Slashdot Mirror
How To Clean the Cruft Left By a Windows 10 Upgrade
MojoKid writes: Microsoft may have given you a free Windows 10 upgrade but it's not without some left over file clutter that some folks don't realize is left on a system after migration. It's not rocket science but there are a few key strategies to tidy up the file bloat an OS migration can sometimes leave behind and to further optimize an upgraded Windows 10 installation. The ability to roll back to your Windows 7 or 8.1 installation within 30 days is a very easily overlooked feature of the Windows 10 upgrade process. The feature is a lifesaver if you encounter issues, such as missing or incompatible drivers, and need to quickly recover without starting from scratch. This ability doesn't come without consequences, though. In order to offer this feature, Windows 10 is essentially keeping another completely separate Windows installation on your PC. This will need to go, once you've determined that you are sticking with Windows 10 and everything seems happy enough. These files are scattered throughout your system and include a number of hidden directories, with the bulk of them located in Windows.old and the hidden $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS directories.
The easiest way is just don't install this craptastic pile of shit in the first place.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
I've found that going from version to version in Windows means reliability issues, because stuff remains from previous versions. In fact, pretty much any OS is like this.
If you want a reliable machine, back the thing up (image backup, so it is easily restored), save all documents, format all drives, install the OS, image the OS (so you have a blank, activated copy to roll back to), reinstall applications, and toss the data back on.
Major version upgrades always have issues. Only real exception used to be RHEL where an OS "upgrade" was just a point in time of patches, but even this died with the 7.x release.
Stay with Windows7. You ain't losin' nothin'.
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
Don't waste your time.
If you're upgrading from Win7\8\8.1 do an in-place upgrade just to pass your product key on to win10 then format.
This is actually much simpler. After upgrading to Windows 10 (aka, "Windows Spyware") then pull your activation key with something like produkey (or similar untrusted-ware that probably steals your info). You can then use the "Microsoft Media Creation Tool" (search for this yourself you lazy bastard; it's an actual Microsoft tool). Then wipe your whole disk and reinstall a perfectly clean Windows 10 install. You actually won't need the activation key if you log in with an online Microsoft account (that is, you log in with your email address and give Microsoft access to your life).
It's so simple, why don't people get it?
1. Download Linux
2. Backup your data
3. Install Linux
4. No more cruft!
The cruft like the automatic updates and the telemetry sending?
1. Don't install Windows 10.
2. If you have to install Windows 10, do a clean install where you format the OS disk in the installer. Before installing Windows 10, remove or disable all NICs, wireless cards, modems and other network communication devices (non-optional step).
The old Windows installation will be removed *automatically* after the period of time to roll back ends. No need to do anything.
https://tweakhound.com/2015/09/16/windows-10-advanced-disk-cleanup/
Disk Cleanup.
Microsoft has been overrun by marketing and sales people at the top... they are just a bunch of greedy assholes now. Money and not innovation is their prime objective.
Screw them and their attitude... until they get back to being led by bright engineers, I have zero interest in helping them succeed. Linux Mint is hitting the sweet spot for me now... it's amazing how good you feel using a product that has engineering passion behind it. And Linux is now just too good for my needs. Can't wait to see what Vulcan API does for Linux.
And may I say, Windows and new IE are toilet products... at best.
Sorry but why is a windows feature that has existed since Windows 7 front page Slashdot news? The cruft is removed by running disk cleanup which windows will prompt you to do if your drive space runs low. If you ignore it 30 days later Windows will clean the files up automagically without prompt just like it does with any uninstall information for downloaded windows updates.
Up next We'll show you how to turn off your computer using only a switch on the wall!
You know what's even better and consumes no time? Sticking with Windows 7 or 8.
I see EVERY comment, even remotely critical of Windows 10, being moderated down.
Microsoft sockpuppet accounts are legion!
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
This isn't meant to be a troll. Last year I bought a laptop with Windows 8 from Staples as a [cheap-ish] backup computer for my Mac. The *very first* update after turning it on rendered it a brick. Of course it didn't come with a recovery disk, so I decided that I would try Linux Mint on it before taking it back to the store. That was one of the wisest things I've done recently. It works perfectly, and since I don't play games on it (just regular development) it does everything I want/need it to. There are no stability issues at all (though I do shutdown/startup when I close the lid, but I think every Linux has that problem).
And I don't have to deal with the abomination that is Windows
I have two W7 PCs, each with the many GB's of the downloaded WindowBloat crap and I'm not going to "upgrade" to W10.
I've read nothing about when M$squish plans to delete the garbage they put on my system. When I manually tried to delete these files ... like the *_BT directory, the delete needs special user permissions, doesn't remove lots of files, and is a giant pain in the ass. Additionally it appears that MicroSucks will re-download the deleted W10 files eventually.
These straws finally broke this camel's back and motivated me to at long last install a dual booted Kubuntu 14.04 which has now become my main OS - most of my daily usage is browser based so it's a no-brainer switch from Winders Firefox to Linux Firefox. I now run Windoze 7 ONLY when I need to run a Windoze application, like my scanner software, for instance, or use a printer without an acceptable Linux driver. And BEFORE I boot to Windows, I physically disconnect the cable from the modem ... I will only run Windows when it can't phone home.
Free Windows 10 my ass! This is Microsoft at its worst ever! Just wait ... you'll see.
First there is an easier way. If you install windows10 then do a system restore (logically, a pointless thing to do right after you install an OS) a side effect is that it wipes out the old Win8. Why do I know this? well as you can imagine I installed windows 10, and then within days got suckered by a trojan (than WinDefender and Norton did not stop) that just ate my system alive. So I did a restore.
My review of win 10. I'm a diehard mac and linux user who hates windows and said goodbye to it after XP. But then I bought a computer than had windows 8 installed (factory default restored) and figured why not try the free win10 offer. I have to say that while Win10 is, relatively speaking, the best OS microsoft ever made, and is infact not very painful to use, the installation process was truly a lesson in why microsoft products are pure crap.
The install process took over 8 hours when done without mistakes from a factory install of windows 8 on a screamingly fast i7-3000 series, 8GB, and a 20Gb;sec internet connection. Plus it was not click and wait, but required lots of babysitting, reboots, and even one web search to accomplish. There is no way to go-straight-to-10. Instead you have to walk your system through all the updates of Win8, then install 8,1, then walk it through all the 8.1 updates one of which is not an automatic update, and then finally you can request Win10, a day or so later you get permission to install Win 10. Mine too 164 updates of win8. then another set I lost count of. then a long process to download and install win 8.1. Then about 40 updates of that. At that point it was stuck. Nothing more to do but there was no win 10 install icon. I ran the tool microsoft supplies to guide you through this absurd dance and it told me I was missing some file whose name started with KB. SO I googled that, downloaded it. There was an executable mks file with it so I ran that. When I re-ran the windows tool it once again told me this KB file was not installed. So I re-ran the executable and this time it told me it had already been run. So I was at an impasse. At the time I did not know what a KB file was and the tool wasn't telling me other than that it was missing. Googling I learned this was some update patch. This seemed od to me that 8.1 did not apply this update for me and that I had to download it by hand. But I re-rean the 8.1 updater and this found the file I had downloaded and now updated. At this point I could now request the Win10.
From that point on things were flawless. Win10 has a nice installer. it lists all the ways it is going to monetize your ass with brief semi-coherent explanations, and gives you the opportunity to opt out. It's really nice of them to ask. However you rapidly lose services if you do. For example Cortana requires you to share your addressbook and browser links and history with Redmond, it won't run stand alone without that. They also explain how they will brand you with an indelible advertiser ID so they can sell you to their friends. But at least they asked me unlike the serfs on the google plantation.
Here's what's so great about this OS from a mac or linux user. It just gets out of your way. you hardly notice the OS. It looks pretty much exactly like Linux Mint with some of the more handy applets installed. Gone are the crazy panel desktop with tiles filled with crap you never asked for. It's still there but in a much reduced form in the start menu (yep it's back!) and it doesn't get in your way. Infact it's becomes useful in this less dazzling form.
The bad is that it still has the usual hard to navigate directory structure (e.g. the user files are under C: but the my computer files where programs live is elsewhere). It comes loaded with crapware that tries to trick you into installing it like Norton Utilties or HP's keychain and then informs you after the install that after your free month there will be a charge. And then there's the extreme ability to get rooted when you try to install some code. They
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Your laptop was not rendered a brick if you were able to install another OS on it.
I just tried and found no old version to remove.
The casual nerd. The one that watches TBBT and doesn't know how to make Windows display file extensions.
One cost of Windows 10 is that it will become whatever Microsoft wants it to be in the future; most users will have no ownership. Windows 10 is designed to allow Microsoft complete control over a user's computer whenever it is turned on and connected to the internet.
Maybe Microsoft wants to imitate Google. Microsoft can use the information collected by Windows 10, apparently, to sell to advertisers. Perhaps Microsoft is also paid by secret U.S. government agencies.
Google's tracking is extremely widespread because people use numerous Google services rather than software that they own. Google tracks Slashdot users. The Slashdot home page allows Google to track users 3 ways:
1) google-analytics.com
2) googleadservices.com
3) googletagservices.com
Maybe Microsoft wants to be even more complete about tracking users, to try to take business from Google.
Windows 10 is not "free" to owners of Windows 7 and 8. Installing Windows 10 means that, after 1 month, owners lose what they bought. If someone offers you a "free" car, but then takes away the car you have now, that is not free. Those who switch to Windows 10 pay a high price for something they cannot evaluate fully in 1 month.
Microsoft management thinks it is okay to remove features from Windows. For example, those who switch to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and 8 will lose Windows Media Center. Removing features allows Microsoft to ask users to pay for them again in the future.
Maybe, in the future, Microsoft intends to imitate Adobe Systems. Maybe Windows will eventually become "cloud" software, and users will be expected to pay monthly. Others on Slashdot have suggested that.
Also, it seems to me that Microsoft is extremely badly managed. I'm not the only one who thinks that. Others called former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Monkey Boy and said "Without a doubt, Mr. Ballmer is the worst CEO of a large publicly traded American company today."
It seems to me that Satya Nadella, Microsoft's new CEO, is incapable of managing a large corporation. He apparently was picked because of his ability to avoid being involved in conflicts, rather than because he has an ability to resolve conflicts. It seems to me that Nadella does not have the social sophistication necessary to coordinating the company.
You and me Both... After playing with the previews for a while in Virtualbox and then upgrading one of my Windows 7 licenses, and then watching what the OS blabs to via rpcapd on my router and wireshark, I'm soooo damn glad I moved all of my systems over to Linux when I retired.. I spent 25 years picking up after Windows (and the users thereof) that I decided my "golden years" would be MS-free.....
THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
no need to zero the whole drive, just the first 512 bytes
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=512 count=1
> These files are scattered throughout your system.
Yep, that sounds like Microsoft. If it was Apple the files would be neatly stored in one location.
I'm honestly sorry to be rude but I seriously could care less what you did on you home computer and what your reasoning was for installing a Linux distro.
Windows is installed on the majority of computers so this information is important for those of us who run Windows. Any information to help clean up various old data from an upgrade is welcome as is the various techniques for shutting down all of Microsoft's tracking. If I need to use Linux for something which is very rare, I can just fire up VirtualBox and run Linux flavor distro # 525 whenever I need to.
I actually subscribed to the DDJ just to read the Verity Stob column. Of course by the time the issues started arriving she had quit DDJ.
http://www.drdobbs.com/cpp/state-of-decay/184405140
Poo in LOO. Poo goes in LOO! Just because you run MS doesn't change anything POO still goes in LOO!
"The ability to roll back to your Windows 7 or 8.1 installation within 30 days is a very easily overlooked feature of the Windows 10 upgrade process. The feature is a lifesaver if you encounter issues"
..
Is there a straightforward way of cloning the Windows system to another harddrive such as this Linux command-line utility: dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb
It did not deactivate Office 2013 on the 3 systems I upgraded. Why the hell am I replying to a troll?
Open Administrator Command Prompt
> cleanmgr /sageset
Tick every option, then OK
> cleanmgr /sagerun
Go away and have a cup of tea.
(this is not a
Before I activated Cortana, search for programs didn't work. Cortana's voice recognition is worse than Google's. Cortana frequently takes forever starting up, that is, from the time I click on the icon or hit Win-C, or whatever, to the time something finally comes up.
1) Install Linux
2) Problem Solved!
I couldn't find this exact post, and Slashdot is contractually obligated to host it (with this wording) in any Windoze "solve a problem" thread. Mods can thank me later!
It is easy:
1) download a Linux distro
2) install it
3) ??
4) Profit!
Yup, when you repartition, any "cruft", NSA provided or otherwise, gets taken care of!
You are doing it wrong. Why not run a SECURE OS, then run the UNSECURED BETA OS in virtualbox?
Well good, go post on neowin or mdl.. Why are you here?
It's more accurate to say that privacy's been monetized.
I'd back that folder up first because one still cant "upgrade" licenced VMware or Parallels Win8 VM's to doze10 2 months after new VM drivers were released :(
And here I thought the solution was "Dance, Monkey Dance"
https://www.youtube.com/result...
https://www.youtube.com/result...
Guess you missed the memo .... :-(
You CAN'T shut off ALL of M$ tracking !
"Cleaning" anything in Windows can be dangerous, whether that's just your registry, or the OS. Cleaning methods sometimes snag items that aren't really trash, leading to an unstable operating system.
Are you really using so much space on your hard drive that you feel the need to clean house? Just leave it alone, unless you're prepared to wipe the hard drive and start over.
The easiest way is just don't install this craptastic pile of shit in the first place.
Steam Hardware and Software Survey August 2015
Linux, All Flavors 0.92%
Windows 10 64 Bit 16%
I've yet to see a single stat which suggests that Linux as a desktop OS is gaining any traction whatsoever. Which tells me that its competitors are doing most things right.
"The PC has stopped being the primary computing device of most people meaning that if they don't make it big on the mobile front they'll be irrelevant in the long run."
Agreed. But I think Microsoft will not "make it big" with mobile software.
Products that face low sales because of abuse and foolishness:
Windows: If you have Windows 7, why get a new version? At some point the version you have is enough. Apparently there aren't any new features in Windows 10 that are attractive to customers. Apparently the new features in Windows 10 are all anti-customer.
Google is becoming more and more abusive: F.T.C. Is Said to Investigate Claims That Google Used Android to Promote Its Products.
Apple iPhones: What will the future iPhone 7 have that the iPhone 6 doesn't have? Digital Turnip Twaddling? At some point people will stop rushing to buy new iPhones.
Apple watches? Now that Steve Jobs is dead, Apple no longer releases easy-to-use products. Apple now does the Microsoft thing and releases buggy products that it slowly fixes. Articles:
Verdict: "... there's a learning curve you have to overcome..."
Seven problems facing the Apple Watch
Apple Watch: Issues We Know Of And Possible Fixes.
Opinion: One month later, fixing 15 early Apple Watch problems seems straightforward
These 8 problems with the Apple Watch are 'infuriating'
9 of the biggest complaints about the Apple Watch so far
8 Infuriating Problems With The Apple Watch
My laptop basically imploded after the download and continually flashes on and off. Will cost a bomb to repair now
Because Slashdot supposedly allows everyone's opinion within reason. So responding to a comment about someone's home computer being installed with a Linux distro doesn't have anything to do with the article on Windows is a valid response. The person's comment about why they installed Linux was completely meaningless and adds nothing to the discussion about cleaning up a Windows 10 upgrade. The same thing is true for people who post about Apple or Windows on their home computer when the article talks about Linux.
We all get it by now, a number of people hate Windows for whatever reasons and prefer to run a Linux based distro. I'm cool with that and don't have a problem with it. I've used it at work many times and Redhat was used as the standard OS for my old company's product. However the comments don't add to the discussion and in fact ruin it. It's become one of reasons why Slashdot has kind of gone hill. Talking about a Linux install while in a discussion about Windows cleanup is as bad as dealing with APK and his silly host files application. It just doesn't need to said and eventually overwhelms the discussion and then slowly kills it.
Everytime there is a Windows article the Linux people just can't help themselves. They have post on how much better Linux Distros are. On why they installed Linux on the moon because of all the problems they had with Windows. Again that's fine but if it doesn't add to the discussion then why waste everyone's time? You are not going to convince anyone to install Linux just because you install SUSE on Linux all your home PCs.
I want to see people come back to Slashdot to add to discussions again. So many people have left because stupid gay racists comments, crap like APK, and that idiot that always makes a comment about cows. It's killing this website but apparently many of you don't seem to care and thats too bad.
I'm running a laptop with a sandybridge i5 and an optimus setup and both video card drivers load and then before the login screen appears they error out and give error code 39. I have a machine at work that is doing the same thing and it has an nforce chipset with a nvidia 8xxx series chip. The current solution is the #1) never reboot, and #2) when windows forces you to reboot, simply reboot and uninstall the drivers after windows loads without deleting the drivers. The rescan the hardware from the device manager and they just reinstall and work like nothing ever went wrong. Both of these machines were upgraded from Windows 7, but I don't think it makes a difference. I've tried the beta intel drivers for windows 10, the beta nvidia drivers for windows 10, the stock windows drivers, the windows 8 drivers. All do the same thing. Sometimes when I reboot, they magically don't dump after almost giving the login screen. This is the only real problem I have had left now. I managed to clean up the mess that the widows 7 installations were in. Both machines now pass SFC. I had to rebuild the hives. I'm really reluctant to toast my installations and start fresh as I have a lot of things installed and such that would be a major pain to set back up again. Also to go through all that and have potentially the same exact problem wouldn't be exactly cool. This doesn't seem to be as widespread so I'm really puzzled what's going on with my machines. Anyone have problems with this?
zosxavius photography
No need to zero anything. A modern distribution (i.e. within the last 10+ years) will modify your partition table, replace the Windows bootloader, and ensure that any code not running pre-boot (i.e. UEFI) never gets run.
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
My upgrade plan is to migrate Ubuntu 16.04 desktop. I will not tolerate spyware as a part of an OS
In that case, you've got quite a few months to wait... In the meantime, Ubuntu 14.04 desktop is waiting for you... I'd move there now, if I were you....
THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
defaults and recommended choices during install of many distros won't do that, will install "along side of windows", or favor an empty partition if it exists
so, best to nuke windows from orbit, it's the only way to be sure. Remember, every time an install of windows is killed, God gives a homeless kitten a good home. Please, think of the kittens.
"... regular joes don't seem to care much..."
That's Microsoft's method of abuse: Designing abuses that the majority of people can't understand and must accept.
Well then don't be and shut the fuck.
The point is that you are the cruft in the posts for this article.
Yeah, you want to opine, but doing so doesn't add to the topic, it detracts from it and makes it harder to locate useful posts or even posts that are on topic.
Rather than clog this articles posts with off topic regurgitated "M$" hate drivel, make your own post on why you no longer use Windows or whatever so that the rest of us don't have to waste our time.
Who gives a shit? The Windows install still won't run unless you choose it at boot time, so by your argument the person doing the install is too stupid to make choices, so they will be too stupid to ever select Windows from the bootloader. Why don't you just admit that you tried to correct someone who knew what they were talking about (and was showing how to remove all traces of Windows code from the disk completely), and you didn't know what you were talking about?
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
Windows 10 LTSB.
Absolute Gold, All the good with none of the bloatware.
"LTSB will receive only security and hot fixes, and no new features, for ten years. LTSB is an option for customers running mission-critical
or otherwise locked-down applications who cannot risk having new features and feature updates pushed to them."
Great comment thanks.
That seems almost as ridiculous a waste of time as all the "wipe the drive and install linux. Derp!" crap.
You and that person are both wrong, it is difficult in many distros installs to do the correct thing for person unfamiliar with the process. In fact, we can go so far as to say people like you are a big part of the problem
OK Douchebag. Explain how "that person" was wrong. While your trying to dig yourself out of the hole of idiocy you dug for yourself, bear in mind that his solution requires less typing, and actually does remove all Windows code from the drive, whereas your non-solution doesn't remove all Windows code from the drive and requires more typing.
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
He's WRONG because the normal distro (e.g. linuxmint) install won't act correctly in that situation, requires advanced knowledge
just like YOU are wrong and ignorant. I am intimately familiar with installs of all major linux distros, bsd's and Unix that is x86-64 capable. Your informed point of view is not helpful
You arte so full of bullshit it isn't funny. There isn't a Linux distribution on the planet that won't install to a zeroed out drive, and there certainly isn't one that will work with a zeroed out boot sector, but won't work if the boot sector is zeroed out and the rest of the disk isn't. Just admit you are a clueless moron and move on with your pathetic life.
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
now you blather about irrelevant points, topic is disk with windows on it and how to deal with it since default of most common linux distros may not be what is wanted.
your dentist must have injected too much novocaine, you are numb from the neck up
You seem to have decided to change the topic, since the original post in this thread states quite clearly: "The easiest way is just don't install this craptastic pile of shit in the first place." Since I am merely responding to what you wrote, it is pretty hilarious that you are accusing me of being the one blathering on with the irrelevant point. The difference of course is that the AC who correctly identified the way to create a system that is identical to one where " this craptastic pile of shit" had never been installed (on topic) you then offered misinformation which would not achieve that goal, which you now keep trying to justify, all the while blaring your ignorance to the world. Off you go now little troll ...
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun