Most annoying is that there are a large number of little bits of functionality that phone home or send information out into the ether: Windows Defender and its submitting of samples, searching via the Windows button, Task Scheduled telemetry items, a plethora of Control Panel privacy settings, etc. etc. etc.
Also annoying on Windows 10 Pro is that the same windows builds have slightly different functionality --- even if the machines have the exact same hardware.
For example, the Search History and Permissions is sometimes named Change the permissions and history of search, even for the same Windows 10 build. It's bizarre.
Also, don't get me started on the intellisense typing when the windows menu is open. (Really Windows, when I press the Start button and then type in Update, you search the web and show me Wikipedia information? And it takes like 5 seconds?)
Don't forget the lame This PC icon...
Sorry, this turned into a cathartic listing of Win 10 grievances. :)
I don't remember seeing web results in my start menu, is that a Cortana thing?
I suspect that there are also regional differences, more crap being pushed to US consumers
My guess is that decision making in large companies is so slow, so bureaucratic, that everyone has given up on shipping anything else than a mediocre product, even if people individually would design it very differently if they could.
Or maybe they're trying to kill the Control Panel all together and switch everyone to the new Settings app, but are aware that doing so immediately would lead to a lot of complaints? So they have both, while slowly nudging you towards using the Settings app so you wouldn't be too angry when you wake up one day in the future and find the Control Panel completely gone.
No, every installation of Windows 10 Pro I've seen had a start menu that was mostly ads (links to Candy Crush, Spotify, Office etc.) - I've also had the OS nag me about giving Edge a second chance.
This is in Germany, in case the region matters, and I always deny all spyware as far as possible using the GUI.
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
This is the first thing I run on any Windows box I am forced to interact with.Removes all the junk in the Start menu in one command.
get-appxpackage -allusers | fl name
and curate the list first and pipe that through remove-appxpackage. Quite a few appx thingies refused to uninstall due to being important! On the other hand so far this VM is working fine and by following a few of the other suggestions from howtogeek eg remove Bing from your start menu, it seems almost usable.
I would not do what he suggests as that will remove every app.
To uninstall 3D Builder:
get-appxpackage *3dbuilder* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Alarms & Clock:
get-appxpackage *alarms* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall App Connector:
get-appxpackage *appconnector* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall App Installer:
get-appxpackage *appinstaller* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Calendar and Mail apps together:
get-appxpackage *communicationsapps* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Calculator:
get-appxpackage *calculator* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Camera:
get-appxpackage *camera* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Feedback Hub:
get-appxpackage *feedback* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Get Office:
get-appxpackage *officehub* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Get Started or Tips:
get-appxpackage *getstarted* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Get Skype:
get-appxpackage *skypeapp* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Groove Music:
get-appxpackage *zunemusic* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Groove Music and Movies & TV apps together:
get-appxpackage *zune* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Maps:
get-appxpackage *maps* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Messaging and Skype Video apps together:
get-appxpackage *messaging* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection:
get-appxpackage *solitaire* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Microsoft Wallet:
get-appxpackage *wallet* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Microsoft Wi-Fi:
get-appxpackage *connectivitystore* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Money:
get-appxpackage *bingfinance* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Money, News, Sports and Weather apps together:
get-appxpackage *bing* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Movies & TV:
get-appxpackage *zunevideo* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall News:
get-appxpackage *bingnews* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall OneNote:
get-appxpackage *onenote* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Paid Wi-Fi & Cellular:
get-appxpackage *oneconnect* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Paint 3D:
get-appxpackage *mspaint* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall People:
get-appxpackage *people* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Phone:
get-appxpackage *commsphone* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Phone Companion:
get-appxpackage *windowsphone* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Phone and Phone Companion apps together:
get-appxpackage *phone* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Photos:
get-appxpackage *photos* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Sports:
get-appxpackage *bingsports* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Sticky Notes:
get-appxpackage *sticky* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Sway:
get-appxpackage *sway* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall View 3D:
get-appxpackage *3d* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Voice Recorder:
get-appxpackage *soundrecorder* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Weather:
get-appxpackage *bingweather* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Windows Holographic:
get-appxpackage *holographic* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Windows Store: (Be very careful!)
get-appxpackage *windowsstore* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall Xbox:
get-appxpackage *xbox* | remove-appxpackagehttps://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/8930-windows-photo-v...
I've been running three systems with all APPX junk removed since Windows 10 was first released. Not a single problem on any of them.
I am fumbling in windows 10. I have lost so much muscle memory due to this upgrade. While i know i’ll build it back I’m frustrated that I have to relearn things I was doing with my eyes closed.
All of the installs were made on OEM machines (HP, Lenovo) that already came with a Pro license or upgrade option. This was done in a home environment so no AD/enterprise options, and never logging on with MS account. So I wonder if there's the possibility that specific OEMs, models, license keys get the treatment while others do not. I'm not sure if the behavior was tied to particular machines or not since I didn't follow the scientific method while doing installations (will do in the future).
> MS sees no practical reason to keep those games free.
It's a removed feature that essentially all users expect to be present. Charging for something like that is a good way to make unhappy customers.
I doubt they'll get more from the game sales than they lost in bad PR. But maybe I'm wrong, I don't do marketing.
I don't mean to sound snobby but I have the feeling that people who are emotionally invested in playing solitaire on a PC are the ones who are least likely to uninstall windows on favour of Linux or equivalent
Maybe it works for other people to continually futz around with the registry, changing values they don't really know what they are good for. But I don't want to feel like I have to fight the OS every time, just to do they same things I get hassle free from other OSes.
That's fine, take them out of the OS. I'm not sure an OS should come preinstalled with games anyway.
But don't remove the games and then show me ads for them.
I do always turn off every possible telemetry setting.
I've never ever seen them at my work too - we use pro version of windows10 for most PCs.
I wonder if Microsoft engages in some kind of personification of OS settings...