Every program that offers to optimize Windows follows similar paths in one way or another. Most tricks are well known to advanced users, but there are other functions that are relatively complex to implement by hand, and it is very convenient that a tool can simplify each process. That leads us to Dism++, an optimizer much more complete than it appears, despite its broken English and some interface issues.
What's left to optimize in Windows?
What are those critical tasks that the user must carry out to get the most out of their operating system? In recent years we have altered, edited, and modified everything within our reach, but Windows 7 marked a kind of hinge moment in optimizations. With the arrival of solid-state drives, many minor optimizations were absorbed through pure speed, while others became obsolete with the natural evolution of software.
Still, Windows is not perfect in any of its versions; the official forums remain full of unsolved problems (the feedback there is really poor, I must admit), and it needs all our help. Every time we think we know all optimizers, a new one appears, and that's how we end up on the official site of Dism++.
The program was created in the land of the Red Giant of the East, and anyone uncomfortable with that detail has two options: stop now, or see how it went for us. Its main role is to serve as a graphical interface for the well-known DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), but the truth is it goes much further.
Disk Clean and Advanced Options
One of the main sections of Dism++ is Disk Clean, where we will find several options to clean temporary files of different categories, and three very special parameters: CompactOS, an exclusive Windows 10 tool that recovers extra space on small drives (many hybrids with 32 GB SSDs should use this), remove redundancies with the hard-linking function on NTFS, and reduce the size of the always troublesome WinSxS folder.
Personally, I recommend treading carefully when activating these three optimizations. They demand a lot of time, and if the main drive is large enough, their benefits will be minimal.
Uninstalling Apps and System Tweaks
Another very interesting aspect is the section that helps us uninstall the apps that Microsoft adds with its official store. The battles through PowerShell become exhausting very soon, but Dism++ reduces the effort to a couple of clicks (Tip: Don't delete the store. Enter it and disable automatic updates for apps). The Control Panel section offers the possibility to disable Cortana (or reduce its presence to the minimum possible), change the Windows interface (enable transparency, etc.), modify the context menu, block driver updates via Windows Update (assuming the manufacturer has something better), and disable services.
Dism++ is still a powerful optimizer. Now, let's not forget what Uncle Ben told Peter Parker about power and responsibility. Make backups before applying any aggressive change; the idea is not to end up with an operating system out of commission.
