Remove Metro appz and default associations to them

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Shouldn't you be able to do this with your files as needed? Besides there are several Metro apps that have no desktop file equivalent, if you don't want them just uninstall them

 

Easier to bake it into an offline image, especially when installing for multiple computers or users.

 

Uninstalling them doesn't actually delete them, it just removes references to them from the metro control panel and removes their shortcuts from the start menu. No matter what, they consume just over a gig of hard disk space, and Microsoft REALLY went out of their way to make sure you can't delete them. Not even the repair mode command prompt from the install CD can delete them, it just pretends it does but doesn't actually do so. You have to boot to linux and delete them.

Anyways, these apps are worthless. The email, calendar, and contact apps suck compared to the browser version. (If you use google anyways, I haven't compared them to hotmail aka outlook.com. If they are better than the browser version of that, then I don't think I ever want to have anything to do with microsofts equivalent.)

Honestly I haven't seen a single metro app that does anything that can't already be done better in a web browser. And the layout is a joke, the English language is written top to bottom, but they insist that you scroll left to right, wtf is with that?

Thanks OP, this is a better way of doing it: Don't install them in the first place.

 

Brilliant. This may be a dumb question, but can you just apply the AppAssoc.xml without removing the apps? I would prefer to change the file associations, but keep the apps to have the OS more complete. Also, do you happen to know the commands to change the associations for .mp4?

 

Not mount wim ?

 

Well, if you know enough to know you must usually mount a wim first, then you should also know that those commands would be useless otherwise

 

Just to save people the trouble of looking it up (like I had to do just now,) here's an example below:

Code:

dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"G:\sources\install.wim" /Index:1 /MountDir:d:\mount
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:d:\mount /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:d:\mount /commit

 

Here is a more in depth example of what you could do with dism.

Code:

@echo off
index=1
ExtractedISO=c:\ISO
wim=%ExtractedISO%\sources\install.wim

mount=c:\mount
imagex=c:\system32\imagex.exe

cls
echo    **Mounting  Wim
dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:%Wim% /index:%index% /MountDir:%mount%

echo Adding and enabling Net3
dism /image:%mount% /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:%ExtractedISO%\sources\sxs

echo  Remove Metro apps  
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
echo Remove associations
dism /image:%mount% /Remove-DefaultAppAssociations
echo Apply xml
dism /image:%mount% /import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\AppAssoc.xml

echo    **Add Drivers
Dism /image:%mount% /Add-Driver /driver:c:\drivers\x86 /recurse /forceunsigned

echo    **Add MSU Updates
Dism /image:%mount% /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\Updates\x86

echo    **Copy Overlay 
xcopy  c:\Overlay\x86 %mount% /E /I /Y /h /d /r /c

echo Add WMC if Pro edition
Dism /Image:%mount% /Set-Edition:ProfessionalWMC

echo Set product key
Dism /Image:%mount% /Set-ProductKey:xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

echo    **Unmounting and saving Index 
Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:%mount% /commit

echo Rename Index name
%imagex% /info %wim% %Index% "Name of Index" "Name of Index"

 

Another thing you can do is something like this:

Code:

set arch=x64
set setupdir=g:\
set mountdir=d:\mount

dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe
dism /image:%mountdir% /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_%arch%__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Then you just change one line for architecture, e.g. x86 or x64, rather than replacing every single line.

BTW it isn't necessary to use DISM to change to WMC edition or use dism for the key, you can do both with the ei.cfg.

Also, what is overlay?

 

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i believe you don't have to do the associations part
when you remove the metro apps, the associations will natively go to image viwer & windows media player

 

Don't suppose there's a way to make an AIO disc (x86 and x64) that does both apps included and apps removed as well as the rest?

 

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Has anyone successfully managed to import and activate program/file associations using dism?

I want to change some defaults that launch a metro app to use a desktop app instead. I ran a small test with

Code:

dism /Online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:Z:\$W8i\$W8-Deploy\test.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefaultAssociations>
  <Association Identifier=".bmp" ProgId="Paint.Picture" ApplicationName="Windows Photo Viewer" />
</DefaultAssociations>

but when I select a .bmp file, Win8 still wants to start the metro app instead of the desktop app, so there seems to be more to it than just importing the associations with dism.

I would like to automate setting the program/file associations during the system build process possibly at the OOBE stage. Anyone know how?

Al

 

Just a note to say I just did this on my running W8 install using the dism /online command. Worked quickly and perfectly.

EDIT: To add... Someone should update this for Windows 8.1 the minute the RTM turns up, with the new version numbering, added apps, particularly Skype and Skydrive. After the whole NSA thing going on just now, the fact of a webcam/voice application which they are known to record, and default saving to Skydrive - which they are also known to have access to -just seems *really* shady.

 

From my trials, dism /Online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations does absolutely nothing towards changing the default file associations on an online system. You can import to your hearts content and nothing will change. The defaults remain the same. Activating default file associations on an online system has to be done via the Control Panel or with a customized OEMDefaultsAssociation.xml that is applied during the first boot after installing win8.

 

Could someone please update this for Windows 8.1 RTM?

It would be great not to have to install any of the Metro Apps at all.

 

Code:

Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFoodAndDrink_2013.820.258.2561_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness_2013.813.243.3760_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingMaps_2013.809.2206.5385_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingNews_2013.809.636.2800_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingSports_2013.809.637.2803_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingTravel_2013.809.639.25_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingWeather_2013.809.641.3233_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.HelpAndTips_2013.822.1026.1520_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.Reader_2013.822.1037.621_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.SkypeApp_2013.805.1159.2246_neutral_~_kzf8qxf38zg5c
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2013.822.1056.981_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_2013.822.1044.4920_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2013.822.957.612_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsReadingList_2013.822.1053.2868_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsScan_2013.822.1049.789_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_2013.822.1051.1503_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_2013.808.1749.4769_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_2013.809.1658.2765_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /image:c:\test /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2013.809.1659.3015_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe