Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)

you need to learn the Ultra Male lingo which you will see across various posts:

taptop = laptop
tootube = YouTube

just to name a few, I can't remember them all right now as it's 5:37 AM here in Dubai

 

Done!

It was 1.30 AM in India. Added a new bigger table, now I am enjoying it but cable management is a mess and now I don't have enough space for my headphones, adapters and Mifi router.

 

Fix for Windows 10 Can’t See Other Computers on the Network:

1) Press the CTRL + R keys on your keyboard to pull up the Run Dialogue Box
2) Type Services.msc then hit Enter
3) Scroll down to the Service called: Function Discovery Provider Host then double click on it and change its startup type from Manual to Automatic (Delayed Start)
4) Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows feature on or off
5) Scroll down till you see SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support then expand it by clicking on the + sign.
6) Check the box next to SMB 1.0/CIFS Client then hit OK to enable that feature.



7) Reboot your computer

 

I think @Mr. Fox was looking for it since 4 months. I guess he'll be happy!

 

How to Disable the Windows 10 Startup Delay:

After Windows loads up, it doesn't start loading your startup apps immediately as to dedicate more resources to load system services and files. If you have a fast computer and particularly an SSD, you can disable this feature and have even your apps start loading instantly the moment Windows boots up.

To do this, simply download the following ZIP file which contains to registry entries, one to disable the startup delay and another to enable it. So double click on one of the registry files to disable or enable the delaying of fast startup and reboot.

Download Startup Delay Registry Files

Spoiler: Disable Startup Delay

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Serialize]
"StartupDelayInMSec"=dword:00000000

Spoiler: Enable Startup Delay

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Serialize]
"Startupdelayinmsec"=-

 

I believe this was posted long time ago and I'm using that on PCs by default.

 

little tip for you, you are not *obliged* to comment on every freakin' post I make!

 

I think you don't need to enable SMB 1.0 you only need AllowInsecureGuestAuth

Code:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters /v AllowInsecureGuestAuth /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Try it, without enabling SMB 1.0 and see if it helps

 

The disable appears to add a value to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch of the registry where the enable looks like it is set to remove said value from HKEY_CURRENT_USER. I expect that the enable therefore does nothing. You may want to make those match. Also, I found this download on Majorgeeks, so same issue there. I like the idea though, I will be testing this out.

 

The value is correct, it is setting the startup delay value to 0ms. where is the problem?

The enable startup delay just deletes the value. I got these tweaks from https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/69693-enable-disable-startup-delay-windows-10-a.html . Another source is: https://www.howtogeek.com/403162/how-to-disable-the-windows-10-startup-delay/

 

How to turn ON or OFF the "Turn on BitLocker" Context menu:

If you use BitLocker then all well and good but if you don't and never have a need for it, you can disable the "Turn On BitLocker" context menu which appears when you right click on a file/folder.



Here are the registry files, one enables the BitLocker context menu and the other disables it: Download BitLocker Context Menu Enabler or Disabler

After merging the registry file with the registry, it is recommended that you reboot your computer.

 

It's not the value that is incorrect. It's the other file that deletes it. It is looking for the wrong key. The value is created in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. The file that deletes the value (to reset the setting) is trying to remove it from HKEY_CURRENT_USER. This value does not exist there. Therefore it would not change it back. This is only a problem if you want to remove the setting after you created it. The key can be deleted manually, or the file can be changed to:use HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.like this:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Serialize]
"Startupdelayinmsec"=-

Also per your links it is clear you got them from another source and they are incorrect as well. I was not looking to pick on you by any means, but Majorgeeks posted this yesterday and credited you with them and linked to your post on this site.

 

Just a quick FYI, we share stuff back and forth. I am sure you know that but in case anyone thinks otherwise, and there's always one

 

As I expected. I'm a longtime fan. I was just hoping to see the file corrected. I expect most folks would figure it out, but some may not.

 

ahhhh nice catch.thank you so much. xxEIEIOxx =

and yes I work with @MajorGeeks as an assistant editor since God knows how many years

PS: I corrected the instructions and updated the registry files if anyone wants to grab the new ones.

 

Great! Thank you and MajorGeeks for all that you do.

 

Cheers bro.

G33k !t t0 t3H M4X

 

now if only he would tell us the secret to marrying beautiful middle east women... meow

happy vday everyone

 

I think he updated it. I downloaded from here and they match now.

 

How to Add or Remove "Move to OneDrive" Context Menu in Windows 10:

One of the most annoying new features (or quirks I must say) to Microsoft's OneDrive is now if you right click on any file on your computer, you'd find this very annoying "Move to OneDrive" in the right click context menu! I cannot count the amount of time I have accidentally clicked it and had the file moved to my OneDrive folder and automatically start uploading to the cloud!



To remove this nuisance, download the following ZIP file which contains to registry entries, one is to remove the "Move to OneDrive" from the right click context menu and another is to add it back if for any reason you decided that you need it!

First, download SetACL, extract the ZIP file, then go to the 64-Bit folder and copy/paste SetACL.exe in the C:\Windows directory

Now download the following ZIP file then extract it:

Download Remove "Move to OneDrive" context menu

Right click on Remove 'Move to OneDrive' context menu.bat and choose Run as Administrator

This batch file will set the OWNER of the below keys to the EVERYONE Group and then deny them access. This is done to prevent OneDrive to reinstate those entries upon a reboot. Alternatively, you can do this manually by setting the owner to the everyone group and then denying them access.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ FileSyncEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ FileSyncEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IE.AssocFile.URL\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ FileSyncEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ FileSyncEx]

Next, Double click on Remove 'Move to OneDrive' context menu.reg to have it remove the subkeys on those folders


Source: Windows Ten Forums

 

Add or Remove "Add to Windows Media Player list" Context Menu in Windows 10:

Even if you've installed a 3rd party music player, when you right click on an an audio file in Windows 10, you will still see the " Add to Windows Media Player list" and " Play with Windows Media Player" in the right click context menu cluttering up your right click context menu.



To remove or add this entry, simply download these reg files and double click on the Add or Remove file to get rid of that context menu or get it back:

Download Windows Media Player Context Menu Removal or Addition reg files

Source: Windows 10 Forum

 

How to Fix 'An app default was reset' Error in Windows 10:

You may get a notification that states An app default was reset along with An app caused a problem with the default app setting for xxx files, so it was reset to xxx built-in app.

Basically the file type gets its default association set back to a built-in Windows app instead of the app you set.

EXAMPLE: "An app default was reset" notification




This tutorial will show you how to fix and stop getting the An app default was reset notification for your account in Windows 10.

Note:

The fix will exclude the Microsoft Edge, Photos, 3D Builder, Zune Music, and Zune Video built-in Windows apps from being listed in the Open with dialog box.

You will still be able to set default programs for Windows apps and file type associations in the Control Panel after applying the fix below.

Download Fix An app default was reset.reg

Source: Windows 10 Forums

 

Enable or Disable 'AutoPlay' for All Drives in Windows:

If you don't like the Auto Play feature in Windows (when you insert a USB Drive, Memory Card, etc) that gives you a popup to open the files and would rather just open that drive from 'Computer' when you need to, you can disable the Auto Play feature using the following registry file for all drives:

Disable 'AutoPlay' for all drives

 

I did disable it but randomly autoplay turns on after cumulative update? Its actually disabled via GPO but it shows Autoplay is Toggled to ON. When I try to Toggle to OFF, settings app crashes, so I applied the reg fix and let you know.

 

Sometimes it does turn itself back on, the way to prevent this from happening is in addition to the reg tweak or the group policy editor setting, manually disable Auto play for each invidivual category and it'll never come back on:

 

I did that in Settings App. Looks same as yours. I fixed the issue and applied the tweak system-wide via GPO. Verified to be working perfectly on Home edition with GPO tweaks. I'll try it on my machines with W10 Pro. I've to slowly take my sis's laptop when she's not here for the tweaks to be applied!

 

Ultra Male Windows 10 System Tweaks collection now on Major Geeks, check the Author in the top"
Ultra Male Windows 10 System Tweaks Collection

 

Keep on doing this and soon you will get the job offer from MS, I'm joking right now, but it happened many times before, like Sysinternals, Anandtech etc.
Just MS advertising loses from your tweaks could justify your salary lol.

 

LOL, that collection of tweaks is what helps *us* poor souls who have no choice but to use Windows 10 (ie. gaming or lack of hardware support on older Windows OS), make it *somewhat* usable. Without them, I would not come near Windows 10.

Micro$h4ft CEO now wants to hunt me

 

if Linux people got their act together (pun intended) and instead of having 100's of Linux flavors and distros, combined all their efforts into creating one single OS and concentrate more on drivers and compatibility, it would be great alternative to Windows. As it is, it's too fragmented to gain real traction IMO. MS CEO won't hunt you down, he's too busy counting $$$$.

 

AND, with all those Linux Gurus that can't get Linux to properly work on most laptops, it's a shame man. If they just focus their efforts on making it a good out of the box experience including laptops, the world would be a much better place. We are at Linux Mint v18 for example, no different than the First Linux Mint variant I tried. nothing works! oh and yes I did try other distros like Ubuntu, just using Mint as an example.

see how I almost tore my head apart trying to do something as simple as installing a graphics driver which I already had downloaded: How to install nVIDIA Graphics Driver in Linux?

 

I'm so happy I finally found this guide. I had to bring my laptop back to HidEvolution for repairs because the power cord connector was a little loose and somehow melted onto one pin of the laptop connector. Juan just informed me my laptop appears to be ok but he had to reinstall the OS, he's testing it now to make sure nothing else is damaged. It took me a couple of days to find this guide.

To Phoenix (don't know what name you go by now), thank you for your help when my laptop was new and thank you for keeping this guide up, you're a lifesaver.

I can't say enough about the awesome service I'm getting and been getting from everyone at HidEvolution. Thank you Juan and everyone that works there.

 

Phoenix = Ultra Male

 

How to add or remove Quick access from the Explorer navigation pane:

Simply download this ZIP file which contains 2 registry entries, one is to remove Quick access from the navigation pane and the other is to add it back:

Download Add/Remove Quick access from Navigation Pane

 

How to disable Timeline in Windows 10:

Simply download the below ZIP file and extract the contents. You will find two registry files, one is to Disable timeline and the other is to re-enable it back.

Download Disable Timeline Reg Files

After double click on the registry file to merge it with your registry, it is recommended that you reboot your computer.

 

How to disable or enable the people bar and its taskbar context menu:

If you don't need the "People Bar" and also want to hide its taskbar right click context menu, simply download the below ZIP file which contains to registry entries, one is to disable the People bar and its taskbar right click context menu and the other one is to re-enable it back.

Download People Bar Disable or Enable Reg files

 

How to disable Wallpaper Compression:

Windows by default compresses wallpapers on your system which leads in reduced wallpaper quality. I'm not sure why anyone would want to compress a wallpapers given that we're in an era with super fast computers. Perhaps Microsoft is still stuck in 1997 at the times where old computers struggled to even display a high quality wallpaper.

Simply download the below ZIP file which contains two registry files, one is to disable Wallpaper compression and the other is to restore it back to default:

Disable Wallpaper Compression

 

Done and integrated the reg file to my current 19h1 build 18346.1 and created a custom ISO with 98% UWP apps/codecs removed. Took out 1.5GB worth of junk files from stock ISO via UUP method.

 

How to restore the Windows Store or all other uninstalled store apps:

If you have uninstalled the Windows Store either intentionally or unintentionally because of using some Tweaking or Anti Privacy Tool for Windows 10 and want to get it back, here's how:

Using the Windows Key + X, run Powershell as Admin.

Copy/Paste the following command:

Code:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

and press Enter.



You may see some errors, but ignore them and try to use Windows Store now.

If you'd like to restore all Windows 10 apps, you can do that by copy/pasting the below command:

Code:

Get-AppXPackage -allusers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Source: MajorGeeks

 

Defrag critical files that usually most of defrag programs doesn't even look for it and without even rebooting!

Defragment the NTFS MFT and other hidden crucials in live Windows

https://notes.ponderworthy.com/defragment-the-ntfs-mft-and-other-hidden-crucials-in-live-windows

The command is CONTIG (also available in 64-bit as CONTIG64), and it is a Sysinternals:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/contig

You’ll want to put the appropriate binary in C:\Windows. Run it like this, in administrative CMD, it will get all of the hiddens it can for C drive (this is 64-bit):

Spoiler: Commands

contig64 -nobanner C:$Mft
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$LogFile
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$Volume
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$AttrDef
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$Bitmap
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$Boot
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$BadClus
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$Secure
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$UpCase
contig64 -nobanner -accepteula C:$Extend

 

HI UltraMale, i got a friends who reinstall windows 10 18.09 on his notebook MSI GE73 8RE, to get rid of dragon center. I help him on it, tweaking windows and on others things.

We used this key : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search AllowCortana at 0.
We disable the search task , options, and services. We disable Cortana in the policy.
We had change those two "Start" keys in the registry to 4 :
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TapiSrv
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WbioSrvc

We close the task Cortana to rename the Files as a .bak file in "Windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_xxxxxxxxxx".

BUT, my friend still got Cortana showing in the Windows Start menu, how is it possible ? Cortana don't even show in the task manager. Any idea ? can we remove or delete it ? thank you for your help.

 

Try Powerdefrag does the same thing via GUI using contig. http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-powerdefrag-free-space-consolidation.827436/

 

O&O ShutUp10 - Do not use Windows 10 without it!

 

We already use it, but didn't worked properly, so we had to do those steps that i explain before...

 

How to enable the "Estimated Battery Time Remaining" when you hover your mouse over the battery icon in the taskbar:

Microsoft has removed the estimated battery time remaining from its latest Windows 10 Builds and the reason for this is they think it is not a very accurate measure or your estimated battery time since it all depends on the CPU usage, screen brightness, Wifi enabled or not, and many other factors. Some people would still like to be able to see the estimated remaining time as it can give you a rough idea on what to expect in terms of remaining battery life.

To enable this feature, simply download the below ZIP file which contains 2 .reg files, one will enable the feature and the other one would disable it.



Don't forget to unplug your laptop from the power source and let the battery drain for a while otherwise it will only say that it's fully charged without any battery time estimate.

Download Enable/Disable Battery Icon Time Remaining Reg Files

 

We don't know how, but the cortana icon in start menu, has disapear.... maybe with some others tweaks, maybe with Ccleaner.... thx for your help UltraMale xD

 

If you followed Ultra Male's tweaks to disable Cortana and allow search, Cortana changes to Magnifier icon. I use that tweak because Cortana+Search is unstable and its good thing they're separate on 19H1.

 

MS is full of fertilizer using this excuse, because estimate by the definition is not supposed to be accurate and actually the battery estimate on all my laptops is pretty much on the money most of the time and if it is way off, it means I need to recalibrate or even replace the battery. What I don't understand is why are they "dumb down" Win 10 with consistency of a maniac. If I work on my laptop away from AC , one of the most important questions to me is how much time I have left to finish my work before the laptop is out of power, now I won't know unless I hack my computer again (what is it now about 100 hacks before the computer works as it should?). Thanks Ultra Male for posting all the hacks and f???$ MS for making our lives more and more miserable.

 

Couldn't agree more, the more this OS gets updated, the more *hacks* we are seeing necessary to make this piece of crap work like a normal OS. Just like they removed the High Performance and Balanced Power plans from laptop computers? Whaaat? I need those power plans more than a desktop user would since I may want more battery life when I'm out and about so I'd set it to battery saver or I want the max performance so I'd set it to High Performance. But no, they think they know what's best for us!

 

Don't worry it has come back and enabled on 19H1. I'm getting an hour and an half extra battery life on 19H1 than v1803. Speedshift is now very smooth when you change power plans through the slider mechanism. Idle and active power usage are improved as well. Retpoline is enabled for spectre protection.