With the popularity of Modern Device Provisioning using Windows Autopilot or AirWatch, using a “Generic Image” (Microsoft OS without OEM added-value software added) as the baseline OS is a very common practice.
I have been asked multiple times if a generic image (ISO from Microsoft) contains any bloatware. – The short answer is NO. It is the OS version as published by Microsoft. Let me explain further.
Bloatware and Windows Bundled-Apps
Customers that have been getting the standard OEM loaded OS receives PC manufacturer specific trialware and other bundled software, commonly referred as bloatware.
By definition, bloatware is referred to any unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer. This could be trialware, utilities, adware, and such, which is not originally included in the Microsoft Operating System ISO file.
Microsoft changed the game a little, when they introduced “bundled-apps” into Windows 10 published OS. Although these apps were not introduced by the manufactures, many people have called these bloatware as well. They include:
Apps that can be removed
Apps that can not be removed
3D Builder
Alarms and Clock
Bubble Witch 3 Saga
Calculator
Calendar and Mail
Camera
Candy Crush Soda Saga
Get Office
Get Skype
Get Started
Groove Music
Maps
March of Empires
Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Minecraft
Money
Movies & TV
News
OneNote
People
Phone Companion
Photos
Royal Revolt
Store
Sports
Voice Recorder
Weather
Xbox
Contact Support
Cortana
Windows Feedback
Microsoft Edge
Most OEMs have the capability to ship devices with the “Generic” Windows 10 ISO version. In Microsoft’s case:, for their Surface devices they call it Signature Edition. OEMs have different names.
Removing Bundled Apps
For obvious reasons, businesses and enterprises do not want to include these kinds of apps when they provide Windows PCs to their end-users.
There are two ways of removing (for those apps that can be removed) Microsoft’s pre-installed / bundled OS applications:
Reset Windows 10 – using the Refresh Tool (also known as Start Fresh) in Windows 10 settings options.
Use a PowerShell Script to remove them
Both of these options can be called as part of the device provisioning process (either called via Intune, script or task sequence)
Screenshot of Freshly Installed Windows 10
Below is an screenshot of a freshly installed Windows 10 Pro created with the Win10 v1803 ISO – You can clearly see the “bundled apps” Microsoft has allowed.
Please ping me on Twitter if you have any questions!
About Jorge Pereira
Accomplished Information Technology services professional with over 25 years of experience performing technical pre-sales, solution selling, public speaking / presentations, consulting, project delivery and program management. Over the past few years, Jorge has focused on customers solutions in the areas of: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Workforce transformation, End-User-Computing (EUC) Lifecycle Management, Modern Device Management, and Cybersecurity. He writes on the jorgep.com blog and you can find him on Twitter @jorper98
More info about Jorge here
Disclaimer: I work for Dell Technology Services as a Workforce Transformation Solutions Principal. It is my passion to help guide organizations through the current technology transition specifically as it relates to Workforce Transformation. Visit Dell Technologies site for more information. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.
Accomplished Information Technology services professional with over 25 years of experience performing technical pre-sales, solution selling, public speaking / presentations, consulting, project delivery and program management. Over the past few years, Jorge has focused on customers solutions in the areas of: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Workforce transformation, End-User-Computing (EUC) Lifecycle Management, Modern Device Management, and Cybersecurity.
Disclaimer: I work for Dell Technology Services as a Workforce Transformation Solutions Principal. It is my passion to help guide organizations through the current technology transition specifically as it relates to Workforce Transformation. Visit Dell Technologies site for more information. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.
The trend for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has been the cause of a range of issues for companies and employees alike. A recent survey uncovered some startling facts about BYOD and the approaches people are using with regards to managing, or not managing, personal devices in the workplace. Although more than 70% of people…
Good quick summary chart from Microsoft on the Windows 10 features by version.. Windows 10 Enterprise will come with key features for enterprises, including Direct Access, AppLocker, BranchCache, and Start Screen Control with Group Policy. However, Windows 10 Pro also comes business-ready features, like Domain Join, Bitlocker, Enterprise Mode Intenret Explorer, Assigned Access 8.1, and…
This article is part of the Digital Art Series Anyone can create a piece of Digital Art! let me give you an example: YOU HAVE CREATED A DIGITAL ART PIECE!!!! You can follow the same steps with a graphics program , and draw a line, dots, curved lines , colors, ANYTHING! YOUR IMAGINATION IS THE LIMIT!…
As I go around customers talking about Modern Provisioning, a common questions during the session is: What do I need to give Windows Autopilot a try? How do I test it? What are the requirements? How do I get started? You can take Windows Autopilot for a test drive with little effort and no need…
Windows 7 End of Extended Support date: January 14, 2020 : Days Remaining to migrate your PC fleet: Total Calendar Days: 569 / Business Days: <395 Call to Action: Ask your customers: How are you doing with your Windows 10 adoption ? Will you be fully migrated by the end of 2019? Effectively it is less than 18…
Originally published for Averro.com blog. As we discussed in our initial article of the series, Cloud Services 101: The Basics, the cloud services can be categorized into three areas, Infrastructure, Platform or Application related. In part 2 of the series (Cloud Services 101: Big Players in the Field) we touched up on some of the…