Windows 10 LTSB 2017

[win]

After a bit of research it's a search box that replaces cortana when it's disabled. It appears when users click on 'Cortana' in the start menu.

 

Solution i guess is to either disable this search box, or remove cortana in the start menu - both are eluding me!

[Roberto]

What are you actually trying to achieve here? The non-cortana black search box is what lets you type, e.g. ‘word’ and have that appear as a shortcut to launching word quickly instead of having to click all the time. Is there an issue with that? its what ours are set to use and I hope I haven’t missed an issue with it!

[Fazza]

What are you actually trying to achieve here? The non-cortana black search box is what lets you type, e.g. ‘word’ and have that appear as a shortcut to launching word quickly instead of having to click all the time. Is there an issue with that? its what ours are set to use and I hope I haven’t missed an issue with it!

 

Good question, I've been asking around and we cant think of a reason to disable Cortana or the search that replaces it.

 

The only thing we have configured in the past (For Windows 8.x) is that the search doesnt search the internet so if a student searches for Word for example it will just show them the Word program and not a load of nonsense from the Internet.

[win]

it's to reduce the number of launch pads (like the run box) for various programs and browsing network shares. Powershell etc is blocked but something might be missed out. If it hasn't caused others any issues then i'll just leave it there

[mavhc]

it's to reduce the number of launch pads (like the run box) for various programs and browsing network shares. Powershell etc is blocked but something might be missed out. If it hasn't caused others any issues then i'll just leave it there

 

Better to spend your time securing the system, otherwise anyone in the building with their own computer and an ethernet cable can probably hack you

[Homer]

There wont be very frequent updates of the LTSB versions as that was one of the ideas behind it.

 

What bloat are you trying to remove? If you mean default windows apps you don't want to have in your build then you can use the following powershell script to remove the ones you want to remove:

 

# Get a list of all apps
$AppArrayList = Get-AppxPackage -PackageTypeFilter Bundle | Select-Object -Property Name, PackageFullName | Sort-Object -Property Name

# Loop through the list of apps
foreach ($App in $AppArrayList) {
   # Exclude essential Windows apps
   if (($App.Name -in "Microsoft.WindowsCalculator","Microsoft.WindowsStore","Microsoft.Appconnector","Microsoft.WindowsCommunicationsApps","Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder")) {
       Write-Output -InputObject "Skipping essential Windows app: $($App.Name)"
   }
   # Remove AppxPackage and AppxProvisioningPackage
   else {
       # Gather package names
       $AppPackageFullName = Get-AppxPackage -Name $App.Name | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageFullName
       $AppProvisioningPackageName = Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like $App.Name } | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageName
       # Attempt to remove AppxPackage
       try {
           Write-Output -InputObject "Removing AppxPackage: $AppPackageFullName"
           Remove-AppxPackage -Package $AppPackageFullName -ErrorAction Stop
       }
       catch [system.Exception] {
           Write-Warning -Message $_.Exception.Message
       }
       # Attempt to remove AppxProvisioningPackage
       try {
           Write-Output -InputObject "Removing AppxProvisioningPackage: $AppProvisioningPackageName"
           Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -PackageName $AppProvisioningPackageName -Online -ErrorAction Stop
       }
       catch [system.Exception] {
           Write-Warning -Message $_.Exception.Message
       }
   }
}

 

Add or remove the relavent apps in the # Exclude essential Windows apps sections and bobs your uncle! We run this as part of an SCCM task sequence when we deploy a new Golden Image and it works a treat

 

Hi @Fazza where in the TS do you put this? I've tried using something different with no luck it doesn't seem to run from the TS (the Unbloat scripts)

 

Cheers

[Fazza]

Hi @Fazza where in the TS do you put this? I've tried using something different with no luck it doesn't seem to run from the TS (the Unbloat scripts)

 

Cheers

 

It's a bit weird - you have to create a program but only put the path in it and not the actual script! I'll pop up some screenshots in a bit as I'm just eating some pie and mash

[Fazza]

Pie and Mash eaten so here we go!

 

First of all save your script in a folder where you normally save programs for use with SCCM.

 

Then you need to create a Package pointing to the location the script is stored but do not associate the script with the Package. Instead choose the do not create a program option as shown here:

 

 

Your package should look something like this:

 

 

Then you add 'Run PowerShell Script' to the Task Sequence like this:

 

 

Hope that all makes sense.

 

[Homer]

Cheers @Fazza I tried that with the script I'm using now but it didn't work so I'll try yours! Thank you ^_^

[Homer]

Hi @Fazza it worked... according to SCCM. But when logged in all of the stupid bumf is still there. If I run the script elevated when logged in, it then disappears. I'm guessing the script needs to run in a logged in environment to work? Though my TS isn't much different to yours.

 

The task sequence execution engine successfully completed the action (Remove Apps) in the group (PostInstall) with exit code 0

Action output: ... e for extension .exe is "%1" %*

Set command line: Run Powershell script

Working dir 'C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Packages\WUT00061'

Executing command line: Run Powershell script

Removing AppxPackage: Microsoft.3DBuilder_13.0.10349.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Removing AppxProvisioningPackage: Microsoft.3DBuilder_13.0.10349.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

 

 

Path :

Online : True

RestartNeeded : False

 

Removing AppxPackage: Microsoft.MSPaint_1.1702.28017.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Removing AppxProvisioningPackage: Microsoft.MSPaint_1.1702.28017.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Path :

Online : True

RestartNeeded : False

 

Skipping essential Windows app: Microsoft.WindowsCalculator

Skipping essential Windows app: Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder

Skipping essential Windows app: Microsoft.WindowsStore

Removing AppxPackage: Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_11.19.19003.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Removing AppxProvisioningPackage: Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_2016.719.1035.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.