Rid yourself of Windows 10 metro annoyances and Spyware:
Phase 1, The Obvious:Don't sign in with a microsoft account. Better yet... don't even create one. When installing, keep the network adapter unplugged or turn off your wifi. this will allow you to make a local account. If you already created a microsoft account... go into settings and accounts... create a local account then delete the microsoft one after you login with the local account.
If you are going to use IE, set it not to search bing, store form completion / passwords, suggest shit in the address bar, etc. etc.
Go into settings and privacy. Turn EVERYTHING off.
Go in your system tray and turn off One Drive.
Go in the Search on the task bar and click the gear... turn off Cortana.
Phase 2, Uninstall ALL the Bundled Metro Apps:Open Powershell as Administrator... type powershell in the task bar search and right-click the top entry, select run as administrator.
Type:
Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online
After that runs, Type:
Get-AppXPackage | Remove-AppxPackage
Then for extra measure:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
Don't worry about the errors in Red... those are core components that can't be uninstalled
Phase 3, Lock Settings Down via Policy:Right-Click Start Menu and choose run
Type: MMC
File -> Add/Remove Snapin
Choose Group Policy Object Editor -> ADD -> Local Machine -> OK
Expand Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components ->
OneDrive: Prevent the Usage of One Drive - Enabled
Search: Allow Cortana - Disabled
. Allow Cortana and Search to use Location - Disabled
. Don't Search the Web or display web results in Search - Enabled
. Don't Search the Web or display web results in Search over metered connections - Enabled
(Optional) Go down to Windows Calendar and disable if you wish... same for anything else like Mail.
Close the snap-in and reboot.
Right-click search task bar and set search to hidden (It's busted at this point, but search still works in the explorer)
Enjoy your spyware-free Windows 10!
This comment was edited on Aug 2, 2015, 15:10.
Get your games from GOG DAMMIT!