Windows 10 brings a lot of things… things that should be completely optional during installation, and that the vast majority of users do not want on their systems. The only thing Redmond does is justify its position by repeating over and over "Windows as a service", but the concept of a custom installation was buried years ago. As expected, some users have come out to challenge Microsoft with different alternatives, and one of them comes through the user Sixor in the Notebook Review forum, who shared a modified ISO image of Windows 10 Pro, without the bloatware.
One of the most popular terms to describe this unpleasant situation is feature creep. First one feature, then another, and then another… until it gets out of control. Very famous and sought-after programs ended up destroyed at the hands of feature creep, and although Redmond rejects the possibility, the truth is we can see a little of that in Windows 10. Why does it insist on adding an extended reality application when there are no cameras or virtual headsets connected? What sense does it make to see OneDrive stuck like a tick? Who authorized the automatic installation of Candy Crush? Why is there an Xbox bar on our PCs?
Windows 10 Pro NoBloatware Edition
Faced with the storm of complaints, Microsoft adopts the same strategy as other companies: It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. And users… get tired. That fatigue leads to paths that are not entirely legal, including copies of Windows 10 LTSB (without Edge, Cortana, the Store and apps) and custom ISO images like the one shared by user Sixor on the Notebook Review forum.
Logically, downloading Windows 10 Pro without bloatware requires some previous commitments. First, the image is in English, and if you need another language module you will have to get it later. Second, we can only choose Windows 10 Pro from the list of editions, otherwise we will receive the complete bloatware. And third, the modifications break several aspects of the standard menu, so the use of programs like Classic Shell is mandatory. What did it eliminate? In essence, everything that can be deleted with the MSMG Toolkit, whose latest version is always available on the My Digital Life forum (requires an account): Apps, Defender, Media Player, Telemetry, Xbox, and a long list of modules.
If the idea of installing an unknown image doesn't appeal to you much, I definitely recommend downloading Windows 10 Pro from Microsoft's servers and experimenting with MSMG Toolkit on your own. Its learning curve is a bit demanding, and the 'cleaning' process in the image takes quite a while, but once you have the modified ISO, you just need to load it in a virtual environment to check if it works well.
Editor's note: Download MSMG Toolkit only from My Digital Life. Most mirrors store outdated versions that don't work with Windows 10 1803.
