Windows 10 Lean: Microsoft Working on Cut-Down Version of OS

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If it gets rid of telemetry, store, metro, ads, and anything else that is not needed on a gaming/server/workstation computer, then I am in.
Not a chance in hell they get rid of all that crap, sadly.

I finally went back to 8.1 with all the telemetry KB updates blocked, the store and all of the phone apps removed. But before I left I was running 10 Pro build 1709 modded down to a 2.7GB install with MSMG Toolkit. Got rid of absolutely all the crapware - cortana, edge, store, all the preinstalled phone apps, onedrive, ads, etc.

MSMG Toolkit run against a 10 Enterprise ISO to strip out Edge and the store is probably the cleanest one can make 10 if youre deadset on running it, since Microsoft still honors GPOs set in Enterprise that they no longer do in Pro and Home (things like disabling bing web/shopping results from local file searches, or delaying feature updates).
 
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Microsoft's "lean" edition sounds stinkingly not unlike one of a dozen inhouse builds a company I worked for made available to various departments for reduced support pricing. You almost felt bad to take the call from a new person who was semi tech literate and tell them everything they knew about Windows had to be left outside the building they were in and that their new environment consisted of essentially whatever app icons were on their desktop.
"No. Sorry ma'am! your department does not allow access to the CD drive- even simply for the purposes of listening to music." "No ma'am. Those apps aren't installed nor are you allowed to download and install them. Even if you could, those devices are not accessible to your group." "I understand you're upset. My only suggestion is that you bring the issue up with your manager." "Please realize, however, that to gain access to that drive will require a valid business reason with the IT Security Groups approval, approval from the manager of Engineering and sign-off by both your business unit manager and the site manager." "Why? There will be charges associated to changing your systems build. Exactly? Well, a one time reimaging fee of $150 and a monthly customization maintenance fee of $50 (to make sure the Business Office Image isn't reapplied) an increase in the monthly lease support pricing(MLSP) of that seat from $60/mo to $175/mo as it will be using an out of contract image." "No ma'am. You would require an Engineering image to gain access to the CD drive. That's why you need your manager's sign-off stating he'll reimburse the Engineering group for the use of a license to one of its images. Yes. Each groups image carries an annual licensing cost in addition to the MLSP. Basically, (1.65*MLSP)*12." "Ma'am. I know. I don't write the contracts. I know this only as this is what the Customer Service Reps have told me when I've inquired previously on a customers behalf."
The whole time trying to quiet my coworkers and stifle my own giggles while sounding like my tie was still on:ROFLMAO: I'd normally hear a click the moment I mentioned bringing it up to their manager or that a valid business reason was required. Sometimes, though, we'd have a few people thinking they were special and we could make it all the way to the "apologies" knowing that they felt their pride was still intact and that was the last we'd hear of it.
 
Like I said, you guys don't need to wait around for this. It's already out there. The scene takes care of itself. I'm not promoting piracy. Windows 10 licenses are fairly cheap or you may already have one. As long as you're legit and own a valid Windows license then I think you're ok in running a custom version of Windows 10.
 
I just want something who works well on Intel Atom tablet (whit all drivers already inside). Also for old laptop who has slow cpu and hard drive, 1gb ram.
And for desktop- motherboard is made for windows 7 thats why i will continue to use it.
 
All you can do is laugh. 2gb smaller means it takes 48 rather than 50GB of space? It's ridiculous. WTF happened to when the os was under that 2gb of "savings" to begin with and had full functionality?
 
The actual physical size of the OS is not a problem for me. I remember the days of double digit hard drives so I'm happy we are no longer in that world (mostly).

The only issue I have is not being able to remove all the stuff in an OS that I DON'T need.

This trend of throwing absolutely everything in as standard and having no way of easily pruning it all out is wrong and just adds more potential vulnerabilities and not to mention the associated updates for all that crap I have no need for.

As I've said before, all Windows needs is the return of the Custom Install option that allows me to go "I want that, that and that but I don't need that , that , that , that , that , that, those, that and that!"

I would want Regedit.
 
I would suggest Linux Mint. It's Ubuntu based but with a friendlier GUI tham what Ubuntu ships wioth which is GNOME (not to be mistaken with GNOME 2 fork). Its friendly and ready to go for the most part out of the box.
Ubuntu ships with several different environments. Mate is my favourite but it can be had with KDE or lxde, xfce etc. for lighter computers.

Ubuntu Mate is far more stable compared to Mint in my experience.
 
How about bringing Win 10 pro back? You know the version that is actually equivalent to Win 7 pro, not the shitty cut down version that is equivalent to Home Premium. Just an idle thought from someone who wants the features they paid for. Also I'm pretty sure losing wall paper, regedit and cd drivers doesn't make it lean, it makes it fucking worthless.
 
A no non-sense os for user is what they want us to think, an os with nothing useful and full of features that suck every single but if user data is what it will be.

Windows lean.
 
I need regedit, to start older game- who wont work whitout internet becouse win7 want to conect to some website. And loots of coments in Steam- games wont work on Windows 10
You can modify the registry from PowerShell. :)
 
So what they telling me is this in windows RT 2.0? but they are slowly cutting out the tools people used one update at a time? Really Regedit? Why? Why remove it to "save space" ? This is clearly a locked down, consumer grade OS. :confused:.
 
Not a chance in hell they get rid of all that crap, sadly.

I finally went back to 8.1 with all the telemetry KB updates blocked, the store and all of the phone apps removed. But before I left I was running 10 Pro build 1709 modded down to a 2.7GB install with MSMG Toolkit. Got rid of absolutely all the crapware - cortana, edge, store, all the preinstalled phone apps, onedrive, ads, etc.

MSMG Toolkit run against a 10 Enterprise ISO to strip out Edge and the store is probably the cleanest one can make 10 if youre deadset on running it, since Microsoft still honors GPOs set in Enterprise that they no longer do in Pro and Home (things like disabling bing web/shopping results from local file searches, or delaying feature updates).
Does MSMG toolkit changes get reset when you apply a feature update?
 
Surprising considering MS ditched Windows server core version.

I don't think they ditched the core version btw. They added an even smaller version (nano) but my understanding is that normal windows server 2016 comes with the option to install either Core or Desktop Experience. But I haven't installed it personally so I could be wrong.
 
You should seriously consider FreeBSD too. The desktop experience ksnis as easy/refined as (most) Linux distributions, but there's not nearly as much churn.

I tried BSD for a while and really liked it. The problem (at the time) was no support for my printers and issues getting Steam games running. Over all, I like BSD more than Linux since BSD felt like it was 'designed' where Linux kind of feels like it's 'evolved'.
 
They are only removing regedit because you need it to disable forced updates in the newer versions of W10. Simply disabling Windows Update Service doesn't work anymore.
 
Well their idea of lean pretty much looks like an economy car that comes with heated sun visors, but no oil drain plug because it's for people that just want bare bones basics not all those frilly extras.
 
I don't think they ditched the core version btw. They added an even smaller version (nano) but my understanding is that normal windows server 2016 comes with the option to install either Core or Desktop Experience. But I haven't installed it personally so I could be wrong.
Oooops I meant the nano version got ditched.
 
This is all BS ....... don't ... I repeat ... DON'T get your hopes up.

Until they rip out Edge, Cortana, Telemetrics, etc ... Windows will never be lean.

Regedit is absolutely tiny. This is your first clue that this endeavor will end up being nothing more than total BS.

Besides, there are already several variants of Windows 10 "Lean" out there. That have Edge, Cortana, Telemetrics, etc ripped out. A crap ton of bloat and cancer that has been removed. Don't want automatic updating getting in your way? Awesome, great ... cause it's been removed as well.

I currently use a tiny version of Windows 7 lite that's around 900MB that is incredibly fast. But when I'm not running this I run Windows 10 Lite V4 by Whitedeath.

It's called Windows 10 Lite V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, etc etc etc. It's 2.5gb in size and installs in a matter of minutes. Literally 3 or so minutes on a high-end system. Go look for it. And if you have a legit Windows 10 License .... I doubt there are any issues with you running this version.
This is all BS ....... don't ... I repeat ... DON'T get your hopes up.

Until they rip out Edge, Cortana, Telemetrics, etc ... Windows will never be lean.

Regedit is absolutely tiny. This is your first clue that this endeavor will end up being nothing more than total BS.

Besides, there are already several variants of Windows 10 "Lean" out there. That have Edge, Cortana, Telemetrics, etc ripped out. A crap ton of bloat and cancer that has been removed. Don't want automatic updating getting in your way? Awesome, great ... cause it's been removed as well.

I currently use a tiny version of Windows 7 lite that's around 900MB that is incredibly fast. But when I'm not running this I run Windows 10 Lite V4 by Whitedeath.

It's called Windows 10 Lite V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, etc etc etc. It's 2.5gb in size and installs in a matter of minutes. Literally 3 or so minutes on a high-end system. Go look for it. And if you have a legit Windows 10 License .... I doubt there are any issues with you running this version.

How does it do with gaming? All services still there?
 
Le Sigh. So much hate over Microsoft adding a different choice for the SKU of Windows, and hilarious about all those extolling the myriad of choices available for Linux distributions. Y'all know that you can strip out the "junk" you don't like from WIndows 10 with some simple and well documented powershell commands?

You should seriously consider FreeBSD too. The desktop experience ksnis as easy/refined as (most) Linux distributions, but there's not nearly as much churn.

I'm typing this message on FreeBSD with XFCE running in a Windows 10 Hyper-V VM. Can't run native (yet) on my work computer. Was actually rather simple to set up.


I tried BSD for a while and really liked it. The problem (at the time) was no support for my printers and issues getting Steam games running. Over all, I like BSD more than Linux since BSD felt like it was 'designed' where Linux kind of feels like it's 'evolved'.
Linux is for people who hate Windows. BSD is for people who love Unix!
 
Why is this named "Windows 10 Lean"? The OS is still packed with 100s of megabytes of useless crap. If all they remove are some drivers and useful system tools, shouldn't it be called Windows 10 Crippled?
 
Le Sigh. So much hate over Microsoft adding a different choice for the SKU of Windows, and hilarious about all those extolling the myriad of choices available for Linux distributions.

The difference is when Microsoft "adds a different choice" its not for any altruistic reason or to make the user's life easier. It's usually just bait, in the hopes that the "choice" gains enough traction so they can slam the gate and make it the only choice. MS has lost the user trust with antics like GWX, X means yes, forced upgradegate and forced telemetry with no opt out. Maybe they were never trustworthy, but previously they hid it better.

Y'all know that you can strip out the "junk" you don't like from WIndows 10 with some simple and well documented powershell commands?

You know Microsoft will put all the "junk" right back in the next feature update, rendering your 'simple and well documented' powershell commands futile? Try Candy Crush Saga today!
 
So another wimpy windows. I would assume this is for tablets and such. If they can do this surly (typo, but I'm leaving it) they could include off switches so I don't have to waste valuable bandwidth with telemetry and forced updates? Yeah, I know, keep on dreaming. I really am moving to Linux--just so many options I can't make up my mind (like a kid in a candy store).
I just installed Ubuntu-MATE, it looks good, runs well, and installed Steam and Minecraft without issues (unlike Mint, which was kinda squirrelly for some reason). The only problem I have atm is the Microsoft keyboard I just bought, it's Bluetooth but it doesn't want to pair. It might be going back.
 
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I would suggest Linux Mint. It's Ubuntu based but with a friendlier GUI tham what Ubuntu ships wioth which is GNOME (not to be mistaken with GNOME 2 fork). Its friendly and ready to go for the most part out of the box.
I liked the way it looked, but it had issues with me, it didn't like installing programs for some reason.
 
Between this and the "No more Win32 applications, only UWP apps, Windows Store only unless 3rd party app enabled" version of Windows, it seems Microsoft's primary strategy is "You use what WE want you to use" on both sides of the equation; either Win10 packed with Candy Crush / Facebook / adds and unwanted data mining stuff, or a locked down barebones "Just what we think you need" option.

If there is blowback from this so much the better if it drives users onto Linux, so much the better.
You almost hit the nail on the head.

M$ is headed toward "pay as you go" computing: wanna write an email? That'll be 25¢/minute. Work up a resume? 32¢/minute. Play a game? $2/hr. Surf some porn? $1/minute (better have your "speedfist" game going). Save pics? 10¢/pic unless it's porn, then it's $1/pic. Music? $1/track, more if it's a popular song. Movies? Sky's the limit, depends on how badly you wanna watch.

Oh, is that an "unapproved" app? Sorry, your computer is locked, until you call on & pay the fine; then we'll unlock it. Oh, wait: was that some unsavory porn you accessed? Please wait while we contact your local law enforcement; meanwhile, we will drain your account before you're arrested to make sure we profited from you.

Uh, oh: you tried to contact an unapproved sex worker? The SWAT team will be there shortly.

Microsoft has been working towards this model for a LONG time, and they're about to succeed because we consumers don't care as long as our crap works. We don't care about our privacy, either, because we've been selling it cheap for about as long.

Bottom line: we have fucked ourselves. Now we shall reap what we have sown.
 
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