Setting up a new Windows 10 machine
by Volker Weber
I am retiring the Surface Pro (2017) and activating a new Lenovo Yoga C930 instead. These are excellent machines and I want to give one a real spin, not just an unpacking or short term testing. Don't worry, I will be returning to a new Surface as well.
But first things first. Spinning up a Windows machine is a lengthy project for me. I like to first clean up everything before I get to work. There are a number of steps:
- Unpack machine, enjoy the new fresh hardware, don't switch it on yet.
- Remove all the junk stickers. There is a lot of sticky glue to get off. This step isn't necessary on a Microsoft Surface.
- Plug in power, fire up the machine, let it finish the installation. If you want to be safe, immediatly wipe it and reinstall yourself.
- Wait for all the crapware to install from the store until it decides it has finished the setup.
- Download and run the Windows 10 Update Assistant, to make sure you have the latest feature upgrade.
- Again, wait for all the crapware to install from the store until it decides it has finished the setup.
- Fire up Windows Update and let it get all cumulative fixes.
- Once the machine is spinning down its fans and keeps on idling, start removing all the crapware. I like to use the Powershell with the remove-appxpackage command to get rid of all *xbox* and *bing*.
- Lenovo likes to add AntiVirus packages and other "free" trialware they get paid to install by the vendor. Off they go.
Only when every piece of junk is gone, I start adding stuff by syncing in my favorites, my passwords, my own apps, etc. I have tried to rush things but I have learned this is the way to a longer lasting great experience. It's a bit of work but it pays off.
Google always tries to lure me into installing their trackware, but I like to keep it off in iOS, macOS and Windows.
Comments
Excellent advice, as always. I have tried to remove XBox many times, by a variety of methods. This time was no different... "XBox is part of Windows and can not be removed". Or words to that effect. At least I got rid of Twitter and Bing Sports.
Joseph, look here:
https://vowe.net/archives/015150.html
I get rid of Xbox & Co by running this command:
Get-AppxPackage|? name -like *Xbox*|remove-appxpackage
No joy. Same error message. I'll have to live with it. I have been successful removing it in the past, don't remember how, but it came back on the next update.
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-appxpackage|? name -like *Xbox* | remove-appxpackage
remove-appxpackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CFA, Removal failed. Please contact your software vendor.
(Exception from HRESULT: 0x80073CFA)
error 0x80070032: AppX Deployment Remove operation on package
Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI_1000.17763.1.0_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy from:
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI_cw5n1h2txyewy failed. This app is part of Windows and cannot be
uninstalled on a per-user basis. An administrator can attempt to remove the app from the computer using Turn Windows
Features on or off. However, it may not be possible to uninstall the app.
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 43f8a515-958a-0001-c72b-01448a95d401 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID 43f8a515-958a-0001-c72b-01448a95d401
At line:1 char:39
+ get-appxpackage|? name -like *Xbox* | remove-appxpackage
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : WriteError: (Microsoft.XboxG...l_cw5n1h2txyewy:String) [Remove-AppxPackage], IOException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.RemoveAppxPackageCommand
Did you run Powershell as Administrator?
Yesterday, my wife's W10 Lenovo E570 wouldn't unlock, stating that her password was incorrect, something not really possible. Hours later, with one problem leading to another, I took the very desperate step of clicking "Reset this PC" ... "Remove Everything".
The software lied.
After being "reset with everything personal removed", this W10 laptop still had her Fitbit software installed. Which makes me wonder what else did the Reset process miss?
It also makes me wonder exactly what you meant when you wrote: "If you want to be safe, immediately wipe it and reinstall yourself." ?
There are a number of restore options. From reinstall Windows on top all the way to scrub partition with junk data and install from recovery.
Re: XBox.
Yes, I ran as Administrator. This result is not surprising. Still less invasive than my experiences with Google products.
Danke, Volker.
Re: "Lenovo likes to add AntiVirus packages and other 'free' trialware".
Did you re-install from a Lenovo provided medium? I wouldn't consider that a "clean" install. I always download Windows 10 using the Microsoft media creation tool. Yes, sometimes - but rarely - that gives me hassle with drivers. Usually that can be remedied by downloading vendor drivers.
The de-crapify posts within Spiceworks can be helpful for this:
https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/4378-windows-10-decrapifier-1803-1809
that should be automated…
@Joseph,
the "Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI" is marked as non-removable (1809):
Get-AppxPackage *xbox* | Select-Object Name, NonRemovable
Name NonRemovable
---- ------------
Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI True
Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay False
Microsoft.XboxApp False
Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider False
Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay False
Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI False
Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay False
If you prefer a list and click remove all the things (incl. multiselect), use this PoSh command:
Get-AppxPackage | Out-GridView -PassThru | Remove-AppPackage
