Win 10 (or 8.1 or 11?) mods

Discussion in 'Discussion' started by bphlpt, Jul 13, 2021.

  1. bphlpt

    bphlpt A lowly staff member Staff Member

    Both Trouba and Freezer have worked on mods for Win 8.1 and Win 10. Here are two different builds that I found over at Linus Tech Tips. They were both based on Win 10, but the mods might (?) be able to be used on either Win 8.1 or Win 11.

    I am NOT saying that these releases are necessarily any better than the work by either Freezer or Trouba. Specifically, the first one might not have anything at all new in it. (It was made back in 2017.) It might just serve as confirmation that Trouba and Freezer have used the best tools available. The second one might have a new trick or two and I think it might also use some apps we haven't seen before.

    Keep in mind that for both of these versions the most modern games might not run. But they should be fairly free of MS spying and telemetry. The second one might also be better for a general user since HardenTools disables certain features advanced users or developers might be expecting to exist, see here - https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hardentools.html.

    1) Windows 9.5

    This build was originally built using Windows 8.1 Embedded, and was called Windows 9. Since it is next to impossible to find a licensed version of Windows 8.1 Embedded, Linus created his version using Win 10 as a base and called it Windows 9.5.



    Here is a description of the tools he used to make this build - https://linustechtips.com/topic/748494-windows-95-install-guide/

    ------------------------

    So you're curious and want to make your own Windows 9.5? Cool. Huge disclaimer: It worked for us, might not work for you, that kind of thing. If that's still cool with you, let's begin!

    • Start from a fresh install of Windows 10
    • Make sure it's fully updated
    • Disable telemetry - - It’s not like Microsoft would be interested in what we’ll be up to here
      • Change privacy settings in Windows’ Settings app
      • Disable telemetry in the registry
      • Open a command prompt as Administrator, then type:
        • sc diagtrack start= disabled
          • The space after start= is a must
        • sc stop diagtrack
    • Services changes - Hold the Windows key and press R, then type services.msc and choose OK.
      • Background Intelligent Transfer Serivce – Automatic (Delayed Start) -> Manual
      • Connected User Experiences and Telemetry – Automatic -> Disabled
      • Diagnostic Policy Service – Automatic -> Manual
      • Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) – Manual (Triggered) -> Disabled
      • Windows Biometric Service – Automatic -> Manual
      • WLAN Autoconfig – Automatic -> Manual
    • Download and install the following:
    • Registry tweaks:
      • Hold the Windows key and hit R, then type regedit and choose OK
      • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
        • Right-click -> New -> DWORD: ColorizationGlassReflectionIntensity – Double-click and set to decimal 100
        • Right-click -> New -> DWORD: ColorizationColorBalance – Double-click and set to decimal 100
        • Right-click -> New -> DWORD: ColorizationColorBalanceInactive – Double-click and set to decimal 25
        • Right-click -> New -> DWORD: GlassOpacity – Double-click and set to decimal 20
        • Right-click -> New -> DWORD: RoundRectRadius – Double-click and set to decimal 12
    • More aggressive tweaks, if desired:
      • Copy taskmgr.exe and msconfig.exe from a Windows 7 install, name them something like tm.exe and msconfig1.exe and place them in Windows\System32
      • Replace Task Manager with the copied version in the registry
      • Follow the same procedure with msconfig
      • Disable the People, Calendar, and Mail storage services (will disable these apps) and tile updates
        • CDPUserSvc_7e8fc5, Contact Data_7e8fc5, Sync Host_7e8fc5, Tile Data Model Server, User Data Access_7e8fc5, User Data Storage_7e8fc5
      • Uninstall every UWP app except for Store (so you can get them again as needed later)
      • Disable Cortana
      • Turn on verbose login/shutdown messages if that’s your bag
    And that's it! If all went well, you're now looking at Windows 9.5 - Windows 10 with a Windows 7 skin and disabled telemetry.

    ------------------------


    2) Windows 10 Ameliorated

    This one is much newer. The post was made in September 2020. It references this project - https://ameliorated.info/. Linus's review is of a build based on Win 10 1903(?).



    At https://ameliorated.info/ you can find a link for a download of a Community vetted ISO (currently based on Windows 10 20H2) along with a link to complete instructions on how to build it yourself. The link to the instructions for 20H2 is https://wiki.ameliorated.info/doku.php?id=documentation_20H2, dated 2021-04-01.

    Here's some info about the build:

    ------------------------

    This build is based on Windows 10 20H2
    Highlights:

    • Major deletion of hundreds of executable scattered throughout the system, which gather telemetry data, including the complete removal of Windows Update (universal backdoor)
    • Extensive group policy and registry modifications to further remove telemetry operations, and modify certain system behaviors to be more sensible
    • For good measure a massive fail-safe culmination of the various IPs and domains has been added to the hosts file, to further ensure no Windows telemetry leaves the system
    • Removed all apps (apx) including Cortana, Windows Store, Edge, Mail, Xbox etc.
    • Installed sensible open-source application replacements via the chocolatey package manager: Classic-Shell, Firefox, Thunderbird, OnlyOffice, VLC
    • dotNET 3.5 is installed
    • all VC redists are installed
    • Hardentools from SecurityWithoutBorders has been installed
    • The default user has been removed from the Administrator group

    UI Modifications:

    Major effort has been invested in ensuring that, although Windows is heavily modified, the experience feels as vanilla as possible minus the missing features, and not like some hacked together fan release. The following UI changes could be highlighted:

    • Sensible Classic-Shell theme selection and configuration to more match Windows 10
    • Modification of the task bar icons
    • Removal of the Notification Action Center from the UI (as it has been deleted from the system)
    • Removal of all unnecessary and privacy infringing sections from the Windows 10 Settings App UI
    • Windows explorer has been modified with oldnewexplorer to remove the confusing ribbon
    • Default applications are pre-configured (see above)
    • You get our malte wallpaper, deal with it
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    bphlpt, Jul 13, 2021
    #1
    The Freezer likes this.
  2. mircea

    mircea Member

    I already new Ameliorated windows from video on youtube.Linus its a good guy but we all see that donsnt have all the trick and setinngs from LastOs.In fact all the joys from a modded windows cames from here ...from LastOs.On Linus u have to work your way out whit a original ISO.But here any users can navigate to galaxy in to confortable and fancy space sheep.
     
    mircea, Jul 13, 2021
    #2

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