Windows 10 - Which programs to uninstall?

[Hi P]

I noticed Windows 10 installed a bunch of programs that I don't need at all, like Skype, Spotify, Xbox apps, etc

 

Can I uninstall them without any problems?

[Subway]

Yes. You can uninstall all Microsoft bloatware without any issue. 

[GoodBytes]

39 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I noticed Windows 10 installed a bunch of programs that I don't need at all, like Skype, Spotify, Xbox apps, etc

 

Can I uninstall them without any problems?

Depends which ones. XBox, People, Maps, for example will break Windows 10 experience, and hence why you don't have the option to remove them.

 

[Delicieuxz]

6 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Depends which ones. XBox, People, Maps, for example will break Windows 10 experience, and hence why you don't have the option to remove them.

 

The reason why the option to remove those things is absent isn't because removing them would break things. Rather, Microsoft makes removing them break other Windows 10 functionality to discourage people from removing them. Same reason why turning down data-harvesting isn't available in Windows 10 Home and Pro, but is in Enterprise: So that people can't do it - not because there's a reason why doing it doesn't work.

 

However, an upcoming update is said to grant greater ability to remove pre-installed programs:

 

https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/windows-10s-next-release-will-let-you-uninstall-more-built-in-apps/

[homeap5]

Question is not "how", question is "why". Few inactive programs don't do anything to your system and this way you become clean freak, which is bad. You buy computer for made lot of things I suppose, so the more software - the more possibilities.

[Delicieuxz]

42 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

Question is not "how", question is "why". Few inactive programs don't do anything to your system and this way you become clean freak, which is bad. You buy computer for made lot of things I suppose, so the more software - the more possibilities.

Microsoft pre-installed programs harvest personal data that Microsoft sells (which is why Microsoft doesn't want people uninstalling them). For that reason, it's best to have as few of them as possible, IMO.

 

Also, there are typically superior 3rd-party programs to replace them with.

[homeap5]

7 minutes ago, Delicieuxz said:

Microsoft pre-installed programs harvest personal data that Microsoft sells (which is why Microsoft doesn't want people uninstalling them). For that reason, it's best as few of them as possible, IMO.

 

Also, there are typically superior 3rd-party programs to replace them with.

And how many personal data can be send from program that is not in use?

 

I agree that 3rd party programs are better, but still - I'm too lazy to fight with every single small tool.

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, Delicieuxz said:

 

The reason why the option to remove those things is absent isn't because removing them would break things. Rather, Microsoft makes removing them break other Windows 10 functionality to discourage people from removing them. Same reason why turning down data-harvesting isn't available in Windows 10 Home and Pro, but is in Enterprise: So that people can't do it - not because there's a reason why doing it doesn't work.

 

However, an upcoming update is said to grant greater ability to remove pre-installed programs:

 

https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/windows-10s-next-release-will-let-you-uninstall-more-built-in-apps/

Again, I said it depends which ones.

And no, you not remove the ones mentioned either on the next update

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, Delicieuxz said:

Microsoft pre-installed programs harvest personal data that Microsoft sells (which is why Microsoft doesn't want people uninstalling them). For that reason, it's best to have as few of them as possible, IMO.

What a load of BS. Learn to read, and read the Privacy policy, instead of making stuff up

 

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Also, there are typically superior 3rd-party programs to replace them with.

Your opinion, not fact

[Delicieuxz]

1 hour ago, GoodBytes said:

What a load of BS. Learn to read, and read the Privacy policy, instead of making stuff up

I have read Microsoft's ever-changing "privacy statement" I think in full, as well as much other Microsoft documentation on the subject.

 

Microsoft sells the data they harvest from people. That is a fact, and arguing against it is futile. The business of collecting data is the business of profiting off of that collected data. What Facebook does, so does Microsoft, Google, Twitter, etc.
 

 

Microsoft Ad Monetization platform

 

Data Transfer Project

 

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Your opinion, not fact

I think it is a quantifiable fact if you look at the overall assortment of pre-installed Microsoft programs and compare them to what's out there. There are programs that do everything the Microsoft versions do, and more, while having a better presentation. How would that not be superior?

[GoodBytes]

No you are confusing things.

It says that the telemetry data MAY be available for select clients and needs to have strict requirements to be followed with a valid business case.

This is for example (just an example), say, Intel, needs to debug something critical on their graphics card drivers, and would need specific telemetry info that Microsoft gather that they don't have to solve it (again, let's just say). A business case is made, and Microsoft is contacted.
 

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Information gathered by the telemetry client complies with Microsoft’s security and privacy policies, as well as international laws and regulations. Only those who can demonstrate a valid business need can access the telemetry info.

This is from the very same source you posted.

 

Also, Microsoft can share telemetry data REPORTS to other business or entities. This means, that Microsoft can make and deliver/sale/give away, reports with fancy graphs, Steam style, like x% of user have dual screens, x% of people have triple screens, %x of multiple display setup has the following configuration, %x or people uses the Store, etc.

 

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Information is used by teams within Microsoft to provide, improve, and personalize experiences, and for security, health, quality, and performance analysis. An example of personalization is to create individually tailored in-product messages.

 

Microsoft doesn’t share organization-specific customer information with third parties, except at the customer’s direction or for the limited purposes described in the privacy statement. However, we do share business reports with partners that include aggregated, anonymous telemetry information. Decisions to share info are made by an internal team that includes privacy, legal, and data management professionals.

 

At no point it goes: Delicieuxz credit card info is this, he is male, his age is xxx, he like Hip-Hop music, he like to dance in his room, etc...

[Delicieuxz]

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At no point it goes: Delicieuxz credit card info is this, he is male, his age is xxx, he like Hip-Hop music, he like to dance in his room, etc...

I didn't say that data is sold in that format. However, this:

 

Quote

Also, Microsoft can share telemetry data REPORTS to other business or entities. This means, that Microsoft can make and deliver/sale/give away, reports with fancy graphs, Steam style, like x% of user have dual screens, x% of people have triple screens, %x of multiple display setup has the following configuration, %x or people uses the Store, etc.

... is still selling people's data. Those graphs are made out of people's data, and when those graphs, charts, analytical information are sold, the people whose data comprises those things are having their data sold.

 

Personally-identifiable data is a form of data. Selling people's data doesn't necessarily mean that data is identifying of the persons the data is from.

 

And when people's data is sold in any format, their data is first being collected, and then it is being used to profit the company. And their personal identifiers are existing on the company's own servers, even if the company only passes it along to others in an anonymized format.

 

And companies selling a product are not entitled to enrich themselves off of the data that belongs to people which is harvested through usage of that product.

 

 

Also, the demonstrated rule of thumb in the data-harvesting / data-selling business is that companies involved in it are doing a lot more than they let on, and downplaying their usage of data in their PR presentations is a part of their operations.

[GoodBytes]

42 minutes ago, Delicieuxz said:

. -snip-

Ok you don't know what telemetry data is, and you are trying to justify that the dust bunny behind you door is worth a million dollars.

I can't help you there. What you are doing is fear mongering. You play with interpretation of things to push your agenda, all in the hope that no one will actually read the source you are falsely interpreting and selectively quoting to attempt to support your false interpretations.

 

 

 

[Delicieuxz]

14 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Ok you don't know what telemetry data is, and you are trying to justify that the dust bunny behind you door is worth a million dollars.

I can't help you there. What you are doing is fear mongering. You play with interpretation of things to push your agenda, all in the hope that no one will read the documentation you are falsely interpreting and selectively quoting to push your false interpretation.

Your well-known apologism and rationalizing of all things Microsoft unfortunately is driving you to make baseless accusations that include straw-man arguments.

 

I know exactly what telemetry data is, and I haven't argued a monetary value for the individual pieces of data that are harvested. Altogether, companies are making many billions of dollars each year from all the pieces of data that are collected.

 

The value of the individual pieces of data is irrelevant, just as it is irrelevant that a million-dollar sum a politician steals from public coffers adds up to just pennies, or even a fraction of a penny per person. One penny or a thousands dollars, taking what isn't yours without non-coerced permission is theft, and profiting off of what isn't yours against the will of the owner is unjust enrichment.

 

By the way, I would be happy if everybody would read the Microsoft documentation that I have provided the links to in my post, and that in they would also know that what's written in those documents still isn't the full picture.

[airdeano]

well, we've got a selected solved answer and now we are getting off-topic so..

continue in PM, please

<-LOCKED->