 4y ago
  I see no downsides here
intelVISA 4y ago
LTSC/LTSB is a life saver, if they ever stop doing it I don't think I'll be able to run a Windows VM again...

_Algernon_ 4y ago

Better Windows 10 debloater: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overview https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overvi...

bogota 4y ago
I mean if we are nitpicking ubuntu is pretty bloated you should compile your own os from scratch.
- m_mueller 4y ago
  But only by shining sunlight onto your SSD!
  - KronisLV 4y ago
    I think this references this XKCD, in case anyone is curious: https://xkcd.com/378/ https://xkcd.com/378/
  - nousermane 4y ago
    I understand you're being sarcastic, but there are plenty of intermediate options between "use Ubuntu" and "chisel transistors from a rock". In particular, if you want to dab into comping your OS, Gentoo is a good start. Or, if you want to go a bit deeper right away, Linux From Scratch (LFS) project has you covered.
    - BrandoElFollito 4y ago
      Having used Gentoo and LFS, it is good to install it once to understand how Linux works but long term it is annoying. Arch is a better middle ground IMO.
      - filchermcurr 4y ago
        Hmm. I actually had the opposite experience. I've been using Gentoo for decades now and haven't found it to be problematic at all. What did you find annoying about it long-term? I tried Arch and found the divide between distribution packages and AUR to be strange. I assume distribution packages are trustworthy, but a lot of things aren't available there, so you have to use AUR. But my understanding is that AUR is all user contributed and unvetted, so it's essentially like the olden days of downloading an exe and hoping for the best. Unless you go to the effort of scrutinizing every script, I guess. Updates seem to be hit or miss too. I had some AUR packages that suddenly failed with circular dependency issues and later a full system update made the machine unbootable, which wasn't tons of fun. That's when I went back to Gentoo. :P To be fair, though, I stopped using Arch after about a couple of months. I could be remembering things wildly incorrectly when it comes to the package management stuff. Unbootable update, though, I remember vividly!

lewantmontreal 4y ago

I’ve noticed it’s better to install Windows without a connection to the internet. There will still be some packaged in software you might want to rid of, but at least not the advert apps like duolingo, candy crush and netflix. Then disable automatic installation of apps via Windows update and clean it up before allowing it to the internet. Actually reminds me of how you absolutely should not install Windows XP with the ethernet cable plugged in back when more home computers were directly connected to the Internet. That thing would be chock full of worms within minutes, so you had to first install a software firewall while offline.

kro 4y ago
Installing without internet connection also has the major benefit that it allows you to use a local user account rather than forcing you to signup for an online Microsoft/hotmail/.. account
- vox_animarum 4y ago
  And even if you want to use an online account for e.g. OneDrive you do not want to login when installing windows because it names your user folder to an abbreviated version of your email.
- type0 4y ago
  You can install it with local user, it just takes more time and they will nag you so you have to press ESC a couple of times. Most people don't know about this and are coerced into creating MS account, this isn't even some sort of dark pattern, it's a completely fraudulent practice.
  - npteljes 4y ago
    I just installed from a freshly downloaded Win 10 ISO, and there was either no option for a local account, or I just haven't triggered the way to escape creating an online account. At that point, there simply was nowhere to click on the UI, I had the choice of either creating one on the spot, or using one that already exists, and that's it. Really hated the experience.

boomboomsubban 4y ago

Does Windows 10 really come with various Zune software? I thought the Zune was discontinued around 5 years before 10's release.

ale42 4y ago
The internal names of some apps are still keeping the "Zune" name in them...
- boomboomsubban 4y ago
  I looked that up and they were replaced by 2012. So it'd still be strange to have then on Windows 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_software I figure the script started as a Windows 8 debloater, and when updating it they went "well, surely nobody would want those installed" without worrying if they ever were installed.

moontear 4y ago

I personally like Sophia Script a lot to initially configure Windows to my liking: https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows It also does a lot more than „debloat“ which is a loaded term on itself because tastes are different. Someone might like having certain things included in their installation, some don’t.

tweakimp 4y ago

So sad that this is necessary. Same for Smartphones apps you cant uninstall and all these unwanted settings you have to opt out instead of opting in.

system2 4y ago

We should have something for Windows 11. Starting from the bizarre right click option menu fixes, task bar height, taskbar clock issues, freezing start menu, everything rounded back to squared edges, etc...

rewgs 4y ago
These are all pretty trivial registry changes. A PowerShell script should do it.
noisem4ker 4y ago
https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher
- system2 4y ago
  Well, thanks for this.
- HeckFeck 4y ago
  It's entirely written in C. Impressive.
- e12e 4y ago
  Interesting (and a little scary, lol). Are there any patches/replacements for the windows 11 lock screen yet? (eg: one with only slideshow, no pop-ups)?

defrost 4y ago

O&O Software GmbH, Berlin do a nice suite of 'free' tools to remove apps and limit telemetry in Windows 10 and 11; see: O&O AppBuster | ShutUp 10 [1] https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster [2] https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 * Free of charge for private users, companies and educational institutions

vidyesh 4y ago
Plus they also warn on each step the consequences of choosing those options and remind the user that this should be run after every update just in case MS enables/resets some of the disabled telemetry. Very pleasant UI/UX.
DavideNL 4y ago
I disabled Windows (11) Updates with this tool, nevertheless it updated itself this week… sigh. (and yes, i ran it frequently, after the previous/last update too.)
- defrost 4y ago
  All the tools and scripts I've seen essentially make the same changes to disable certain behaviours. However It appears Microsoft still forces certain critical (in their eyes) patches for zero days and can therefore do the sme for less critical things. For 2+ years I've had a Windows 10 instance with updates (automatic and notifications) disabled .. and it has honoured that setting. I manually update every few months after reading the details on the pendings and cross reading on Bleeping Computer | elsewhere for patch issues. Two days ago - I woke to a rebooted computer with a forced "critical security update" applied. I'm not happy - if microsoft can do that, then so can anyone that infiltrates their patch push ala Solar Winds etc.

02020202 4y ago

Just a tip - i use tinywall firewall to prevent windows from doing anything in the background. i used the built-in firewall as well but windows has multipel services that can act as proxy for other services to avoid blocking. tinywall is simpler. i only disable it for updates, WHEN I WANT TO UPDATE. it has been working for me flawlessly. also, install windows without internet connection.

mherrmann 4y ago

Or, you know, you could just run an OS that doesn't come with all the bloatware, such as Linux. I know, I know. Not an option for many for corporate reasons or because you need some Win-only apps that don't work with Wine. But more people should consider it.

Mountain_Skies 4y ago
The main thing holding Linux back is Linux evangelists and their desperate need to read a Dale Carnegie book or two.
npteljes 4y ago
Individual action leads to nowhere after this point. As long as the public sector default to Windows, schools teach Windows and MS Office, and businesses mostly use Windows, Windows it is. People sure as hell don't bother learning a new operating system just to use at home, and they wouldn't also if Linux was this default either. Valve is doing the good work, for one, by creating a new computing platform for Steam on Linux.
- cube00 4y ago
  Given the way Chromebooks are infecting education, I'm not sure the schools space is as safe for MS anymore.
  - tssva 4y ago
    My daughter is in the 10th grade and has never used Windows. For the past 4 years she has used a school provided Chromebook and outside of school work she uses Android or iOS devices.
cpach 4y ago
macOS is very enjoyable and not bloated IMHO.
- nicbou 4y ago

KronisLV 4y ago

There was also O&O ShutUp10++, which gives you pretty granular control over what you want to enable or disable: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 For example, I might want to disable telemetry or certain app permissions, also disable the OneDrive integration with Explorer (because I use NextCloud or something else), but leave automatic driver updates on and allow Windows Defender to work. It doesn't really remove software on its own, but it's a nice tool to have, and even illustrates how certain settings have changed across Windows updates (they just keep enabling telemetry with each update). Addendum: on a slightly less related note, it feels like Windows 10 is the new Windows 7, a decent OS that people will stick with for a while in lieu of migrating over to Windows 11. In my case, it's because the redesign feels wholly unnecessary but also breaks things like my vertical taskbar (about which the developers said that they don't care because people like me are niche users[1]) and then there was the whole TPM fiasco. Honestly, the only things keeping me on Windows at this point are gaming (around 25% of my Steam games can run on Linux) and software like MobaXTerm, for which I haven't found capable alternatives (e.g. GUI SSH/RDP/VNC/... client with integrated FTP/SFTP and the ability to split terminals, whilst being able to do simultaneous input in all of them, or disable either with a checkbox, e.g. send input to 7/9 open sessions). [1] https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/vertical-taskbar-windows-11/432c173f-63c6-435e-9f63-45d4db952732 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/vertic...

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
AnonCoward42 4y ago
> (they just keep enabling telemetry with each update) I don't know, but this feels really illegal. It probably isn't, but this alone made me really nervous about using Windows. It feels like using Spyware.
- johnebgd 4y ago
  Windows has been spyware since windows 10. Unless you could get your hands on what they called LTSB but they have done all they can to make that a difficult endeavor. I for one also personally only use Windows for gaming at this point and even then I’m astounded with how well SteamOS works on a steamdeck to play games.

mordae 4y ago

Steam runs on Linux. Just saying...

sitzkrieg 4y ago
and how many anticheat games do?
- jeroenhd 4y ago
  Quite a few, actually. The Steam Deck made swathes of Steam games previously incompatible work with Linux. EasyAntiCheat notably works on any game that bothered to update its libraries, for example. There are still plenty of titles that don't work, though. Personally, I don't care enough about them to find out if there are any fixes or workarounds, I generally just add the game to my "broken" list and play something else until the game developers fix their problems. If you stick to Steam, though, there's a good chance your favourite games library will just work out of the box. Epic is actively anti-Linux so don't expect games on the Epic store to work and god forbid you try to use the crapware EA and Ubisoft force you to install. N=1, but I've been doing all of my gaming on Linux and almost everything on Steam just works for me. I've only had trouble running Halo but I found out that that was because of some kind of DRM sabotage by Microsoft, so I just ignored the game and moved on.
sgtnoodle 4y ago
You can certainly play plenty of games on it. The user experience is materially worse, though. While these are complaints, I appreciate that Valve is making an effort to support Linux. Just tonight I was mucking around with Remote Play from my Linux desktop to an Android phone. * Lock screen got in the way. Attempts to unlock remotely froze the client. * Game launched in windowed mode, ended up shifted and cropped. At least it launched! Putting it into borderless mode got it to fill the client screen properly, but rendered at a higher than optimal resolution. * Sound didn't work on the client, only the host. Checking "play sound on host" fixed it?! At least I eventually got it all to work. SteamVR in Linux sort of works too. * Async reprojection doesn't work and leads to horrible artifacts. The option to disable it globally is missing, and you have to go deep into the per-app settings. * Sound has a 50% chance of being borked. Unplugging the headset sometimes fixes it. * If you have an AMD GPU, its automatic power profile causes latency spikes several times per second. You either need to write to sysfs entries, or install third party daemons, and you need to add a kernel option in grub. Fun! * Bluetooth power management for base stations doesn't exist, except for some third party scripts. * If I have multiple monitors enabled, the headset fails to go into direct mode. * The virtual controllers shown in the base environment are rendered as if the z-buffer is inverted, or maybe the normals are backwards. I'm pretty sure it's a bug in AMD's openGL implementation. Google Earth works great. Attempts to launch Star Wars: Squadrons so far have failed.

bananamerica 4y ago

I love Linux but I'm convinced we need an actual for-profit alternative in that space that is not coupled with Apple hardware.

DoingIsLearning 4y ago
Zorin OS, is exactly what you describe, it's free but you can pay for support and some extra bells and whistles. Zorin OS is basically Ubuntu with sugar coating but in my view it does address all the usability/UX criticism coming from people transioning away from Windows/Mac. I am a long time Debian user but I transioned both my parents away from Windows using Zorin OS. Really happy with the experience overall. I am not sure they really grasp it but they love it, for them it's just a "free Windows my son installed".
fsflover 4y ago
How about https://puri.sm https://puri.sm?
badsectoracula 4y ago
> actual for-profit alternative The profit incentives are what brought Windows to the state it is today.

draugadrotten 4y ago

There is also AME aka Ameliorated Windows 10 "Windows 10 minus the spyware plus added stability and security." - https://ameliorated.info/ https://ameliorated.info/

nikanj 4y ago
”We have deleted all the Windows Update binaries. This makes the system more secure” I…what. Disabling Windows Update, and billing it as improving security?!
- imiric 4y ago
  I suppose the rationale is to give the user control over when and what they want to update. You can manually download and install individual updates from MS without being forced to use Windows Update.
  - vbezhenar 4y ago
    Those who disable Windows Update are very unlikely to bother to research which updates they need IMO.
imiric 4y ago
These are great images for running in throwaway VMs, but how trustworthy is the project and how safe are the changes for using on bare metal as a primary OS? I haven't audited the scripts they use, but I'm always concerned about running any custom Windows version cooked up by a random person.

longrod 4y ago

Windows is the only OS that needs a debloater. Sometimes Windows seems like it's a Chinese OS.

nicbou 4y ago
What is Chinese supposed to mean in this context?
- DAVer98 4y ago
  I think he meant Windows feels like a cheap counterfeit knock off of itself
  - sprremix 4y ago
    If he meant that, a "knock off OS" would have sufficed. It looked like to me he was referencing the mass surveillance in China. In either case, unnecessary racist in my opinion.
irusensei 4y ago
Lately I’ve been calling it Microsoft BonziBuddy OS.

andai 4y ago

This seems like the right place to ask, does anyone know a lightweight Explorer alternative? I basically just want Windows XP explorer on Windows 10. I don't need tabs or dual panes, I just want it to be as fast as it used to be. Whenever I run XP in a VM, I'm amazed that explorer windows not only open instantly, but fully drawn! In W10 it takes half a second to even respond, and then another half second while it draws the UI elements one by one. If I move a folder, Sublime Text detects it instantly, but the same explorer window I used to move it takes several seconds to register the change it itself made...

Daedren 4y ago
I'm a fan of Directory Opus. It's -far- more feature filled than Explorer, yet it's much faster at opening (assuming the service is turned on at startup).
- opless 4y ago
  +1 for DOpus, though as much as I pester the devs they refuse to develop for the mac :-P
- jmnicolas 4y ago
  IMHO DOpus is an OS in itself ! Way too bloated / complicated for my tastes. Of course YMMV.
- Double_a_92 4y ago
  I just don't like the design of this, or any other explorer alternative for that matter. It always has some very outdated feel to it... combined with an extremely cluttered view. Like texts and icons and buttons and options that I would never need all over the place.
  - ivank 4y ago
    All of those toolbars and lister layouts are extremely customizable.

qwerty456127 4y ago

Why is Windows Camera considered bloatware and meant to be removed? Is there a better free app to replace it with?

technion 4y ago
Unfortunately this is a pretty common tech support query. A lot of these "bloat" scripts are designed by people knowing exactly what they are doing, and meant for such people. Some of them do things like Disable Defender and even Windows Updates. Which is fine if you know why you want those things, but people trying to get dad's computer some extra performance have dug a lot of holes for themselves with debloat scripts. In particular the Windows Store is not always possible to reinstall once removed.
Nexxxeh 4y ago
For normal home users? I don't know. For us lot? VLC. Just be sure to turn down the ridiculous 300ms buffer when you open your device.

fishoutofth 4y ago

I could be wrong, but this seems like a surefire way to make your system develop weird quirks. Just looking at the issues someone seems to have restart/shutdown take 15 minutes: is this because of debloater or just regular windows things? Who knows?

sccxy 4y ago
I agree. Those debloaters/registry cleaners always make more problems than they solve.
npteljes 4y ago
O&O's similar thingy even tells you this for some options: that you should only use them if you're really sure that you want the effect. This is what made me give up tinkering with Windows, it's just improbable to get it doing what you want, it will instead do what they want.

hrez 4y ago

https://privacy.sexy/ https://privacy.sexy/

icare_1er 4y ago
That is amazing, thanks. It actually deserves its spot on the frontpage of HN.
- hrez 4y ago
  Sure, submitted.
  - j1elo 4y ago
    I think the "sexy" word is making it auto-dead by some software spam filter. I vouched for it, but it will take several vouches before the link is accepted. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32436211 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32436211
    - MerelyMortal 4y ago
      It still showed dead until I vouched for it, but it was six hours old at 1 karma meaning no one is probably going to see it. I resubmitted it at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32440745 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32440745 thinking it would bump the karma at least like other duplicate submissions, but it made a new submission, and it looks like it's probably dead as well.
    - inglor_cz 4y ago
      I vouched too.
    - e12e 4y ago
      Thanks for linking to the submission - I vouched too - but it's still dead.
      - e12e 4y ago

Datagenerator 4y ago

Install Linux or FreeBSD?

ur-whale 4y ago

> debloater Not needed AFAIC. I only keep windows around to run the oddball app. that doesn't run either on the web or native on Linux. These are increasingly rarer, typically of the gaming persuasion (e.g. MS Flight Simulator). For these, I run a windows instance inside a VM, one distinct VM for each app. The spyware crap and all the other useless shit windows comes bundled with only gets to see me use a single app, through a different IP each time (VPN), usually once every couple of months. Only downside is it uses up a bit of disk space, but that's dirt cheap these days. OTOH, it's very easy to manage, every app gets installed on its own clean windows environment, and uninstalling is as easy as dumping the VM. For my main work env. and anything privacy related, I run on a bare-bone, heavily trimmed Debian with a Cinnamon desktop.

katkatkatkatket 4y ago

That's fantastic, but (like related problems, like "blocking advertising", "making your social media platform act the way you want", "setting up your desktop/IDE just right", and "debloating Android"), you have to consider the amount of time and effort you are dedicating to fighting the enormous amount of resource devoted to making those software tools the way they are. For one, you will ultimately not win. For another, past a certain point, it should become clear that the tool you are using is not made for your use case.

quickthrower2 4y ago

So this is a disk formatter? j/k of course

dsign 4y ago

I don't get Microsoft. Come on, the game is up. Everybody knows that the bloatware is because Microsoft derives money from it. That annoying screen at installation time asking you to sign your soul and those of your loved ones? MS gets X bucks per user per year in whatever twisted revenue they can derive from your (and your loved ones) personal data. Wouldn't be best to sell a version of Windows (they offer tons of versions of Windows) for...gasp...money? I would gladly pay a hundred bucks every few years for the next iteration of Windows if it doesn't treat me like a twat.

layer8 4y ago
Windows officially already costs money (though Microsoft doesn’t seem to enforce it). And you can buy the Enterprise version for $MONEY which cuts down at least some of the crap.