Obsoleted by Windows 10 configuration, redux

Windows 10 >

• See also Windows 10 privacy

• 2015-08-01 – I switched from Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.1 configuration)

---

• Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a mandatory tool.
• Windows 10 taskbar colour fix

• Reducing Windows 10 disk space usage

On installation ∞

• You can remove the USB stick after the first reboot.
• Say no/not now to all the privacy-related prompts.

• TODO – deny all metrics sent to Microsoft!

First boot:

• Perform a Windows Update
• Settings > Windows Update > (Update Settings) > Advanced options > Choose how updates are delivered: off

• Privacy Options

  • general: off Let websites…
  • off: let apps…
• camera: all off, microphone, notifications, account info, contacts, calendar

• Windows defender

  • off cloud
  • off … sample

• Delete C:\Windows.old if it’s empty.

Stuff ∞

• Tap the Win key

  • Type any letter, like the letter ‘a’
  • On the left, click the gear icon.
  • [_] Search online and include web results.

• Disable OneDrive

  • Right-click > Settings
  • Settings > [_] Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows
  • (Click Ok)
  • Right-click > Exit

• Right-click the taskbar >

  • Search > [x] Hidden
  • [_] Show Task View Button

• Start > Control Panel > Mouse > Pointer Options

  • [_] Enhance pointer precision
  • (“pointer precision” is mouse acceleration)

Settings ∞

TODO – instructions on getting here

System ∞

Right click the desktop > Display settings

• Notifications & actions

  • [_] Show me tips about Windows
  • [_] Show notifications on the lock screen
  • [_] Show alarms, reminders and incoming VOIP calls on the lock screen

• Notifications & actions – Show notifications from these apps

  • [_] Microsoft OneDrive

• Offline maps

  • [Delete all maps]
  • Map updates > [_] Automatically update maps

Personalization ∞

Right click the desktop > Personalize

• Background

  • For some reason, while my desktop remains black, Windows 10 lists my background as a picture.
  • Background [Solid color] > (Black)
  • FIXME – this does not resolve issues with the taskbar color
  • (to update – this will get turned off by Ease of Access settings)

• Lock screen

  • Background [Picture] (pick anything)
  • [_] Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen
  • Choose an app to show detailed status (click each, and remove it)
  • Choose apps to show quick status (click each, and remove it)

• TODO – Themes

  • Right click the desktop > Personalize
  • Themes >

• Start

  • [_] Occasionally show suggestions in Start
  • [Choose which folders appear in Start] – Turn everything off, except for sFile Explorer and Settings

Ease of access ∞

• Keyboard

  • [_] Enable shortcut underlines — TODO – this doesn’t seem to do what I expect. Right-clicking the desktop does not show underlines.

Privacy ∞

• General

  • (everything off)
  • [_] Let websites provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list

• Location

  • Location History – [Clear]

• Camera

  • (turn off anything you like)

• Microphone

  • (turn off anything you like)

• Account info

  • [_] Let apps access my name, picture, and other account info

• Contacts

  • (turn off anything you like)

• Calendar

  • [_] Let apps access my calendar

• Messaging

  • [_] Let apps read or send messages (text or SMS)

• Radios

  • [_] Let apps control radios

• Other devices

  • [_] Let your apps automatically share and sync info with wireless devices that don’t explicitly pair with your PC, tablet, or phone

• Feedback

  • Feedback Frequency – Windows should ask for my feedback [Never]
  • Diagnostic and usage data – Send your device data to Microsoft [Basic] — FIXME – Is there no way to turn this off?

• Background apps

  • (turn off anything you like) I disable everything.

Services ∞

• TODO – https://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-10-service-configurations/

TODO – These are from Windows 8.1 and there may be new services for Windows 10.

Disable the following services.

Many of these were re-enabled after my 8.1 to 10 upgrade.

• Distributed Link Tracking Client

  • If you don’t use NTFS networking

• IP Helper

  • If you don’t use that networking fancyness

• Print Spooler

  • If you don’t have a printer.

• Themes

  • You can still use a simplified oldschool-style “theme” when this service is disabled.

• Windows Image Acquisition

  • If you don’t use a webcam and scanner.
  • I got a webcam, and I believe this was automatically set to ‘Automatic’
• Windows Search

• Windows Time

  • TODO – I don’t know if this disables NTP.

• Workstation

  • If not using SMB

Bugs? ∞

Background pictures ∞

Right click the desktop > Personalize > Background

Background [Picture]

This functionality does not have arrows left/right for that list. If you click the rightmost image, more images appear.

Windows 10 cmd.exe configuration ∞

alt-x c to open the prompt

(repeat these with the administrator cmd – alt-x a)

alt-space > Defaults

Options:

• Command History – I might want to change things.

• Edit Options – I might have changed things. I have everything checked off.

Font:

• Font [Consolas]

• Size [18]

Layout

• Screen Buffer Size

  • Height [9999]

• Window Size — These are for a 1920×1200 monitor setting.

  • Width [235]
  • Height [83]

TODO ∞

• Folder options

  • control.exe /name Microsoft.FolderOptions
  • View tab:
    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7
  • Search tab
    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 2