Factory Reset Options

[CHiLL]

I am revisiting some Intune laptops that have pre-installed bloatware on them, such as McAfee, ExpressVPN, etc. We were able to remove these previously by running the following command:

factoryreset -cleanpc

This showed a list of apps that it would remove during the factory reset, performed the reset and it worked. However, I've just come to do this again, it showed me the list of apps that it would remove, including McAffee, ExpressVPN, etc...but when it came back after the reset, the apps were still installed and working. When I run the same command again, it doesn't show those apps in the list of apps to remove anymore. Now I don't know how to remove them without reimaging the laptop via a clean USB installer.

 

Does anyone know the best/correct way to remove those apps?

[RobD]

Have you seen this? I've been considering running it post build.

 

https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/4378-windows-10-11-decrapifier

[CHiLL]

Have you seen this? I've been considering running it post build.

 

https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/4378-windows-10-11-decrapifier

I have seen this and other variations in the past, though I don't want to do anything other than remove the non-Microsoft apps built in.

[timbo343]

I am revisiting some Intune laptops that have pre-installed bloatware on them, such as McAfee, ExpressVPN, etc. We were able to remove these previously by running the following command:

factoryreset -cleanpc

This showed a list of apps that it would remove during the factory reset, performed the reset and it worked. However, I've just come to do this again, it showed me the list of apps that it would remove, including McAffee, ExpressVPN, etc...but when it came back after the reset, the apps were still installed and working. When I run the same command again, it doesn't show those apps in the list of apps to remove anymore. Now I don't know how to remove them without reimaging the laptop via a clean USB installer.

 

Does anyone know the best/correct way to remove those apps?

Is there an option to reinstall windows 10 with "English (world)" options at language settings like there is for windows 11?

 

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-clean-install-windows-11/

[CHiLL]

After looking into this again, it looks like the apps were removed, though the place-holders in the start menu weren't. For example, I was able to run the following command:

Get-AppxPackage –Name *mcaf* | Remove-AppxPackage

Normally, if the app was fully installed, that command wouldn't work. because McAfee is a security product, they'd restricted the ability to remove it. Looking at the other apps in the start menu, like Netflix, Booking.com, etc...I was able to right click them and press Uninstall. This is why I think they were just place holders instead of full apps.

 

So maybe the -cleanpc switch did remove it after all. Sometimes I really dislike how obtuse Microsoft and/or OEMs make it to remove stuff, especially if you're managing the device with Intune.