Removing Windows 10 bloat with powershell ?

ED209 · 2 May 2020 at 12:13

darael said:
Which errors do you get and from the ToolKit or Windows?

its quite a long winded message and it was a windows error caused by the toolkit as when I pressed ok it continued on.

I was trying to remove the store from the image, had to convert the file to wim which I did through the toolkit.

darael · 2 May 2020 at 12:52

ED209 said:
its quite a long winded message and it was a windows error caused by the toolkit as when I pressed ok it continued on.

I was trying to remove the store from the image, had to convert the file to wim which I did through the toolkit.

Is the working path long? Ie: C:\Users\ED209\Desktop\ToolKit_v9.9

I always work with the ToolKit in C:\ as I believe those messages are caused by long paths. So the path I work from with the ToolKit is C:\ToolKit_v9.9

I hope this doesn't sound condescending, but look through the Readme file that comes with the ToolKit. The above is such a common problem, it does mention to use short paths. Also try to follow the usage order to keep problems to a minimum.

ED209 · 2 May 2020 at 16:30

darael said:
Is the working path long? Ie: C:\Users\ED209\Desktop\ToolKit_v9.9

I always work with the ToolKit in C:\ as I believe those messages are caused by long paths. So the path I work from with the ToolKit is C:\ToolKit_v9.9

I hope this doesn't sound condescending, but look through the Readme file that comes with the ToolKit. The above is such a common problem, it does mention to use short paths. Also try to follow the usage order to keep problems to a minimum.

I had the toolkit on my D drive so was D:/toolkit 9.9. I did originally download it to the desktop as this is the default save location but moved it to D when extracting it and also made sure I right clicked and ran as admin.

I used a command to convert the install file so re did that through the toolkit to be safe.

maybe the toolkit didn’t support the iso version as I know at times this can be the car as I tried the tool some time ago. I may just install w10 and then use power shell to remove everything

ED209 · 3 May 2020 at 15:23

darael said:
Is the working path long? Ie: C:\Users\ED209\Desktop\ToolKit_v9.9

I always work with the ToolKit in C:\ as I believe those messages are caused by long paths. So the path I work from with the ToolKit is C:\ToolKit_v9.9

I hope this doesn't sound condescending, but look through the Readme file that comes with the ToolKit. The above is such a common problem, it does mention to use short paths. Also try to follow the usage order to keep problems to a minimum.

These are the errors I keep getting.

Moved folder to C:\Kit, re downloaded the Windows 10 iso and re converted the esd file to wim but made no difference.

Get this error a lot removing certain apps

darael · 3 May 2020 at 16:16

ED209 said:
These are the errors I keep getting.

Moved folder to C:\Kit, re downloaded the Windows 10 iso and re converted the esd file to wim but made no difference.

Get this error a lot removing certain apps

What files are you working with? If you tell me where I can download the same ISO and files that you're working with and the method you used, I'll give it a go.

ED209 · 3 May 2020 at 16:35

darael said:
What files are you working with? If you tell me where I can download the same ISO and files that you're working with and the method you used, I'll give it a go.

Ok, thanks.

steps are below and I have tried it a number of times with the same results.

I downloaded the W10 creation tool (Windows 10 Pro 64 bit)

Downloaded the toolkit version 9.9 (latest version

Extracted the ISO to the DVD folder

used the tool to covert it from ESD to WIM file

mounted the ISO in to tool.

went to the following options 4 - 1 - 7 (or 6 as I cant remember the option now!) and tried to remove the following Windows Mail App, Windows Test App, one drive

went to the following options 4 - 1 - 8 and tried to remove the following Windows Store, Xbox app, Xbox identifier

after all done I saved the changes and created an ISO to test in a VM.

I would prefer to remove all the default apps etc that I don't need (just want a minimum OS as possible as dont use half the stuff in W10)

Django x2 · 3 May 2020 at 17:24

That's a PowerShell error thrown by windows. It's trying to remove a an app (they're in the Side by Side folder) but it says you don't have permission. Can you browse to that location and open the XML it's complaining about?

ED209 · 3 May 2020 at 19:25

Django x2 said:
That's a PowerShell error thrown by windows. It's trying to remove a an app (they're in the Side by Side folder) but it says you don't have permission. Can you browse to that location and open the XML it's complaining about?

The folder never existed until I downloaded the tool and I can remove other apps without an issue it’s just some that has problems. I can then save everything and re create the ISO’s.

I go to test the new iso in a vm but the start button stops working and the settings screen opens but then cannot do anything with it.

mall I want to do is remove the bloatware and that’s all I remove, I tried once with leaving Cortana stuff in in case that was causing the issues but made no differentce. Kinda given up on it now as tried 4 times and the end result had the same issues

darael · 3 May 2020 at 20:08

Tried to follow what you've done as best as I can.

Downloaded Media Creation Tool which I used to download Windows 10 64-bit (wouldn't let me choose Home/Pro/etc).

In MSMG I extracted the ISO and when I chose to convert from ESD to WIM, it showed me multiple versions of Windows (Home/Pro/etc) - I chose to export Professional and selected this as my source.

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing Windows Mail App Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : CommunicationsApps

Removing Package files...
Modifying Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing Take Test App Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : SecureAssessmentBrowser

Removing Package files...
Modifying Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing OneDrive Desktop Client Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : OneDrive

Removing Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing Windows Store App Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : WindowsStore

Removing Package files...
Modifying Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing Xbox App Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : XboxApp

Removing Package files...
Modifying Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Code:

===============================================================================
                  MSMG ToolKit - Removing Windows Components
===============================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Starting Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Image                    : Install.wim
    Image Index              : 1
    Image Architecture       : x64
    Image Version            : 10.0.18362.592.0
    Image Edition            : Professional
    Image Default Language   : en-GB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Removing Windows Components################################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removing Xbox Identity Provider Package...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSMG ToolKit Commandline Helper
Version: 1.0.3024.0

Image Version: 10.0.18363.592

Component : XboxIdentityProvider

Removing Package files...
Modifying Package files...
Loading Image Registry...
Modifying Package Registry...
Unloading Image Registry...

The operation completed successfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
####Finished Removing Windows Components#######################################
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================

Applied (6 > 1), cleaned up the image (6 > 2 Y), rebuilt it (6 > 1) then created the new ISO (7 > 1).

If you want to reduce the size further, convert the WIM to ESD (2 > 4) before creating the ISO. This reduces the ISO size from around 4.16 GB to around 3.34 GB. The conversion takes about 20-30 minutes to complete, so it's entirely up to you whether it's worth it or not.

Installed on a VM and found no issues when I ran SFC.

ED209 · 3 May 2020 at 20:26

@darael,Thanks a lot for testing and spending your time on it. I’ll have a look when at my pc next and see if I can get it to behave.

size is not an issue as I have a 32gb usb stick I tend to use.

darael · 3 May 2020 at 21:12

ED209 said:
@darael,Thanks a lot for testing and spending your time on it. I’ll have a look when at my pc next and see if I can get it to behave.

size is not an issue as I have a 32gb usb stick I tend to use.

Something else to try is using 18363.418 as your base image. I can't link to my source as OcUK don't allow links to that site, but you might able to use Google to help you find the ESD files to convert into an ISO.

ED209 · 3 May 2020 at 21:51

darael said:
Something else to try is using 18363.418 as your base image. I can't link to my source as OcUK don't allow links to that site, but you might able to use Google to help you find the ESD files to convert into an ISO.

I did wonder if this could be an issue. The iso being too new for the toolkit as each release needs updating due to changes etc.

inogen · 12 Aug 2020 at 14:52

Is there a way to permanently remove the malwareservice?

I have a laptop that I mainly use as a HTPC. That windows malwareserviceexecutable eats the CPU in spikes that means my Sky Go goes blurred.