Just a moment ago, I published an article about how to have privacy in Windows 10 using Windows Privacy Dashboard. But what happens when the goal is to go further? I mean performing optimizations or restoring blocked functions. Despite its advances, Microsoft's operating systems still need a lot of help. And that's when utilities like Optimizer come into play, combining multiple low-level tweaks in a very comfortable interface.
The phrase if it isn't broken, don't fix it is perfectly valid... until it isn't. Everything breaks sooner or later, and among Windows operating systems, deterioration can be progressive or immediate. Thus arises the concept of preventive maintenance, and the need to learn how to optimize Windows with the exact tweaks.
Personally, I have always defended a manual approach for these details. Control is superior, and with a good amount of prior information, the chance of causing damage is lower. But at the same time, I understand that it is... tedious. There are no magic solutions, however, a well-made program can make a huge difference. The latest build of the open source program Optimizer aims in that direction.
Optimizer: How to Optimize Windows in a Couple of Clicks
The Optimizer interface has nine categories, but seven of them focus on the operating system. 'Universal' contains high-profile tweaks, including disabling Windows Defender, Superfetch, System Restore, and blocking ads in Skype. The Windows 10 section allows you to uninstall OneDrive, disable Xbox Live and the Game Bar, cut off updates, and restore the 'old' volume control.
The dedicated universal apps menu requires you to research the meaning of each entry before uninstalling.
The 'cleaner' reaches logs, cache, temporary folders, and the recycle bin.
'Startup' lets you remove programs that load at startup, and 'Registry' recovers access to tools like the Registry Editor and Task Manager.
Optimizer received its update to version 4.5 three days ago, and if you wish to explore its code, you can download it along with the binary from its official GitHub page. Its execution is portable, and it is compatible with Windows 7 and later, but it requires .NET Framework 4.5.2.
