Differences

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--- decrapping_windows_11 [2022/04/26 17:57] – [Enable auto login] tkbletsc
+++ decrapping_windows_11 [2025/04/18 10:36] (current) – [Prevent Microsoft account linking] tkbletsc
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Welp, Windows continues its slow march to robbing you of every ounce of freedom and control you once had. Sorry?
+<del>Wow, this guide to decrapping Windows is actually SHORTER than Windows 10. I never imagined Windows could get better.</del>
-**This is based on the Win10 directions, not all steps have been tested yet**
+//**Update: Latest Windows 11 builds are looking worse and worse. I haven't installed Win11 lately to document everything, but [[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/|this article has useful steps that may not be covered below]].** //
 ===== Installation =====
-To avoid having a Microsoft account to login to your own computer that you own, **disconnect internet before installing**. When it complains about this, tell it to shut up.
-When it gets to "privacy settings", turn off EVERYTHING.
+To avoid having a Microsoft account to login to your own computer that you own, **disconnect internet before installing**. When it complains about this, tell it to shut up.
+When it gets to "privacy settings", turn off EVERYTHING.
 ===== Taskbar =====
-Microsoft has hit their head and forgotten that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts%27s_law|Fitt's Law]] shows that corners are demonstrably optimal for critical UI components. Let's un-center that taskbar.
+Microsoft has hit their head and forgotten that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts%27s_law|Fitt's Law]] shows that corners are demonstrably optimal for critical UI components. Let's un-center that taskbar among other things.
   - Right click taskbar, options.
   - Turn off "taskbar items" you don't want (hint: "Chat" is a program and shouldn't even be on that list)
   - Expand "Taskbar behaviors" and flip settings as desired.
-===== Rip out adware bullshit =====
-You can go to add and remove programs and immediately rip out this bloatware trash:
+===== Rip out adware =====
+You can go to "add and remove programs" and immediately rip out this trash if you want:
   * Disney+
   * Groove Music
@@ Line 22: / Line 28: @@
   * Movies & TV
-Additionally, we now live in a world where your //motherboard// can contain crap that gets auto-installed after Windows comes up via UEFI. Some might be good (drivers), but there may be trash (shoddy RGB light controllers, various "gamer" services like "ROG" and "Armory", etc.) that you can kill.
+Additionally, we now live in a world where your //motherboard//  can contain crap that gets auto-installed after Windows comes up via UEFI. Some might be good (drivers), but there may be trash (shoddy RGB light controllers, various "gamer" services like "ROG" and "Armory", etc.) that you can kill.
 ===== Privacy/control of OS =====
 Install [[https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10|O&O Shutup10]] and enable the default options. Also, turn on "Allow deferred upgrades".
 ===== Get rid of adware trash start menu =====
 Install Classic Shell, likely through [[https://ninite.com/|Ninite]].
 ===== Title bars =====
   * Press Win + I to open System settings
   * Personalization.
-  * "Show color on Start and taskbar" -> on
+  * "Show color on Start and taskbar" → on
-  * "Show color on title bars and windows borders" -> on
+      * If this is disabled, set Windows to dark mode and apps to light mode
+  * "Show color on title bars and windows borders" → on
 ===== Explorer =====
-  * View -> Show -> File name extensions = ON
-  * Three dots -> Options
+  * View → Show → File name extensions = ON
-    * General tab
+  * Three dots → Options
-      * Open File Explorer to: This PC
+      * General tab
-      * Show recently used files in Quick access = off
+        * Open File Explorer to: This PC
-      * Show frequently used folders in Quick access = off
+        * Show recently used files in Quick access = off
-    * View tab
+        * Show frequently used folders in Quick access = off
-      * Navigation pane (these were formerly in the general tab)
+      * View tab
-        * Show all folders -> on
+        * Navigation pane (these were formerly in the general tab)
-        * Expand to current folder -> on
+          * Show all folders → on
-      * Display the full path in the title bar -> on
+          * Expand to current folder → on
+        * Display the full path in the title bar → on
+===== No start menu web search =====
+The start menu search includes web content if you let it – this is dumb as hell. (If you're using the Open Shell start menu, this matters less, but still, let's snip this crap out.)
+  * Run gpedit.msc
+  * Go to **Computer Configuration**  > **Administrative Templates**  > **Windows Components**  > **Search**
+  * Enable policies "**Don't allow web search**" and "**Don’t search the web or display web results in search**"
+  * Reboot for it to take effect
 ===== Delete instead of recycle =====
 right click recycle bin | properties
-  * don't move files to the recycle bin -> enable (maybe)
-  * Display delete confirmation dialog -> YES (jesus christ how is that not default?)
-===== System properties =====
+  * don't move files to the recycle bin → enable (maybe)
-win+pause/break to get to system properties
+  * Display delete confirmation dialog → YES (jesus christ how is that not default?)
-  * "advanced system settings" on the left to get to the REAL system properties
-    * advanced tab
-      * performance | setttings | turn off candy as desired
-      * startup and recovery | settings | automatically restart -> off
 ===== Show keyboard shortcut underlines =====
 In the native Windows 11 start menu, type "underline", and it should shortcut you to the appropriate control panel option.
 ===== Proper calculator =====
-Win10 calculator sucks. I made a whole website to expedite getting old calculator: https://calcexe.com
+Win10 calculator sucks. I made a whole website to expedite getting old calculator: [[https://calcexe.com|https://calcexe.com]]
-===== "This PC" folder customization =====
-There's a bunch of nonsense folders forced on you in your home directory. These can be managed with [[https://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.1836|WinAero Tweaker]].
+===== Brighter cursor =====
+They got rid of the classic Windows custom mouse cursor support, but they added custom color cursors that achieve the same end.
-[[http://dsss.be/f/dat/This%20PC%20Folders%20-%20Dropbox%20and%20GDrive.ini|This INI file for it]] will remove dumb folders and add Dropbox and Google Drive to the "This PC" view in explorer.
+Start → "Mouse" and pick "custom".
-OLD: [[http://www.thewindowsclub.com/remove-3d-objects-folder-winows-10|Info on manually removing just the '3D Objects' folder]].
+===== Prevent feature updates =====
+You can lock Windows to a certain "feature update" (e.g. "24H2") to prevent unexpected major updates:
-===== 3D Bronze cursor theme =====
+  * Win+R, "gpedit.msc"
-{{ :hightlighted.png?|}}
+  * Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Windows Update for Business
-If you are a crazy person and want the 3D bronze cursors from Windows XP:
+  * Enable and set "Target Feature Update version" to the version you want to keep, e.g. "24H2". (Note: you can find the currently installed edition under "Version" in "About this PC".)
-  - Extract [[http://dsss.be/f/dat/3DCursors.zip|this file]] somewhere
+  * Run "gpupdate /force" or reboot to take effect
-  - Start | "mouse" | Pointers tab
-  - Save a new profile "3D Bronze"
-  - For each cursor in the ZIP, change the corresponding entry to it
-----
-===== OLD =====
+===== Prevent Microsoft account linking =====
-==== disable telemetry ====
+If you never want to hook your personal computer that you //own// to an account owned and managed by Microsoft (seems wise to me), then:
-//Superseded by O&O Shutup described above//
-based on [[http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-disable-telemetry-and-data-collection-in-windows-10/|this]].
+   * Win+R, "gpedit.msc"
-  * start -> settings -> privacy -> feedback and diagnostics
+  * Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Local Policies → Security Options
-    * stare with shocked amazement as the lowest setting is "basic", and "off" is not an option; you literally dont have that choice in the interface
+  * Set " Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts" to "Users can't add or log on with Microsoft accounts"
-    * set it to "basic", and proceed with the rest of the steps to really turn it off
+  * Run "gpupdate /force" or reboot to take effect
-  * regedit:
-    * HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection
-    * make dword "AllowTelemetry" = 0
-  * in services, set the following to "disabled" and stop:
-    * Diagnostics Tracking Service (early win10)
-    * Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (later win10)
-    * dmwappushsvc