This is a collection of batch scripts intended for automating clean up of Windows, typically right after a fresh installation. They were developed and tested on Windows 10 Pro 64bit (1703).
Feel free to contribute where you see room for improvements or fixes!
> cortana_disable.bat
Disables the (preinstalled) Cortana. First, Cortana is disabled for searching by a registry setting. Second, it is forced to shutdown with its installation folder being immediately moved to a backup folder which prevents it from restarting effectively.
> onedrive_remove.bat
Disables and removes the (preinstalled) OneDrive. First, OneDrive is deactivated for file storage by a group policy setting. Second, it is uninstalled with all related files and folders removed for the current user.
Depends on the LGPO tool for the group policy setting. It is part of the Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit
> pckg_list.bat
Lists installed or provisioned Windows (modern app) packages.
> pckg_list.bat name
Lists installed or provisioned Windows (modern app) packages having 'name' in their package name (case-insensitive search).
> pckg_remove.bat name
Removes all packages having 'name' in their package name (case-insensitive search). Multiple name arguments are allowed.
- Matching packages will be unprovisioned: They will not be installed anymore for newly created user accounts.
- Additionally, a script is created for uninstalling matching packages in the 'Startup' folder of the start menu for each user who has the respective package installed. The automatically created script deletes itself after the first run which is triggered at login time. The script is created with a timestamp, thus
pckg_remove.batcan be run multiple times, resulting in multiple startup scripts for the respective users.
remove_This_PC_folders_64bit.reg
A registry file, when applied, removes all folder shortcuts listed under This PC in Windows explorer.
fix_winhlp32.cmd
This script has to be run in a Windows console with Administrator priviledges. It expects the 32bit or 64bit Windows 8.1 update KB917607 to be present in the same folder. It can be downloaded from Microsoft.
The script extracts the appropriate winhlp32.exe from the update package, including necessary DLLs and language files and installs them to %windir% (typically C:\Windows and C:\Windows\System32).