i had the same problem on LTSB you need to delete various registry keys of those ghost folders, i didn't write down the keys but you can get them trying to copy paste each folder on desktop an error message will show up with keys. P.S. after the script i can't browse files for select a different wallpaper or an account image.
Code: empty icon belonging to "Pictures": HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3ADD1653-EB32-4CB0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA} empty icon belonging to "Videos": HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C} That did it for me; I make no guarantees on if it is a good idea or not to delete them. It could break applications that look up those folders by CLSID directly (even though they shouldn't be doing that).
ericgl This Disable BackgroundUploadTask (by changing bit in 2nd line in triggers).reg file doesn't seem to work, gives me an error stating error accessing registry. Also what is this tweak exactly, google shows no info on it.
Hey ericgl i must say GREAT WORK!!! Thanks so much for these tweaks. I really wish you keep up the good work Keep those tweaks updated and add more if possible - more choises what to remove and so on It's f**king awesome!!
I use Active@BootDisk to Image,ZeroFill,ResetPW,RestoreFiles/Partitions great bit of kit On topic I will Zero Fill install Windows LTSB N then Disable Telementary Sort Update in GPEDIT install Newsbin PowerISO DamnNFO Viewer OpenOffice GPG4win 7z WinSCP Klite Codec Pack Mega MultiPar Kodi Firefox Thunderbird Then Configure Encryption Point shell to my files ... about it me thinks
Here is my list of custom changes. I adapted it from a similar list I created for Win 7. =====INSTALLATION Do not use Express Settings. Use Customize and turn every option off. Avoid sending any info to MS. Use a local account, not a MS account. VirtualBox Settings > General > Advanced tab > Shared Clipboard, Bidirectional; Drag'n Drop, Bidirectional In VirtualBox 5.0, if 3D is enabled the VM won't boot. Native boot VHD install same as Win 7. =====TEXT SIZE INCREASE Settings > System > Display Change the size of text, apps, and other items =====DESKTOP ICON SIZE R-click desktop > View > Small icons Clck desktop > hold Ctrl key > mouse scroll wheel, to adjust icon size =====FILE EXPLORER File Explorer > View > Options or, Control Panel > File Explorer Options General tab Open File Explorer to This PC > Privacy Show recently used files in Quick access, uncheck Show frequently used folders in Quick access, uncheck View tab Display the full path in the title bar, check Show hidden files, folders, and drives, select Hide empty drives, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types, uncheck Hide protected operating system files, uncheck Navigation pane, show all folders, check (adds Recycle Bin, Control Panel, and God Mode) Show status bar, uncheck [bar at bottom seems unnecessary] =====INDEXING SERVICE DISABLE Control Panel > Admin Tools > Services > Windows Search, R-click > Properties > General tab > Startup type: Disabled Windows.edb is a database file of the Windows Search service. Sometimes it can grow to a huge size. C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb If it is huge, taking up too much space, it can be deleted. =====PERSONALIZATION Settings > Personalization > Background > Solid color ...Colors > Choose accent color Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center--On Make Start, taskbar, and action center transparent--Off ...Themes > Desktop icon settings > uncheck Recycle Bin ...Start > Show most used apps--Off Show recently added apps--Off Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar--Off =====UPDATES Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are installed > Notify to schedule restart . . . Choose how updates are delivered > Updates from more than one place--Off =====AUTOPLAY TURN OFF Control Panel > AutoPlay Use AutoPlay for all media and devices, uncheck =====PRIVACY Almost all items should be turned off. Avoid, to the extent possible, sending info to MS. Settings > Privacy > > General > Lots of these items were turned off durring installation of the OS. Let websites provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list -- Off > Background apps > Let apps run in the background. Choose which apps can receive info, send notifications, and stay up to date, wven when you're not using them. Some of these probably should be turned off. Maps--off, Music--off, OneNote--off, People--off, Phone Companion--off, Photos--off, Store--off, Xbox--off > Account info > Let apps access my name, picture, and other account info -- Off > Feedback and Diagnostics > Windows should ask for my feedback -- Never Diagnostic and usage data, send your device data to MS -- Basic =====CORTANA DISABLE, WEB SEARCH DISABLE Start > All apps > Cortana > gear icon > Settings Cortana can give you--Off Search online and include web results--Off Searches will be on the local computer only. Use brower for web searches. =====SOUND TURN OFF Control Panel > Sound > Sounds tab Sound Scheme: No sounds =====START MENU Remove unnecessary tiles R-click tile > Unpin from start =====TASKBAR Control Panel > Taskbar and Navigation Taskbar tab > Notification area > Customize > Select which icons appear on the taskbar > Always show all icons in the notification area, On Taskbar buttons: combine when taskbar is full [surprisingly, this causes text to appear along side the icons and so they take up more horizontal space] Use small taskbar buttons, check [this also causes search bar to disappear] Remove Store icon from taskbar. Right-click, unpin. =====USER ACCOUNT CONTROL Control Panel > User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings Change to Always notify =====WINDOWS DEFENDER Settings > Update and Security > Windows Defender Cloud-based Protection, sends info to MS, off Sample submissioin, Sends info to MS, off If there is no third party antivirus program with real time protection installed, you can disable WDs realtime protection for a short time, but it will automatically turn back on. When Avira is installed, WD is disabled/turned off. =====REMOTE ASSISTANCE DISABLE Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Remote tab > uncheck Allow Remote Assistance Might be a security risk if enabled? =====VISUAL EFFECTS SIMPLIFY Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Performance > Settings > Visual Effects > Custom uncheck everything except Smooth edges of screen fonts =====AUTO REBOOT AFTER BSOD DISABLE Otherwise, the BSOD screen appears too briefly to read. Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery > Settings > System failure > uncheck Auto restart =====MEMORY DUMP FILE CREATION DISABLE When using TrueCrypt, this prevents sensitive data from being written to the dump file. Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery > Settings > Write debugging information > (default is Kernel memory dump) change to none =====STARTUP DISABLE UNNECESSARY Task Manager > Startup tab MS OneDrive, disable =====AUTO START A PROGRAM WHEN WINDOWS BOOTS C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup This is a hidden folder, so File Explorer must be set to show hidden files and folders. Add a shortcut in this folder to the program you want to auto start. I noticed the ...\Programs folder contained shortcuts to programs that autostart on my system. The ...\Programs\Startup folder does not contain any shortcuts. Task Manager > Startup tab, shows autostart programs. Can enable and disable. Pin the folder to the Start Menu. =====TIME ZONE Settings > Time and language > Date and time > Time zone =====INTERNET CONNECTION DISABLE OR ENABLE Taskbar network icon > network settings > Change adapter options > R-click Ethernet icon or Wireless icon > Disable or Enable =====EDGE 3 dots > Settings > Open new tabs with, a blank page Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear > check all Advanced settings > View advanced settings Offer to save passwords--Off Save form entries--Off Send Do Not Track requests--On Search in the address bar with > Cookies > Block only third party cookies Let sites save protected media licenses on my device--Off =====BROWSER DEFAULT Settings > Default apps > Web browser > click to change Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs =====APPS UNIVERSAL UNINSTALL R-click on Start Menu item > Uninstall Settings > System > Apps and features > click on an app > Uninstall The Uninstall button is grayed out on some apps. Modern apps do not appear in Control Panel > Programs and Features. =====GOD MODE Create a folder on Desktop and name it GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Code: REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}"... I keep seeing this sort of thing, and I think "crikey, that's ham-fisted" - why not just knock it out of the desktop namespace key?
you should upgrade from your 386DX. i disable defender too because i use something else and i don´t need two of such apps running. but i know that you won´t notice anything if it´s enabled or disabled on a core 2 or better system. not even low level benchmarks will show a difference.