{"id":1217,"date":"2018-05-24T10:57:01","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T17:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moderneuc.com\/?p=1217"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:02:31","slug":"windows-10-generic-image-no-bloatware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/windows-10-generic-image-no-bloatware\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows 10 Generic Image \/ No Bloatware"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With the popularity of Modern Device Provisioning using\u00a0 Windows Autopilot or AirWatch, using a “Generic Image”\u00a0 (Microsoft OS without OEM added-value software added) as the baseline OS is a very common practice.<\/p>\n

I have been asked multiple times if a generic image (ISO from Microsoft) contains any bloatware.\u00a0 – The short answer is NO.\u00a0\u00a0 It is the OS version as published by Microsoft. Let me explain further.<\/p>\n

Bloatware and Windows Bundled-Apps<\/strong><\/p>\n

Customers that have been getting the standard OEM loaded OS receives PC manufacturer specific trialware and other bundled software, commonly referred as bloatware.<\/p>\n

By definition, bloatware is referred to any unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer.\u00a0 This could be trialware, utilities, adware, and such, which is not originally included in the Microsoft Operating System ISO file.<\/p>\n

Microsoft changed the game a little, when they introduced “bundled-apps” into Windows 10 published OS.\u00a0\u00a0 Although these apps were not introduced by the manufactures,\u00a0 many people\u00a0 have called these bloatware as well.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Apps that can be removed<\/strong><\/th>\nApps that can not be removed<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
3D Builder\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alarms and Clock<\/p>\n

Bubble Witch 3 Saga<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calculator<\/p>\n

Calendar and Mail<\/p>\n

Camera<\/p>\n

Candy Crush Soda Saga<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get Office<\/p>\n

Get Skype<\/p>\n

Get Started<\/p>\n

Groove Music<\/p>\n

Maps<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

March of Empires<\/strong><\/p>\n

Microsoft Solitaire Collection<\/p>\n

Minecraft<\/strong><\/p>\n

Money<\/p>\n

Movies & TV<\/p>\n

News<\/p>\n

OneNote<\/p>\n

People<\/p>\n

Phone Companion<\/p>\n

Photos<\/p>\n

Royal Revolt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Store<\/p>\n

Sports<\/p>\n

Voice Recorder<\/p>\n

Weather<\/p>\n

Xbox<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Contact Support\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cortana<\/p>\n

Windows Feedback<\/p>\n

Microsoft Edge<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Most OEMs have the capability to ship devices with the “Generic” Windows 10 ISO\u00a0 version.\u00a0 In Microsoft’s case:, for their Surface devices they call it\u00a0 Signature Edition.\u00a0 \u00a0OEMs\u00a0 have different names.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Removing Bundled Apps <\/strong><\/p>\n

For obvious reasons, businesses and enterprises do not want to include these kinds of apps when they provide Windows PCs to their end-users.<\/p>\n

There are two ways of removing\u00a0 (for those apps that can be removed) Microsoft’s pre-installed \/ bundled OS applications:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Reset Windows 10 – using the\u00a0 Refresh Tool (also known as Start Fresh) in Windows 10\u00a0 settings options.<\/li>\n
  2. Use a PowerShell Script\u00a0\u00a0 to remove them<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Both of these options can be called as part of the device provisioning process\u00a0 (either called via Intune, script or\u00a0 task sequence)<\/p>\n

    Screenshot of Freshly Installed Windows 10 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Below is an screenshot of a freshly installed Windows 10 Pro created with the Win10 v1803\u00a0 ISO – You can clearly see the “bundled apps” Microsoft has allowed.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    Resources:<\/strong><\/h4>\n