Windows 8.1 Keeps restoring Metro apps

[FN-GM]

Hi,

 

I have setup the Windows start screen using the group policy stuff. Works pretty well for the start screen. But all on all apps the metro apps I previously removed keep coming back. I have disabled the Windows store on both user and computer GPO. Does anyone know how I can stop these pesky apps returning please?

 

Thanks

 

 

[AngryTechnician]

The apps you're seeing there are baked into the base image, so disabling the store makes no difference as they are already there. You can remove them using DISM.

 

First, run Dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages to get a list of the baked in apps.

 

Then for each one, run a command like this:

 

Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

 

Same commands work for offline mounted images too, so you can strip them out of the .wim before deploying it.

[FN-GM]

Argh!! Removed them from the image and they come back after sysprep!

[smidsy]

I used the power shell script on the web page below just before running sysprep on my reference machine and I haven't had any of the Metro apps appear yet ....

 

Removing Windows 8.1 Built-in Applications - The Deployment Guys - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

[FN-GM]

I used this and they re-appear, annoying! Any ideas why please? I also did the same things as a Task Sequence step and it doesn't work. Annoying.

 

Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFoodAndDrink_2013.820.258.2561_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness_2013.813.243.3760_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingNews_2013.809.636.2800_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingSports_2013.809.637.2803_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingTravel_2013.809.639.25_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingWeather_2013.809.641.3233_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.Reader_2013.822.1823.785_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.SkypeApp_2013.805.1159.2246_neutral_~_kzf8qxf38zg5c
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2013.822.1841.1043_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsReadingList_2013.822.1837.5741_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_2013.808.1749.4769_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_2013.809.1658.2765_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2013.809.1659.3015_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsScan_2013.822.1832.4879_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_2013.822.1835.2133_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2013.822.1740.2836_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Edited April 3, 2014 by FN-GM

[DMcCoy]

Remove them from the offline install.wim, *then* install the base image from that.

[FN-GM]

How would one do that please?

[DMcCoy]

An example, W8 folder has the install.wim file from install iso.

W8I is just a folder used for mounting the image

 

dism.exe /Mount-wim /Wimfile:C:\W8\Install.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:\W8I

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingFoodAndDrink_2013.820.258.2561_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness_2013.813.243.3760_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingMaps_2013.809.2206.5385_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingNews_2013.809.636.2800_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingSports_2013.809.637.2803_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingTravel_2013.809.639.25_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.BingWeather_2013.809.641.3233_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.HelpAndTips_2013.822.1812.1279_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.Reader_2013.822.1823.785_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.SkypeApp_2013.805.1159.2246_neutral_~_kzf8qxf38zg5c

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsReadingList_2013.822.1837.5741_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2013.822.1740.2836_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_2013.808.1749.4769_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneMusic_2013.809.1658.2765_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2013.809.1659.3015_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2013.822.1841.1043_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_2013.822.1828.2633_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsScan_2013.822.1832.4879_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-Provisionedappxpackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_2013.822.1835.2133_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Dism.exe /Unmount-Image /MountDir:c:\W8I /Commit

 

you can just replace the install.wim on a bootable usb stick with the modified one and install from that (or use with wds/mdt as an install image).

 

You can also edit the default file associations on a machine and import that into the offline wim.

[FN-GM]

You can also edit the default file associations on a machine and import that into the offline wim.

 

What is the command for that please? That would be great!

[DMcCoy]

From a machine that is how you want: DISM.exe /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociation:C:\W8\Apps.xml

before unmounting in the above image instructions: Dism.exe /Image:c:\W8I /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\W8\Apps.xml

 

.gif is broken in default windows associations for windows photo viewer, you can do it manually for that one type if you want (find a gif, always open with, find windows photo viewer on the list).

[FN-GM]

Hi,

 

I have mounted to image to C:\W8I fine.

 

When I run Dism /Image:c:\W8I /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagename:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe I get this error

 

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.1.7600.16385

 

 

Error: 2

 

Unable to access the image.

Make sure that the image path and the Windows directory for the image exist and

you have Read permissions on the folder.

 

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

 

In the log I get this

 

2014-04-04 11:06:25, Error DISM DISM.EXE: Failed to access the image folder or image's windows folder.

 

Everyone has permission to edit the folder and this is being run through an elevated command prompt. Any ideas please?

[DMcCoy]

Is the image the install.wim from the Windows iso? editing a captured image may have a different number of partitions, so the mount index may be different. This is for editing the original install media, so that you can install a fresh image to capture with the apps removed already.

[FN-GM]

its a .wim I see, do I need to /index:2 ?

[Arthur]

The PowerShell script below will automatically remove all of the built-in apps for every image within a WIM file. It uses the native Windows 8 cmdlets like Get-WindowsImage instead of DISM since finding out how many images are contained within each WIM is much easier.

 

After Windows 8.1/8.1 Update has been installed, your Start Screen will look like this...

 

 

#Requires –Version 4
#Requires -RunAsAdministrator
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

$Image       = "$PSScriptRoot\install.wim"
$MountFolder = "$PSScriptRoot\Mount"

# Delete mount folder (if it already exists)
try 
{
   if (Test-Path -path $MountFolder) { Remove-Item -Path $MountFolder -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop }
}
catch
{
   Write-Warning "$($_.Exception.Message)"
   Get-WindowsImage -Mounted | Dismount-WindowsImage -Discard -LogLevel 2 | Out-Null
   Break
}

# Create new mount folder
if (!(Test-Path -path $MountFolder)) { 
   New-Item $MountFolder -Type Directory -Force | Out-Null 
}

# Remove built-in apps
Get-WindowsImage -ImagePath $Image | Select-Object -ExpandProperty ImageIndex | ForEach {

   Write-Output "Mounting image (Index: $_)`n"
   Mount-WindowsImage -ImagePath $Image -Path $MountFolder -Index $_ | Out-Null

   Write-Output "Removing built-in apps (Index: $_)`n"
   Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Path $MountFolder | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage | Out-Null

   Write-Output "Unmounting image and saving changes (Index: $_)`n"
   Get-WindowsImage -Mounted | Dismount-WindowsImage -Save -LogLevel 2 | Out-Null
}

 

Save the script into a folder along with your install.wim file and then run it from an elevated PowerShell ISE or prompt.

[FN-GM]

Thanks Arthur, I will try the other way first so I know what I am removing.

 

Got an issue with the other way, now I have mounted partition 2 I get this error running the remove command

 

Dism /Image:C:\W8MI /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /Packagen

ame:Microsoft.BingFinance_2013.809.632.3676_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

 

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.3.9600.16384

 

Image Version: 6.3.9600.16384

 

 

Error: 2

 

The system cannot find the file specified.

 

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

 

My log is attached. Struggling to pin this one down Any help will be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Log.txt

[FN-GM]

Actually, this error is coming up because the apps are already removed from the image, so it brings me back to the question as why they keep returning.

[JamesA]

I'm investigating something else at the moment (removing the Camera, Skydrive and Photos apps) but found some information on this blog that you might find useful: Windows 8.1 latent apps | Confidential Files!

[FN-GM]

Thanks, the issue it have removed them, they are not in my image but come back after the imaging process has completed. Annoying I must say!

[beany1]

Not sure if i've misunderstood, but when I'm creating my reference image I run in admin powershell:

 

Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –online

 

followed by:

 

Get-AppXPackage | Remove-AppxPackage

 

This literally removes every app, baring camera, photos and IE. Once I sysprep and capture the image...the apps don't come back... hope this helps!

[JamesA]

Thanks, the issue it have removed them, they are not in my image but come back after the imaging process has completed. Annoying I must say!

 

Are they coming back from the hidden C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folder? You can see the contents using an elevated command prompt without having to change the permissions. I wonder what happens if you delete the apps from there if they still exist after 'removing' them using PowerShell or DISM.

[FN-GM]

I might try that, but i have a feeling it will kick up a fuss.

[Arthur]

FWIW, my Windows image (modified using the method described in post #14) doesn't contain any apps in the "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" folder.

 

[FN-GM]

Thanks, tried to delete them with the image mounted, had issues. @Arthur how did you open that WIM in 7-zip please? Cheers

[Arthur]

how did you open that WIM in 7-zip please?

Right-click .wim, go to 7-Zip menu and select "Open archive".

 

7-Zip has been able to open WIM files since 2007.

[FN-GM]

Weird, won't let me do it.