Here's Everything I Disable When Buying a New Windows Device

Nearly all new Windows laptops come pre-installed with Windows 11. But with it, you also get a bunch of unnecessary features that can slow down your system, compromise your privacy, or bombard you with annoying notifications. That’s why I tweak a few settings before I start using my new device.

5Save Resources by Disabling Unnecessary Apps

Your brand-new computer might feel fast at first, but it can slowly get sluggish if you don’t turn off certain apps and services running in the background. These could be pre-installed programs from the manufacturer or unnecessary Windows services that eat up system resources. Disabling or even deleting them can help your computer run faster.

To stop these apps from slowing things down, click the Start button and open "Task Manager." There, you can click on the top of the Memory, CPU, GPU, and Disk columns to sort and see which apps use the most resources. Before turning anything off or removing an app, research the process online to understand what the process entails.

If the process isn’t tied to a core system function, it’s safe to disable it. Right-click on it and select 'Disable'. If it’s part of an app you don’t need, uninstall the app.

To reiterate, you should avoid turning off any process or service that's crucial to Windows, as doing so could lead to serious problems and prevent your system from running properly.

4Turn Off Extra Visual Effects

Windows comes with several visual effects, such as fading and sliding animations, shadows under windows, and smooth transitions when opening or closing apps. These make the interface look more polished and modern. But, they also put extra load on your CPU and GPU, which can slow down your system, especially on lower-end machines.

For this reason, I prefer to turn them off. To disable visual effects, right-click the Start menu and go to System > About. Then, click on "Advanced System Settings." Under the "Advanced" tab, click the "Settings" button in the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window that opens, you can either choose "Adjust for Best Performance" to turn off all effects or select "Custom" to disable only the ones you don’t want.

3Get Rid of Annoying Pop-Ups and Suggestions

By default, Windows shows pop-up notifications with tips, suggestions, and feature updates to help improve our experience. While these might occasionally be useful, I find them distracting. That’s why I turn them off. It makes working on the PC less annoying, while also slightly speeding up the login process and reducing background activity.

To reduce annoying pop-ups and suggestions, right-click the Start button, open the "Settings" app, and navigate to System > Notifications. Then, scroll down and expand the "Additional Settings" section. Uncheck any options you don’t find helpful. You’ll also see a list of apps that can send notifications—if any of them feel unnecessary or annoying, switch their toggle off.

2Change Your Privacy Settings

Did you know that Windows collects data about how you use your device, including your location, the apps you use, and your interaction with Windows services? While some features, such as location tracking, can be helpful for apps like Weather, Maps, or the Microsoft Store, others may feel intrusive.

That’s why one of the first things I do when setting up a new computer is tweak the privacy settings. To reduce the amount of data sent to Microsoft, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Diagnostics & Feedback and adjust the options to suit your preferences.

Next, go to the “General” tab and turn off the option that allows apps to use your advertising ID for personalized ads.

You should also review app permissions to manage access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and other sensitive data, and disable unnecessary permissions.

1Turn Off Clipboard History

Windows 10 and 11 come with a feature called Clipboard History, which saves everything you copy—whether it’s text, images, or links—so you can easily access them later. While this feature can be helpful, it also comes with privacy concerns. If you share your device with others, they might be able to see sensitive information you've copied.

That’s why I prefer to keep it turned off. To disable Clipboard History, right-click on the Start button and open the "Settings" app. Then, go to System > Clipboard, and switch off the toggle next to "Clipboard history." This helps prevent your copied content from being stored on the device, but keep in mind that you’ll lose the ability to access your clipboard history.

Alternatively, you can keep the feature on for convenience while you're using your device, and then clear the clipboard history and disable this feature before handing it over to someone else.

---

Setting up a new Windows PC is more than just creating an account and logging in. To keep your system running smoothly, protect your privacy, and cut down on annoying pop-ups and notifications, you’ll need to adjust a few key settings. Making these changes improves my experience, and if you’ve just bought a new device—or plan to— consider doing the same.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/everything-i-disable-when-buying-a-new-windows-device/

Windows 10’s Last Stand: Do This Before Support Ends

You Need This Hack If You Want a Faster, Cleaner Windows 11

Tired of bloatware slowing down Windows? There's a lot of performance on the table once your Windows installation isn't being bogged down by bloatware, additional apps, and features you don't need. Thankfully, the fix is simple.

Windows Is More Bloated Than You Think

You might not see it at first glance, but Windows is full of small tools and programs that you might never end up using, especially when we consider laptops. Manufacturers often load up factory Windows installations on laptops with bloatware from their partners for some extra cash. This includes antivirus programs, system control utilities, browsers, and all sorts of different programs you don't need.

Among all this bloat, what you really need to look at are the system control utilities that the manufacturer installs to control your PC's fans, power modes, keyboard backlighting, and any other features. These tools are also often performance hogs and will eat up your memory in the background. Depending on your PC manufacturer, you should be able to find third-party options that are better optimized and don't consume as many resources in the background.

Regardless, removing bloatware is one of the first things you should do when setting up your new PC. Thankfully, there are ways you can easily strip your installation of Windows 11 clean.

This App Lets You Remove Bloat Easily

If you want to run Windows 11 without bloatware and the strict hardware requirements imposed by Microsoft, you can try using Tiny11—a stripped-down version of Windows without unnecessary apps, including Microsoft Edge. However, if a complete reinstallation is too much of a hassle, FreeTimeTech's Windows 11 Debloater tool is a great solution.

The tool is a collection of PowerShell scripts that disable or enable specific Windows apps, features, and performance enhancements with a single click. The program shows you a summary of what each script will do before you run it, and you can edit the scripts to your liking if you want custom changes.

For ease of use, Windows 11 Debloater is divided into three sections:

• EZ Debloater: Includes buttons for simple Windows tweaks like disabling Cortana or OneDrive, stopping Edge from automatically taking over PDFs, enabling clipboard history, and more.
• Advanced Debloater: Includes options for basic fine-tuning for your device. You also get predefined selections for desktops, laptops, a setting for minimal changes, and even for virtual machines.
• Fine-Tuning Debloater: As the name suggests, this is the most powerful section in the program, with options to install or uninstall various system tools, third-party apps like browsers and communication tools, privacy controls, Windows system settings, security options, and more.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

The best part about Windows 11 Debloater is its ease of use. You don't have to know everything about Windows to start using it. In the Advanced Debloater section, you can choose the best predefined option according to your needs or use the EZ Debloater to enable or disable specific functionality on your PC. There's even a one-click debloat preset that removes most bloatware from your system in one click.

Fine-Tuning Debloater might seem intimidating at first glance, just by the sheer number of options it has. If you're unsure of what a specific script in the program does, just hover over the radio button for a moment, and a tooltip explaining the option will pop up.

Once you've selected all desired options, head over to the Output subsection, click the Output PowerShell button to see the script, then click the Run PowerShell button to run the script. You can also create custom PowerShell scripts that remember your settings and can quickly replicate them on any Windows 11 system.

I use Windows 11 Debloater on all my Windows systems to uninstall OneDrive and disable various Windows tracking features like Telemetry, Wi-Fi Sense, Activity History, and Location Tracking. On a new installation, I also use the tool to quickly enable dark mode and install Firefox, Discord, several Dot Net runtimes, PowerToys, Git, Python, and some other development tools I use.

It won't install everything you need, and you'll still have to set up your PC the way you like and install any programs not included in the installation scripts. However, the program is an excellent way of quickly getting rid of bloatware and invasive privacy settings, as well as installing a set of starter applications to get your Windows 11 installation up and running in no time.

Debloating Windows Helps Keep Your Data Secure

Debloating Windows will do more than just speed up your PC. It can also help keep your data secure. Removing unnecessary pre-installed apps and features reduces the chances of malware exploiting a vulnerability to get onto your system. Windows 11 Debloater also features a Windows Security Updates Only option that ensures you get the latest security updates without any other disturbances to your system.




Windows features like Telemetry collect your data and share it with third parties. While there are benefits to letting Windows invade your privacy, getting rid of unnecessary apps and features is by far the easiest way to keep your data safe if you want a bulletproof Windows installation.

So, if you're still using the bloated and slow version of Windows that came with your PC, it's time to take control and free up all that locked performance. You'll be surprised by the results.

Source: https://www.makeuseof.com/you-need-hack-faster-windows-11/

You can download it here also: https://freetimetech.com/windows-11-debloater-tool-debloat-gui/

God Mode gives you instant access to your favorite Windows setting, and here's how to use it

On Windows 11, most of your PC's settings can be accessed through the aptly named Settings app. Microsoft has been transitioning options to this app for years now, and progress has been slow and steady. But what if you wanted even faster acces to all the in-depth settings of Windows? Well, God Mode is for you.

God Mode is a (clearly exaggerated) term for a folder that contains links to all kinds of system settings directly on your desktop (or wherever you choose to create it). Despite its intimidating name, God Mode is very easy to set up, and there's almost no risk to it, aside from making important settings easily accessible. 

1-How to create a God Mode folder in Windows 11Create a new folder on your desktop. To do this, right-click an empty area of the desktop, hover over New, and then choose Folder.

2-Name the folder GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. If you've already created the folder with a different name, right-click the folder and choose Rename to change it.

3-Once you hit Enter after changing the name, that name will disappear, and the icon should change into a Control Panel icon.

4-You can now open the folder to access all the settings inside. You'll find settings for everything from AutoPlay, user accounts, disk optimization, and so on. There are a total of 207 items on our PC, but that can vary depending on what version of Windows you're running and the kind of device you have.

5-Because it's a standard folder, you can also easily copy settings shortcuts directly onto your desktop for even quicker access. Simply drag and drop the setting you want, and it'll be accessible directly on the desktop.

If you find that having all of those options on the desktop isn't useful for you, you can simply delete the God Mode folder to get rid of it. All the options will continue to be available through the usual means; you're only deleting shortcuts.

Why use God Mode?

If you want to access some of the old-school settings in Windows 11, God Mode is the easiest way to do it, and you even have the option to put some of these settings directly on the desktop if you really need them as quickly as possible. Many settings are now hidden behind complex navigation and different pages, so having a folder with everything laid out right there and then can be very helpful.

Of course, as Microsoft moves more and more options away from Control Panel, it's possible that God Mode will become that much less useful, but for now, there's still a lot you can do with it. It's an especially great tool if you've been using Windows for a long time and don't want to learn new ways of doing things.

Source: God Mode gives you instant access to your favorite Windows setting, and here's how to use it

Are You Tired Of Windows Spying On You?

How To Make Windows 11 Work Way Better

5 Windows Hacks You Didn't Know! (Hidden Features & Commands)

You Need These 5 Apps For Windows 11

 

How to Make Windows 10 Accept File Paths Over 260 Characters

Windows Doesn't Accept Long Paths by Default

Before Windows 95, Windows only allowed file names that were eight characters long, with a three-character file extension — commonly known as an 8.3 filename. Windows 95 abandoned that to allow long file names, but still limited the maximum path length (which includes the full folder path and the file name) to 260 characters. That limit has been in place ever since. If you've ever run into this limit, it was probably when you were trying to copy deep folder structures into other folders, such as when copying the contents of a hard drive to a folder on another drive. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update finally added the option to abandon that maximum path length.

There is one caveat. This new setting won't necessarily work with every application out there, but it will work with most. Specifically, any modern applications should be fine, as should all 64-bit applications. Older 32-bit applications need to be manifested in order to work, which really just means that the developer has indicated in the application's manifest file that the application supports longer paths. Most popular 32-bit apps should experience no problem. Still, you don't risk anything by trying the setting out. If an application doesn't work, the only thing that will happen is that it won't be able to open or save files that are saved in places where the full path exceeds 260 characters.
Home Users: Remove the 260 Character Path Limit by Editing the Registry

If you have a Windows Home edition, you will have to edit the Windows Registry to make these changes. You can also do it this way if you have Windows Pro or Enterprise, but feel more comfortable working in the Registry than Group Policy Editor. (If you have Pro or Enterprise, though, we recommend using the easier Group Policy Editor, as described in the next section.)

Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it can render your system unstable or even inoperable. This is a pretty simple hack and as long as you stick to the instructions, you shouldn't have any problems. That said, if you've never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely back up the Registry (and your computer!) before making changes.

To get started, open the Registry Editor by hitting Start and typing "regedit." Press Enter to open Registry Editor and give it permission to make changes to your PC.
Click "Open" or hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

The FileSystem Key

On the right, find a value named LongPathsEnabled and double-click it. If you don't see the value listed, you'll need to create it by right-clicking the FileSystem key, choosing New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and then naming the new value LongPathsEnabled.
Double-click the "LongPathsEnabled" DWORD.

In the value's properties window, change the value from 0 to 1 in the "Value data" box and then click OK.
Set the value to "1"

You can now close Registry Editor and restart your computer (or sign out of your account and sign back on). If you ever want to reverse the changes, just head back to the LongPathsEnabled value, and change it from 1 back to 0.
Download Our One-Click Registry Hack
Two REG files. One enables file paths greater than 260 characters, the other restores the default Windows limitation.

If you don't feel like diving into the Registry yourself, we've created two downloadable registry hacks you can use. One hack removes the 260-character path limit, and the other hack restores the default limit. Both are included in the following ZIP file. Double-click the one you want to use, click through the prompts, and then restart your computer.

Long Path Names Hacks

These hacks are really just the FileSystem key, stripped down to the LongPathsEnabled value we described above, and then exported to a .REG file. Running the "Remove 260 Character Path Limit" hack sets the LongPathsEnabled value to 1. Running the "Restore 260 Character Path Limit (Default)" hack sets the value back to 0. And if you enjoy fiddling with the Registry, it's worth taking the time to learn how to make your own Registry hacks.
Pro and Enterprise Users: Remove the 260 Character Path Limit with the Local Group Policy Editor

If you're using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, the easiest way to disable the new app install notifications is by using the Local Group Policy Editor. It's a pretty powerful tool, so if you've never used it before, it's worth taking some time to learn what it can do. Also, if you're on a company network, do everyone a favor and check with your admin first. If your work computer is part of a domain, it's also likely that it's part of a domain group policy that will supersede the local group policy, anyway.

In Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, hit Start, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Search "gpedit.msc" in the Start Menu search, then click "Edit Group Policy."

In the Local Group Policy Editor, in the left-hand pane, drill down to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem. On the right, find the "Enable win32 long paths" item and double-click it.
Navigate to "FileSystem" in the Local Group Policy Editor, then double-click "Enable Win32 Long Paths."

Select the "Enabled" option and then click "OK" in the properties window that opens.
Click "Enabled," then click "OK."

You can now exit the Local Group Policy Editor and restart your computer (or sign out and back in) to allow the changes to take effect. If at any time you want to reverse the changes, just follow the same procedure and set that option back to "Disabled" or "Not Configured."

The maximum path limit may not be something you've ever run into, but for some people, it can certainly be the occasional frustration. Windows 10 has finally added the ability to remove that limit. You just have to make a quick change to the Registry or Group Policy to make it happen.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/266621/how-to-make-windows-10-accept-file-paths-over-260-characters/

How to Make Windows 10 Accept File Paths Over 260 Characters

 

Windows Doesn't Accept Long Paths by Default

Before Windows 95, Windows only allowed file names that were eight characters long, with a three-character file extension — commonly known as an 8.3 filename. Windows 95 abandoned that to allow long file names, but still limited the maximum path length (which includes the full folder path and the file name) to 260 characters. That limit has been in place ever since. If you've ever run into this limit, it was probably when you were trying to copy deep folder structures into other folders, such as when copying the contents of a hard drive to a folder on another drive. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update finally added the option to abandon that maximum path length.

There is one caveat. This new setting won't necessarily work with every application out there, but it will work with most. Specifically, any modern applications should be fine, as should all 64-bit applications. Older 32-bit applications need to be manifested in order to work, which really just means that the developer has indicated in the application's manifest file that the application supports longer paths. Most popular 32-bit apps should experience no problem. Still, you don't risk anything by trying the setting out. If an application doesn't work, the only thing that will happen is that it won't be able to open or save files that are saved in places where the full path exceeds 260 characters.

Home Users: Remove the 260 Character Path Limit by Editing the Registry

If you have a Windows Home edition, you will have to edit the Windows Registry to make these changes. You can also do it this way if you have Windows Pro or Enterprise, but feel more comfortable working in the Registry than Group Policy Editor. (If you have Pro or Enterprise, though, we recommend using the easier Group Policy Editor, as described in the next section.)

Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it can render your system unstable or even inoperable. This is a pretty simple hack and as long as you stick to the instructions, you shouldn't have any problems. That said, if you've never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely back up the Registry (and your computer!) before making changes.

To get started, open the Registry Editor by hitting Start and typing "regedit." Press Enter to open Registry Editor and give it permission to make changes to your PC.

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

On the right, find a value named LongPathsEnabled and double-click it. If you don't see the value listed, you'll need to create it by right-clicking the FileSystem key, choosing New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and then naming the new value LongPathsEnabled.

In the value's properties window, change the value from 0 to 1 in the "Value data" box and then click OK.

You can now close Registry Editor and restart your computer (or sign out of your account and sign back on). If you ever want to reverse the changes, just head back to the LongPathsEnabled value, and change it from 1 back to 0.

Download Our One-Click Registry Hack

If you don't feel like diving into the Registry yourself, we've created two downloadable registry hacks you can use. One hack removes the 260-character path limit, and the other hack restores the default limit. Both are included in the following ZIP file. Double-click the one you want to use, click through the prompts, and then restart your computer.

Long Path Names Hacks

These hacks are really just the FileSystem key, stripped down to the LongPathsEnabled value we described above, and then exported to a .REG file. Running the "Remove 260 Character Path Limit" hack sets the LongPathsEnabled value to 1. Running the "Restore 260 Character Path Limit (Default)" hack sets the value back to 0. And if you enjoy fiddling with the Registry, it's worth taking the time to learn how to make your own Registry hacks.

Pro and Enterprise Users: Remove the 260 Character Path Limit with the Local Group Policy Editor

If you're using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, the easiest way to disable the new app install notifications is by using the Local Group Policy Editor. It's a pretty powerful tool, so if you've never used it before, it's worth taking some time to learn what it can do. Also, if you're on a company network, do everyone a favor and check with your admin first. If your work computer is part of a domain, it's also likely that it's part of a domain group policy that will supersede the local group policy, anyway.

In Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, hit Start, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

In the Local Group Policy Editor, in the left-hand pane, drill down to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem. On the right, find the "Enable win32 long paths" item and double-click it.

Select the "Enabled" option and then click "OK" in the properties window that opens.

You can now exit the Local Group Policy Editor and restart your computer (or sign out and back in) to allow the changes to take effect. If at any time you want to reverse the changes, just follow the same procedure and set that option back to "Disabled" or "Not Configured."

The maximum path limit may not be something you've ever run into, but for some people, it can certainly be the occasional frustration. Windows 10 has finally added the ability to remove that limit. You just have to make a quick change to the Registry or Group Policy to make it happen.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/266621/how-to-make-windows-10-accept-file-paths-over-260-characters/