Customize the initial Windows 10 installation

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[Rick Corbett]

Putting to one side whether one *should* interrupt the Windows 10 installation process, this topic is about whether you *can*… and why on earth would you?

The simple answer is ‘customisability’ and ‘consistency’ for *all* users. Organisations interrupt the initial, default Windows installation process all the time in order to build reference images and to amend the eventual Windows experience/environment (using something called an answerfile)… however you want to describe it.

The benefits are a standard, consistent experience for *all* users of the Windows device. Even if you are the *only* user of a device, there are some advantages of amending the default account template before the first user account is created, e.g. by amending the Start menu so it’s clear of all pinned apps before the first connection to the Internet. Even outside of a business environment managed by membership of a ‘domain’ (rather than the home environment of a ‘workgroup’), it’s still possible for home users to enjoy some of the benefits of a pre-customised version of Windows.

Note: This topic applies primarily to *clean* installations, not in-place upgrades. (If you’re carrying out an in-place upgrade then this is less efective.)

Instead of a discourse on *whether to* (it’s your choice), here’s *how* to, using a clean install to upgrade from Windows 10 Home 1803 to Home 1809 as an example. I’m using a VM (virtual machine) so I can capture decent screenshots of the process but will use the term ‘PC’, just because it’s easier to understand.

It goes without saying that you should only do this after ensuring you have copies of your data stored safely away from the PC you are going to wipe clean and/or have made a disk image as a complete backup before doing anything else. I do both so if all goes well then I need only restore the data I need.

1. Before you do anything else, *right*-click on the Start button, select System and make a note of the System type and Edition… you’ll need this info.:

2. Turn off Win 10’s hybrid Fast Startup (it interferes with booting into the BIOS/UEFI) then shut down Windows. I use a script to disable Fast Startup but it’s just as easy to do via Power Options. (If you’re using a DVD as the Windows installer source then insert it *before* shutting the PC down and if you’re using a USB stick, insert it *before* powering on the PC again.)

3. Power on your PC, press the key for the Boot Device menu and select your Windows installer  source to boot from – DVD or USB stick. The Boot Device menu key varies from manufacturer to manufacturer but is usually shown on the initial power-on screen. For example, Dell’s use F12 to get to the Boot Device menu.

4. I’m using the equivalent of a dual-layer DVD with both 64-bit and 32-bit installer versions as the Windows installer source so I first need to select the architecture (bitness):

Choose the same architecture as the OS edition you are upgrading from (unless you’ve added RAM and the processor is 64-bit capable, in which case you can upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to 64-bit using the same digital license as the previous Windows installation).

5. Windows Setup will begin so, after choosing your preferred language, time and currency format plus keyboard, you can begin the installation of Windows. After clicking on an Install now button the first thing you will be asked to do is enter information on an Activate Windows screen. You’re going to be reusing the PC’s previously-stored digital license so click on the I don’t have a product key link:

6. Next, choose the edition you want to install:

It’s tempting to think you can install a Pro edition instead of your PC’s previous Home edition… but it won’t activate automatically – so make sure you choose the same edition as the previous installation.

<continued in another post due to file size restriction>

• This topic was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by Rick Corbett.
• This topic was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by Rick Corbett.

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Lugh, satrow, Elly

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7. On the next screen, accept the license terms, click Next then choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced):

8. On the next screen, select each partition in turn and click on Delete until you are left with just Drive 0 Unallocated Space. Click Next.

9. Windows will begin its installation and will eventually get to a Choose region screen:

When you get to this screen, interupt the OOBE (Out Of the Box Experience) process by pressing the CTRL+SHIFT+F3 keys at the same time.

10. You will end up logged on as Administrator (not just a member of the Administrators group) in Audit Mode at a Sysprep (System Preparation Tool) dialog on a default Windows desktop screen:

This is where you can carry out customisations and have them all applied to Windows’ default acccount template. This means that every account created – the initial user account which, by default, is a member of the Administrators group – and all subsequent accounts will be based on the amended default account template.

<continued in another post due to file size restriction>

2 users thanked author for this post.

Lugh, Elly

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I carry out clean installs without being connected to the internet. The moment you connect to the internet the very chatty Windows 10 starts multiple 2-way conversations – activating itself, downloading Windows updates, AV definitions, Start menu tile updates and uploading telemetry data.

For example, here’s the default Win 10 1809 Start menu:

I use a USB stick to copy over PowerShell scripts, AutoHotkey scripts (and the AutoHotkey executable) and REG files to configure aspects of Windows automatically – like turning off telemetry, creating 2 folders (Temp and Support) that I always use, configuring TEMP/TMP environment variables and PowerShell execution policy, removing built-in crapware, installing my preferred browser and amending default app settings, changing Windows’ ‘look and feel’ like changing File Explorer‘s default view to ‘Details’, amending privacy settings and cleaning up the Start menu, etc. All of these become the defaults for all accounts so you don’t need to carry out further amendments on individual accounts.

11. The main PowerShell script is run by *right*-clicking on Start and opening a Windows PowerShell (Admin) elevated console, temporarily setting execution policy to ‘unrestricted’ (Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted) then running the PowerShell script.

This uninstalls *all* the built-in crapware except for the Store and calculator (you choose the ‘GoodApps’ to retain). It also removes the Start menu layout and replaces it with a custom one with just the 3 shortcuts I want for Notepad, Paint and File Explorer. (I later add another for my preferred browser.)

12. When I’ve finished customising I click on the OK button in the Sysprep dialog. (Do *not* tick the Generalize checkbox. This removes drivers and is only used to create a reference image for multiple different hardware platforms.) This reboots the PC back into the OOBE process where I continue installation of the first account as normal.

This might seem like a lot of work but it doesn’t actually add much time once you get the hang of it. In addition to the initial account, if I create further user accounts – like a standard account for my own use – I don’t have to make the same changes I made to the initial account nor do I have to remove new copies of the same crapware I removed from the initial account.

The new default Start menu for all users looks like this:

That, basically, is it. I currently use a PowerShell script called Windows 10 Decrapifier (available from Spiceworks… but you have to subscribe to the group to gain access) to clean the PC of built-in apps and clean the Start menu of entries by creating a new XML layout template. Let me know if you want more info. I’m hoping to test a similar PowerShell collection called Windows10Debloater in the next week or so.

I have REG files and scripts that I use, depending on who/what the device is for.

REG:

• Change privacy settings
• Make changes to context menus. For example, remove context menu entries after  the associated app is uninstalled, e.g. ‘Edit with Paint 3D’ and ‘Edit with Photos’
• Remove file associations to do with 3D (Paint/Print/Builder).
• Amend Start menu and taskbar icons.
• Remove the 3D Objects namespace from File Explorer.
• Add preview handlers for script files to File Explorer.
• Set default File Explorer view to ‘Details’ (after deleting views that have already been stored in Bags and BagMRU entries)
• Show drive letters before volume name.
• Turn off everything to do with gaming, including the entries in Settings.
• Disable services like telemetry, Hyper-V and RetailDemo.
• Manage Edge‘s default behaviour.
• Turn off various notifications (e.g. Tips and Windows Welcome Experience).

AutoHotkey:

• Actions that need if/then logic. For example, if 64-bit do this, otherwise do that.
• Actions that involve file/folder operations, e.g. creating folders.
• Actions that have multiple choices (i.e. best invoked via a GUI)
• Actions that require simplified and elevated access to PowerShell cmdlets (e.g. re-enabling SMBv1).
• Actions that require elevated privileges, e.g. the functionality of ‘Run as administrator’.

Note: AutoHotkey is not installed at this point so I run the scripts by dropping them on a copy of the AutoHotkey executable on the USB stick.

PowerShell:

Apart from uninstalling built-in crapware I don’t often use PowerShell as I’m not very familiar with it and find that it’s more complex than I need for most tasks which can be automated quicker using a REG file and/or AutoHotkey. When I do have to use it then I try to wrap the PowerShell cmdlet in AutoHotkey to make it easier for me than messing around with a console.

Basically, if I have to do something more than once or twice then I try to script it. 🙂

Hope this helps…

9 users thanked author for this post.

crosbyfwilliam, WSAnklebuster, JoeP, wavy, Ratty, Lugh, Elly, Barry, CADesertRat

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This is great article. Thank you very much for that. I did this in the past, because I wanted to deploy Windows including apllications like Office, SAP, Adobe Reader, … They can be included in these images.

I did this with computer completely offline too – so the activation didnt happen. I installed applications. Then I ran sysprep with parameters OOBE and Generalize. Sometimes, I had problems with pre-build apps (cortana, bubble-witch saga, miracle app, ..), that didnt let me start sysprep. Simply because Windows fetched different apps for different users – thats why I did it offline – no backgroung sniffing.

But now I should be doing this every half year again, because of updating havoc by Micro$oft. Shame on you Microsoft, shame on you..

Dell Latitude 3420, Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, W10 22H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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I’ve deployed quite a few machines with Windows 10 Decrapifier and it works great. On a couple it hung and the fix is to open a second instance and let it run. Have had no issues with any of the machines (1809 and 1903).

I’ve also tested running it on a couple existing installs for a single user and it seems to work fine.

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Rick: that’s a superb article!  I use Windows10DebloaterGUI.ps1 to get rid of most of the assorted rubbish.

However, the main snag with this approach (IMHO) is that you have to know up front all the modifications you wish to apply!  I find that my modifications for a new operating system (account settings, HKLM and HKCU registry entries, network printer connections, and so on) are an incremental process over several weeks, if not months.  This is why I write a bunch of BATch files to apply the changes to each user account on each PC, or to each PC, at each location.  This doesn’t entirely solve the problem, but fortunately I can use RDP and log on to each PC and do the remaining work.

The whole thing is tedious beyond measure…

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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@BATcher – Many thanks for the kind words. The thing is, IMO the method is generally regarded as solely for use within a business environment. I became interested in whether it also had its use in a home environment… and especially with devices running Home editions of Win 10.

As such, I tried to pitch the topic in a way that a) Windows 10 users would find it easily (by posting in the ‘Win 10’ forum instead of elsewhere); and b) Home users might persevere with reading through the steps and perhaps post back with ‘can it do this’, ‘can it do that’ questions.

If so then I’ll know whether to expand outside of this Audit Mode method into gently suggesting people look into (or just ask) whether very simple scripting –  REG files or AutoHotkey (or both) – could make their lives simpler… hence my  Free AutoHotkey ebook topic.

IMO it’s a shame that ‘scripting’ is currently buried deep within the ‘DevOps’ forum so it’s unlikely most folks will ever realise scripting is just a tool and can often be very simple. Even ‘Learn to Code’ is buried within ‘Outside the box’. I think it just inadvertently gives the impression that ‘scripting’ is inherently ‘uber-geeky’ (which it very often isn’t, IMO) and puts people off for no good reason. 🙁

This *isn’t* a criticism of AskWoody… just a reflection of the slightly different programming focus (VBA, etc.) that Windows Secrets Lounge had compared to the more patch-and-exploit focus here at AskWoody. (On WSL people were used to me boring the pants off them with my AutoHotkey posts. 🙂 )

3 users thanked author for this post.

mngerhold, satrow, Elly

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I’ve just carried out the above process on a Dell Latitude E7450 laptop and – initially – couldn’t halt the OOBE as described above. The volume was adjusted instead. Hmmm…

It turned out that the Function keys at the top of the keyboard were active as Media control keys, not as F1-F12 Function keys.

As a result I had to add the Fn key as well in order to interrupt the OOBE, i.e. use CTRL+SHIFT+Fn+F3 keys all together. Something for me to remember in future. 🙂

Hope this helps…

1 user thanked author for this post.

Lugh

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Hi, could you post your reg files and scripts in text file format?

Those new to windows 10 can review and learn from them.

 

Thanks

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[Rick Corbett]

@ssanss – Sure, no problem… I’ll have a go…

Here’s a test REG file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Always display full details when copying or moving files (1=Enabled / 0=Disabled)
; https://www.ghacks.net/2013/12/19/always-display-full-details-copying-moving-files-windows-8/

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager]
"EnthusiastMode"=dword:00000001

Is that the sort of thing you wanted?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Rick Corbett.

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Looks at first glance that I cannot post the scripts I use. My first attempt at posting an AutoHotkey script resulted in this:

It’s strange that other sites don’t have the same problem… for example:

https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/131295-reassigning-keys-windows-10-a-post1619707.html#post1619707

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Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Devices - Printers & scanners - Let Windows manage my default printer - Turn OFF

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"LegacyDefaultPrinterMode"=dword:00000001

1 user thanked author for this post.

Al Taylor

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Change the default Windows Explorer view to ‘Details’..

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; First delete the views that have already been stored (the keys will be re-created automatically)
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]

; Now change the record store to Mode 4 (Details)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
"WFlags"=dword:00000000
"Status"=dword:00000000
"Mode"=dword:00000004
"vid"="{137E7700-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}"

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Rather than post each one separately, I’ve attached a ZIP file (with attributions) containing the following:

App Launch tracking – Turn OFF (default).reg
App Launch tracking – Turn ON.reg
Apps – Automatically install – DISABLE.reg
Apps – Automatically install – ENABLE (Default).reg
Automatically download device driver updates – Turn OFF.reg
Automatically download device driver updates – Turn ON (Default).reg
Console lock display off timeout – HIDE (default).reg
Console lock display off timeout – SHOW.reg
Context menu – Add ‘Open command window here as administrator’.reg
Context menu – Command Prompt on Context Menu – ADD.reg
Context menu – Command Prompt on Context Menu – REMOVE (default).reg
Context menu – Edit with Paint 3D – ADD (default).reg
Context menu – Edit with Paint 3D – REMOVE.reg
Context menu – Edit with Photos – ADD (default).reg
Context menu – Edit with Photos – REMOVE.reg
Context menu – Open With option – ADD.reg
Context menu – Open With option – REMOVE (default).reg
Context menu – System Protection – ADD.reg
Context menu – Take ownership – ADD.reg
Context menu – Take ownership – REMOVE.reg
Context menu – Take ownership with pause – ADD.reg
Cortana – Disable Cortana but keep search – OFF (default).reg
Cortana – Disable Cortana but keep search – ON.reg
Cortana – Let Cortana respond to ‘Hey Cortana’ – Turn OFF.reg
Cortana – Let Cortana respond to ‘Hey Cortana’ – Turn ON.reg
Cortana – Lock screen – Use Cortana even when my device is locked – Turn OFF.reg
Cortana – Lock screen – Use Cortana even when my device is locked – Turn ON.reg
Cortana – Notifications – Turn OFF.reg
Cortana – Notifications – Turn ON.reg
Cortana – Search online and include web results – Turn OFF (1803).reg
Cortana – Search online and include web results – Turn OFF.reg
Cortana – Search online and include web results – Turn ON (default).reg
Desktop – Display OS version (All Users) – REMOVE.reg
Desktop – Display OS version (All Users) – SHOW.reg
Desktop – Display OS version (Current User) – REMOVE.reg
Desktop – Display OS version (Current User) – SHOW.reg
Desktop – Display OS version and windir (All Users) – REMOVE.reg
Desktop – Display OS version and windir (All Users) – SHOW.reg
Desktop – Display OS version and windir (Current User) – REMOVE.reg
Desktop – Display OS version and windir (Current User) – SHOW.reg
Devices – Printers & scanners – Let Windows manage my default printer – Turn OFF.reg
Devices – Printers & scanners – Let Windows manage my default printer – Turn ON (default).reg
File Explorer – 3D Objects Folder – Remove (x32).reg
File Explorer – 3D Objects Folder – Remove (x64).reg
File Explorer – 3D Objects Folder – Restore (x32) (default).reg
File Explorer – 3D Objects Folder – Restore (x64) (default).reg
File Explorer – Always display full details when copying or moving files.reg
File Explorer – Burn to disc – Add to right-click menu.reg
File Explorer – Burn to disc – Remove from right-click menu.reg
File Explorer – Change folder and search options.reg
File Explorer – Default user folders in This PC – REMOVE (x64).reg
File Explorer – Default user folders in This PC – RESTORE (x64).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – Hide OneDrive From File Explorer (x32).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – Hide OneDrive From File Explorer (x64).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – OneDrive Integration – DISABLE.reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – OneDrive Integration – ENABLE (default).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – Restore OneDrive to File Explorer (x32).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – Restore OneDrive to File Explorer (x64).reg
File Explorer – OneDrive – Stop OneDrive from running at Startup.reg
File Explorer – Open File Explorer to ‘Quick access’ (default).reg
File Explorer – Open File Explorer to ‘This PC’.reg
File Explorer – Preview Handlers – Add AHK.reg
File Explorer – Preview Handlers – Add PS1.reg
File Explorer – Preview Handlers – Add VBS.reg
File Explorer – Preview Handlers for multiple script files.reg
File Explorer – Set File Explorer view to ‘Details’.reg
File Explorer – Show Drive Letters Before (All Users) – DISABLE.reg
File Explorer – Show Drive Letters Before (All Users) – ENABLE.reg
File Explorer – Show Drive Letters Before (Current User) – DISABLE.reg
File Explorer – Show Drive Letters Before (Current User) – ENABLE.reg
File Explorer – Turn Notifications OFF.reg
File Explorer – Turn Notifications ON.reg
Gaming – Game DVR and Game Bar – DISABLE.reg
Gaming – Game DVR and Game Bar – ENABLE (default).reg
Gaming – GameBar – Turn OFF.reg
Gaming – GameBar – Turn ON (default).reg
Gaming – Gaming entry in Settings – Turn OFF.reg
Gaming – Gaming entry in Settings – Turn ON (default).reg
Hibernate – DISABLE.reg
Hibernate – ENABLE (disable).reg
Keyboard – Autocorrect misspelt words I type – OFF (default).reg
Keyboard – Autocorrect misspelt words I type – ON.reg
Keyboard – NumLock ON from boot.reg
Keyboard – Show text suggestions as I type – OFF (default).reg
Keyboard – Show text suggestions as I type – ON.reg
MenuShowDelay – Make Faster.reg
Microsoft Edge – automatic actions – DISABLE.reg
Microsoft Edge – automatic actions – ENABLE (default).reg
Microsoft Edge – Page prediction – Turn OFF.reg
Microsoft Edge – Page prediction – Turn ON (default).reg
Microsoft Edge – Pre-launch – DISABLE.reg
Microsoft Edge – Pre-launch – ENABLE (default).reg
Microsoft Edge – Preload Start and New Tab page – DISABLE.reg
Microsoft Edge – Preload Start and New Tab page – ENABLE (default).reg
Network & Internet – Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (recommended).reg
Network & Internet – Ethernet as metered connection – Turn ON.reg
Network & Internet – Ethernet as metered connection- Turn OFF.reg
Network & Internet – Set Unidentified Networks to Not Configured (default).reg
Network & Internet – Set Unidentified Networks to Private.reg
Notifications – Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in – DISABLED.reg
Notifications – Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in – ENABLED (default).reg
Notifications – Show me tips about Windows – Turn OFF.reg
Notifications – Show me tips about Windows – Turn ON (default).reg
Notifications – Windows Welcome Experience – Turn OFF.reg
Notifications – Windows Welcome Experience – Turn ON (Default).reg
Notifications & Actions – Turn OFF.reg
Notifications & Actions – Turn ON.reg
Performance – Reduce Shutdown Time.reg
Personalisation – Advertising Info – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Consumer Experience – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Consumer Experience – Turn ON (default).reg
Personalisation – Control Panel – Small icons view – Turn OFF (default).reg
Personalisation – Control Panel – Small icons view – Turn ON.reg
Personalisation – Customer Experience Improvement Program – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Customer Experience Improvement Program – Turn ON (default).reg
Personalisation – Desktop – Clear Desktop Background History.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Empty Folder – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Empty Folder – REMOVE (default).reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Pin to Quick Access – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – System Protection – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – System Protection – REMOVE (default).reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Take Ownership – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Take Ownership with Pause – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Windows Firewall – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Desktop context menu – Windows Firewall – REMOVE (default).reg
Personalisation – Hidden items – Add to context menu.reg
Personalisation – Hidden items – Remove from context menu.reg
Personalisation – Lock Screen – NoLockScreen.reg
Personalisation – Lock Screen – Stop adverts on the Lock screen.reg
Personalisation – Night Light – DISABLE (default) (1809).reg
Personalisation – Night Light – ENABLE (1809).reg
Personalisation – Online tips – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Online tips – Turn ON (default).reg
Personalisation – Scrollbar width 17 pixels (default).reg
Personalisation – Scrollbar width 25 pixels.reg
Personalisation – Snip-to-Clipboard on right-click context menu – ADD.reg
Personalisation – Snip-to-Clipboard on right-click context menu – REMOVE.reg
Personalisation – Start – Disable Start Menu Suggestions.reg
Personalisation – Start – Live Tiles – Clear notifications – DISABLE.reg
Personalisation – Start – Live Tiles – Clear notifications – ENABLE.reg
Personalisation – Start – Live Tiles – Turn OFF and clear notifications.reg
Personalisation – Start – Live Tiles – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Start – Occasionally show suggestions in Start – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Start – Occasionally show suggestions in Start – Turn ON (default).reg
Personalisation – Start – Show File Explorer – Turn OFF.reg
Personalisation – Start – Show File Explorer – Turn ON.reg
Personalisation – Start – Use CMD on right-click powermenu.reg
Personalisation – Start – Use PowerShell on right-click power menu (default).reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Always show all icons in the Notification Area – Turn OFF (default).reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Always show all icons in the Notification Area – Turn ON.reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Intel Graphics – Notification Tray icon – HIDE.reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Intel Graphics – Notification Tray icon – SHOW (default).reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Mail – PIN (default).reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Mail – UNPIN.reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Task View button – PIN (default).reg
Personalisation – Taskbar – Task View button – UNPIN.reg
Privacy – Activity History – DISABLE.reg
Privacy – Activity History – ENABLE (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Alarms & clocks – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Alarms & clocks – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – All – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – All – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Get Office – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Get Office – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Maps – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Maps – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Messaging – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Messaging – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Music – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Music – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – People – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – People – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Phone – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Phone – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Photos – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Photos – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Skype video – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Skype video – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Store – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Store – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Twitter – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Twitter – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Weather – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Weather – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Communications Apps – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Communications Apps – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Content Delivery Manager – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Content Delivery Manager – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Cortana – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Cortana – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Phone – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Windows Phone – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Background apps – Xbox – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Background apps – Xbox – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Camera – Let all apps use my camera – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Camera – Let all apps use my camera – Turn ON.reg
Privacy – Camera – Let individual apps use my camera – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Camera – Let individual apps use my camera – Turn ON.reg
Privacy – Contacts – Choose apps that can access contacts – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Contacts – Choose apps that can access contacts – Turn ON.reg
Privacy – Let apps access and send email – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps access and send email – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps access my calendar – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps access my calendar – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps access my call history – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps access my call history – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps access my name, picture and other account info – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps access my name, picture and other account info – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps control radios – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps control radios – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps read or send messages – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps read or send messages – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Let websites provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Let websites provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Location services for this account – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Location services for this account – Turn ON.reg
Privacy – Media Player – CEIP tracking – DISABLE.reg
Privacy – Media Player – CEIP tracking – ENABLE (default).reg
Privacy – Microphone – Let all apps use my microphone – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Microphone – Let all apps use my microphone – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Send Microsoft info about how I write to help us improve typing and writing in the future – Turn OFF .reg
Privacy – Send Microsoft info about how I write to help us improve typing and writing in the future – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Send your device data to Microsoft – Basic.reg
Privacy – Send your device data to Microsoft – Enhanced.reg
Privacy – Send your device data to Microsoft – Full (Recommended).reg
Privacy – Send your device data to Microsoft – None.reg
Privacy – Speech, inking & typing – Getting to know you – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Speech, inking & typing – Getting to know you – Turn ON.reg
Privacy – Sync with devices – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Sync with devices – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Turn on SmartScreen Filter to check web content (URLs) that Windows Store apps use – Turn OFF.reg
Privacy – Turn on SmartScreen Filter to check web content (URLs) that Windows Store apps use – Turn ON (default).reg
Privacy – Windows should ask for my feedback – Always.reg
Privacy – Windows should ask for my feedback – Automatically (recommended).reg
Privacy – Windows should ask for my feedback – Never.reg
Privacy – Windows should ask for my feedback – Once a day.reg
Privacy – Windows should ask for my feedback – Once a week.reg
Remove_Open_command_window_here_as_Administrator.reg
Remove_Pin_to_Quick_access_from_Context_Menu.reg
Remove_Take_Ownership_from_context_menu.reg
Remove_Toggle_Start_from_Context_Menu.reg
Services – Clipboard History (1809) – Turn OFF (default).reg
Services – Clipboard History (1809) – Turn ON.reg
Services – Clipboard User Service (1809) – Start – DISABLED.reg
Services – Clipboard User Service (1809) – Start – ENABLED (default).reg
Set Multiple View Settings.reg
Settings – Clear recent colors.reg
Settings – Mixed reality – ADD (default).reg
Settings – Mixed reality – REMOVE.reg
Settings – Phone entry – Turn OFF.reg
Settings – Update & Security – Windows Insider Program page – ADD (default).reg
Settings – Update & Security – Windows Insider Program page – REMOVE.reg
Sounds – Windows startup, logon, logoff sounds – OFF (default).reg
Sounds – Windows startup, logon, logoff sounds – ON.reg
System – Multi-tasking – Timeline – Suggestions – Turn OFF.reg
System – Multi-tasking – Timeline – Suggestions – Turn ON (default).reg
System – Notifications & actions – DISABLE changes to toggle state.reg
System – Notifications & actions – ENABLE changes to toggle state (default).reg
System – Notifications & actions – REMOVE changes to toggle state.reg
System – Time – Time Sources.reg
System Messages – VerboseStatus – OFF (default).reg
System Messages – VerboseStatus – ON.reg
System Restore Points – Disable Frequency Restriction.reg
Turn off Suggested Apps.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Automatic sample submission – Turn OFF.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Automatic sample submission – Turn ON (default).reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Cloud-based Protection – Turn OFF.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Cloud-based Protection – Turn ON (default).reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Disable telemetry options.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Disable completely.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Notifications – Turn OFF.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Notifications – Turn ON (default).reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Re-enable.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Restore default telemetry options.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Scan with Windows Defender – Add to Context menu.reg
Update & Security – Windows Defender – Scan with Windows Defender – Remove from Context menu.reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Automatic device driver updates – Turn OFF.reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Automatic device driver updates – Turn ON (default).reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Automatic Driver Updates – DISABLE.reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Automatic Driver Updates – ENABLE (default).reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Uploading of Windows Updates-Turn OFF.reg
Update & Security – Windows Update – Uploading of Windows Updates-Turn ON.reg
Update Orchestrator service (1903) default.reg
USB – Disable Write Protection.reg
USB – Enable Write Protection.reg
w10-web-search-disable.reg
w10-web-search-disable-undo.reg
Win 10 Startup Delay – DISABLE.reg
Win 10 Startup Delay – ENABLE (default).reg
Windows Error Reporting – DISABLE.reg

Win-10-Reg-files

Hope this helps…

2 users thanked author for this post.

wavy, satrow

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Thank you very much, any chance of posting your autohotkey scripts in just a txt file?

 

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Rick Corbett wrote:

Let me know if you want more info. I’m hoping to test a similar PowerShell collection called Windows10Debloater in the next week or so.

Rick did you try Windows10Debloater yet?

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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My apologies, @wavy… I haven’t been very active online at all just recently.

Yes, I tried Windows10Debloater but quickly realised that I had no wish for an interactive script, just a ‘silent’ debloater I could ‘fire and forget’ from within ‘Audit Mode’… so I looked at the author’s Windows10SysPrepDebloater script.

The problem is that I have no clue about PowerShell and found the Windows 10 Decrapifier script I mentioned earlier just easier to navigate, understand and adapt to my own preferences, despite the additional hoop of having to join a Spiceworks group to get access to the script (hence why I’m not going to repost it here).

Hope this helps…

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Wavy, Abbodi86 has a good telemetry script file for 8.1, and I mentioned to abbod186 there is a guy with one for Windows 10. He has many items to disable in Windows 10 and wanted a one-click method. Some are interesting.

See this askwoody post.
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how-much-telemetry-is-going-out-with-this-months-security-only-win7-patch/#post-1902095

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one thing Rick did not mention is during setup, it may ask to connect to the internet (or establish an internet connection). do not do this during initial setup or users may be forced to create a Microsoft account.

I always install Win10 locally first, then once win10 is fully installed, setup the internet connection afterwards.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Rick Corbett, satrow

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Hi Rick,

Will this process work on new Win 10 machines from Dell or are they already set up upon arrival?

JP

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@joep – Sorry but I don’t know. I don’t have the money to buy a new Win 10 machine to test… so I’m limited to testing on the latest Dell laptops I have available to me (and a recently-acquired Lenovo tablet hybrid <shudder>).

1 user thanked author for this post.

JoeP

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So, I’ve just carried out the above process on a Lenovo MIIX Ideapad convertible tablet.

The process was identical, although – initially – I couldn’t halt the OOBE as described above. The volume was adjusted instead.

As per my previous posts, the Function keys at the top of the keyboard were active as Media control keys, not as F1-F12 Function keys.

I added the Fn key as well in order to interrupt the OOBE, i.e. use CTRL+SHIFT+Fn+F3 keys all together yet it still didn’t work initially. It was only *multiple* presses of CTRL+SHIFT+Fn+F3 together that triggered the OOBE halt and dumped it into Sysprep’s Audit mode.

Again, something for me to remember in future. 🙂

Apart from the multiple tapping of the 4 keys together, everything else is unchanged from my original post(s)… although I’ve added a lot more to the original Windows 10 Decrapifier script I originally obtained via Spiceworks.

Hope this helps…

1 user thanked author for this post.

ejn

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