--Before/During Installation--
Do not use Express Settings. Hit Customize, and make sure everything is turned off.
It's strongly preferred that you use a local account with Windows 10.
--After Installation--
Head to Settings > Privacy, and disable everything, unless there are some things you really need.
While within the Privacy page, go to Feedback, select Never in the first box, and Basic in the second box.
Head to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered, and turn the first switch off.
Disable Cortana by clicking the Search bar/icon.
(Optional) Disable web search in Search by going to Settings, and turning off Search online and include web results.
--Slightly Complex--
Open up the Command Prompt by launching cmd as an administrator, and enter the following:
sc delete DiagTrack
sc delete dmwappushservice
echo "" > C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
Open up the Group Policy Editor by launching gpedit.msc as an administrator. Go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double click Telemetry, hit Disabled, then apply. NOTE: This only truly works in the Enterprise edition, but the final step provides a decent enough workaround for Pro users.
While still in the Group Policy Editor, go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive, double click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage, hit Enabled, then apply.
Open up the Registry Editor by launching regedit as an administrator. Go through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection, select AllowTelemetry, change its value to 0, then apply.
First, download the Take Ownership tweak[
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...rship-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/] and enable it. Then, head to the Hosts File by going through C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc, take ownership of the hosts file, and add the following IPs into it.
127.0.0.1 vortex.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.appex.bing.net
127.0.0.1 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.appex.bing.net:443
127.0.0.1 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
--Up To You--
Replace Microsoft Edge/Internet Explorer with Firefox, Chromium, or any forks/variations of them.
Replace Windows Media Player with VLC or MPC-HC
Replace Groove Music with Foobar2000, Winamp, or MusicBee.
Replace Photos/Windows Photo Viewer with ImageGlass or IrfanView.
How to activate Windows 10 (for pirates):
After you do a fresh install with an iso, do this:
slmgr /ipk KEY
Wait for the message box popup that the key is installed.
Now type the following command and press Enter
slmgr /skms kms.xspace.in
Again, wait for the message box.
Finally, enter the following command:
slmgr /ato
After you hit the Enter key, Windows will be activated.
Keys (go in place of KEY)
Windows 10 Home - TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
Windows 10 Pro - W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Windows 10 Enterprise - NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Get rid of retarded "APPS":
Open PowerShell with Admin privileges, enter
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
-OR- for full debloat (all on one line)
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | where {$_.name -notlike "*calc*" -AND
$_.name -notlike "*store*" -AND $_.name -notlike "*onenote*" -AND
$_.name -notlike "*NET.*" -AND $_.name -notlike "*VCLibs*" -AND
$_.name -notlike "*Host*" -AND $_.name -notlike "*AccountsControl*"} | Remove-AppxPackage
Get rid of OneDrive:
Use this batch file, run it.
http://www62.zippyshare.com/d/IfLGZv7J/339/OneDrive Uninstaller v0.4.cmd
Disabled automatic Windows Updates:
Open Admin Command Prompt and type: gpedit.msc
Manuever to: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update
Select it and select disable, apply and ok.
"Something Happened" error:
Change your language to English (US).
Control Panel -> Clock, Language, and Region -> Region -> Administrative -> Change system locale
Enable Dark Mode (purely aesthetics):
Open Powershell (search for it if you have to)
Enter:
New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0
Remove Dark Mode:
Open Powershell
Enter:
Remove-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme
Disable Hybrid Sleep (save on your HDD/SSD/PCI-E SSD TB write amount):
Open cmd.exe as admin, type in:
powercfg -h off
