Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

Would you say it's best to wait for a new guide if I plan on doing this in six weeks or so? Just wondering if everything in the OP is still applicable today since it does seem that Win10 has changed alot since 2015.

 

Stay tuned for the Windows 10 Redstone 4 guide as soon as I can get my hands on the RTM ISO. It's better to wait now rather than do this all over again because you know upgrades never go smoothly.

 

The ones I wouldn't install is Nahimic VR and Tridef VR. I have the same laptop and the Tridef software for the camera, you have to buy and I didn't like the way it worked. And I don't do VR. You can find free camera programs like the one from Cyberlink.

 

Hi

I followed the guide from the first 3 pages of this thread. Everything is good, except that there is a persistent message for Windows Update - "Your device is at risk because it's out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let's get you back on track so Windows can run more securely. Select this button to get going:" When I click on the "check for updates" button there are no updates available. Windows build info is stuck on 16299.64.

Is this because there are no more updates available? Or is this a problem that needs to be fixed?

 

Try the standalone updates https://www.tenforums.com/windows-1...windows-10-v1709-build-16299-251-mar-5-a.html

 

ughhh, that's because you need to do your Windows updates?

 

@Phoenix , I did update the system, and the system did install a few, but it simply does not detect the other updates that are available on the Microsoft website. I will try the direct update method.

 

Some updates only show up after installing a 3rd party antivirus as they change one registry key. This is a Windows big. Your best bet is to install the MSU update manually

 

I am using Windows 10 Education version on this laptop. Is it possible that this is why the updates are not being installed like they should after I applied the tweaks? Thanks.

 

The msu pkg is same for Home/Pro/education retail or VLK licenses. The msu packages are intended when you clean install and get super annoyed for waiting a long time to update Windows.
Before that, try Dism++ with these options checked:
WinSxs older/residual files Cleanup,WinSxs temp, Winsxs backup, WU download cache, WU installation history.

 

Before I tried MSU or Dism++ I tried upgrading to Windows 10 pro with a key I bought from Ebay. Just before I did this I tried the Windows Update button and the error message still persisted. Windows Update did not find any updates to install apparently. After I upgraded to Windows Pro I tried again, and this time Windows found the February 13, 2018—KB4074588 (OS Build 16299.248) update and installed it. After a reboot the error message is gone (I still see the "Some settings are managed by your organization" message) and OS build info is now 16299.248.

So I guess Windows Education vs. Pro could have something to do with this. Anyway, my problem is solved, for now at least. Thanks.

@Phoenix I see that you closed your software thread. Is there a list of the software that you recommend available on these forums or elsewhere? Thanks for all the excellent tips and tweaks, BTW.

 

Here you go, the folders which have icons are simply portable apps I don't install things like CCleaner, HWiNFO, etc. just use the portable version so that the settings are stored in the *.ini file that way if you move them to another PC your settings are in-tact:

 

Thanks. A few remaining questions.

1. If I follow this thread's tweaks from the first 3-4 pages, is there any reason to run a tool like DWS? I don't like how it makes wholesale changes to the hosts file and other changes that cannot be reverted back easily. Are there any other tweak tools other O&O that are recommended?

2. I need to use software like Skype and biometric features like Windows Hello. Will using these services allow Windows to spy and send information to MS servers?

3. Is Nod32 still the recommended antivirus? And should I disable the Windows Firewall and use a third party firewall as well? Is there a recommended firewall?

Jay

 

1) DWS is optional and not a must. I use it to clean up SXS folders, uninstall all updates, permanently delete the Windows Store apps leftovers of the ones I've uninstalled. No need to run it on your machine, this does not yield any speed benefits and can cause problems if you ever wanted to uninstall a particular buggy update OR wanted to refresh your Windows without formatting it.

2) Not if you use O&O ShutUp10. Here is the last version of the Desktop Skype as now only the Windows store crippled version is offered: Skype v7.40

3) NOD32 is still the recommended Antivirus. It has a built in HTTP Scanner to intercept any bad sites or malicious file downloads. The Windows Firewall is all you need.

BUT, if you don't have a license for NOD32 yet, then buy ESET Internet Security as that includes a firewall which has more control than the Windows Firewall and doesn't have an allow rule by default to all programs like the Windows Firewall does.

 

I can't see ini files. All I see are executables. You have 75% of worlds greatest SW. on ur taptop.
Use new skype desktop 8.x with compatibility set to w8.1 and enjoy new versions of skype.

 

OT: SW? My mind is thinking Star Wars because I just rewatched it.

 

I am a SW fan too. Here I meant Software=SW. I'm used to writing acronyms when taking notes, lately it has become a habit!

 

Nicely detailed guide, will follow it step by step!

 

This guide is great. I used it on my new laptop and it's just nice knowing MS isn't spying on me among other things. How long till the guide is updated with the new build?

 

Very soon, as soon as Windows 10 Redstone 4 hits RTM

 

Not much has changed since FCU. I'll be uploaing the multi edition rs4 pack in few hours.

 

currently updating this guide to the Windows 10 Redstone 4 AKA Spring Creeators Update

 

Has there been a ton of changes since the last revision you did (beyond what Vasudev stated) - just curious?

 

You aren't being serious are you?

If you look at the guide which I created for Windows 10 back then vs the mess that we have now, you'd think this is not Windows 10 that I am installing but an entirely different Windows version. EVERYTHING has changed.

 

I realize everything is different from when I first found this thread. I just don't remember anymore when the last time you did an update for it - I'm thinking you didn't do an update for the FCU but I could be wrong… (so many damn changes to keep track of)

Nevertheless, thanks for the work you do! Keep fighting the good fight

 

Guide re-build status = 80% completed

Windows 10 Redstone 4 PC Settings Tutorial Complete: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...nstallation-guide.781178/page-2#post-10087637

 

Would you love to make a guide for this? I checked the calendar. Still some days until I can see 1. April


Why Windows 10 needs a specialized gaming edition (Windows 10 gaming edition)


"We already know Microsoft will offer a stripped-down “S Mode” for Windows next year, and the company is also reportedly considering an “Advanced” version of Windows 10 Home with new features for higher-end hardware. Instead of being a one-size-fits-all operating system, Windows is becoming one that adapts to different uses."

"So here’s an idea: Instead of treating gaming as a mere feature of Windows, why not make it the primary focus in a gaming edition of Windows 10? Similar to how the “Pro” version of Windows offers extra security and device management features for business users, a Windows 10 Gaming Edition could offer features that only make sense for PC gamers. This version could cost a bit more than a standard version of Windows 10, but would also eliminate elements that gamers might not want."

 

So, they are going to release Windows 7 SP2 that includes DX12, no UWP filth and no telemetry? If they were to release a "gaming edition" it would need to be something like that to be good. They also need to stop selling UWP feces games in Micro$lop Store if they want to be taken seriously.

 

I don't quite like how this sounds, seems a bit like, we're making a windows that now works as it should, but which costs more...

 

@Mr. Fox @Papusan @toughasnails

Updated the Windows 10 Privacy Related Tasks Scheduler Disabler : http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...nstallation-guide.781178/page-3#post-10087922

Spoiler: Windows 10 Redstone 4 Disabled Tasks

schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\StartupAppTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\CloudExperienceHost\CreateObjectTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\UsbCeip" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\DiskFootprint\StorageSense" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Feedback\Siuf\DmClient" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Feedback\Siuf\DmClientOnScenarioDownload" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\File History (maintenance mode)" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Location\Notifications" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Location\WindowsActionDialog" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Management\Provisioning\Cellular" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Maps\MapsToastTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Maps\MapsUpdateTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Mobile Broadband Accounts\MNO Metadata Parser" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Power Efficiency Diagnostics\AnalyzeSystem" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\RemoteAssistance\RemoteAssistanceTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\RetailDemo\CleanupOfflineContent" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\RetailDemo\CleanupOfflineContent" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyMonitor" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyMonitorToastTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyRefreshTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting\QueueReporting" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Windows Media Sharing\UpdateLibrary" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Work Folders\Work Folders Logon Synchronization" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Work Folders\Work Folders Maintenance Work" /disable >nul

 

Group Policy Editor Rules added = http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...nstallation-guide.781178/page-3#post-10087925

 

The guide has been rebuilt with support for Windows 10 Spring Creators Update (Redstone 4)

Enjoy

 

Been reading your updated guide, getting myself psyched for a(nother) install and have a couple questions…

First, is there anything really worthwhile in RS4? I've read about Edge/Cortana/and pile of other seemingly useless additions…

Back to less ranty ground… in the guide, at the privacy -> general section, you recommend leaving the "let windows track app launches" turned on. Why is that? It doesn't seem like anything necessary, or does it somehow break functionality if disabled.
Finally, a week or two back, on a different thread, you (I think it was you) posted a bunch of firewall rules for blocking telemetry. Are they still relevant?

Cheers

 

Security is really the only reason to upgrade every 6 months, imo anyway. Sadly we have to give up some personal info to M$ in order to get that.

 

Its been a year or two I have been on CU and SCU is my choice,.

 

Let Windows track app launches is not tracking as in Telemetry, that's basically so your most used programs will appear on the start menu on the top if you have set that option to show recent programs as I recommended. If you disable that tracking, then the recent programs option gets greyed out

 

Just wanted to chime in with some tips for the poor bastards like myself who are running the Home version of RS4…

In order to disable Defender you need to dig deeper through a couple of menus. First you need to go into Windows Defender Security Center page. Then jump to Virus and Threat Protection (there is no Defender page as shown in Phoenix's pic). From there you can disable the setting from bottom up Like Phoenix described.

For what ever reason I was unable to turn Smart Screen off from it's settings page (Windows Defender Security Center -> App and Browser Control). Everytime I'd switch it to off, it'd just change itself back to block (got a s-load of errors at times too). Eventually I used the registry tweak from Winaero to kill it (the settings page still shows block, but I haven't gotten any warnings or other grief installing stuff)

I also couldn't find any Advanced Language settings anywhere.

Maybe these are just RTM issues that haven't been fixed yet, but just a heads up

Forgot to add the screen scaling still looks like s--t

 

Doesn't ShutUpTen automatically do all this?

 

It does

 

I was just following along with the guide and all that crap gets turned off manually before SU10 is even installed. If SU10 does this automagically, wouldn't it be better to install it at the beginning and save some time?

Found out about the Smart Screen crap when I went to install Macrium and got a SS (HAH!) warning that it couldn't connect to the Internet to verify the installer (my wifi was still turned off and Macrium was the offline installer to begin with)

 

Just wondering if ever you follow the guide and set everything up and then update windows through windows update. Would updating put your settings to default as what would Microsoft wants and not what you want? I have been using your bloatware free and have found no problems which is why I wanted to know if the default windows installer + your tweaks will get reseted to what Microsoft wants and not what you want when you update online? Sorry for the bad English. Hope you got what I meant. Thanks in advance..

Edit:
The reason why I am asking is because Microsoft seems to be getting smarter. One night I left my laptop on to test my undervolt and apparently MS attempted to install updates on it's own even with O&Oshut up 10 is Enabled. I was able to noticed this because the time of HWinfo got restarted and also my HWmonitor running next to HWinfo got closed. I also had a popup notification saying windows update can't install. I went to check Update&Security and saw this:


First time it happened. It seems MS is getting smarter and O&O Shutup 10 needs an update.
My main concern of my question is that MS might enable Windows Defender on it's own. Hope this question is relevant and makes sense. Thanks.

 

Updating Windows sometimes but not always reverts one of the telemetry settings back to enabled so I recommend running O&O ShutUp10 again after Windows updates. you'd get a notification in the top middle section of O&O ShutUp10 saying some setting has changed, if it did, then just click on revert changes then exit and it should fix them for you.

If you have Windows 10 Pro, there is a setting in the Group Policy Editor that prevents auto restarts after updates.

 

Thanks for the reply. Your right I did saw Automatic windows update disabled 2 of 2 was disabled/red. I don't know how that happened as I did not update which is why you can see from the image that windows update wants to update. As far as I remembered, the only thing that I changed was updating O&O Shutup 10 by deleting the old .exe file and replaced it with the new .exe file. After that I made sure all the correct settings in O&O was back, even restarted laptop twice and checked twice to make sure.. Hmmmmm.. Seems I messed up.. Anyways Thank very much for the reply..

 

Downloading Redstone 4 via the Media Creation tool using a small tweak:

<FileName>17133.1.180323-1312.rs4_release_CLIENTCHINA_RET_x64FRE_zh-cn.esd</FileName>



How to do this?

1) Download the Media Creation Tool and place it in the root of your C:\ Drive

2) Download the products.cab and place it in the root of your C:\ Drive

3) Run Command Prompt As Admin

4) Type CD\ to go back to the root of C:\

5) Type mediacreationtool.exe /selfhost

The Media Creation Tool now will launch but will download the latest Redstone 4 directly from Microsoft.

to verify, while you are running the tool, go to C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources (it's a hidden folder) and double click on products.xml

It should say in the contents

<FileName>17133.1.180323-1312.rs4_release_CLIENTCHINA_RET_x64FRE_zh-cn.esd</FileName>

 

Just created my Windows 10 Redstone Official USB Install Stick successfully using the above method

 

So this replaces MS' telemetry with Chinese State Govt's?

Seriously though, what's are the differences? - haven't bothered following this Chinese version thing

 

It's the same exact build as the one I posted before. But I posted this again via the Media Creation Tool for those who have any doubts that that version was indeed the RTM

 

@Token CDN

See my reply to Mr. Fox about the China in the name:

Here's Enthousiast's reply regarding your question about what's up with the CHINA in the file name.......

So what he means is that the products.xml lists all the ESD files for all the languages but the ISO is indeed the one I selected which is EN-US. My mistake was I copied the first line I saw with the 17133.1.180323-1312.rs4_release in it

 

Thanks for the clarification.

I remember reading at one time MS was being forced to release a version specifically for the Chinese market. Never heard if that happened or what the differences were going to be.

 

I made an ISO of this, RUFUS, installed, activated, fully updated, everything is running great. Thanks Phoenix. Dangit mate, I wish you didn't delete that post with all the updated Software, I never even clicked your links in it, I just used it as a reference list. Ugh, I forget crap all the time (sleep apnea severe and no CPAP machine) lol I had that page bookmarked.