I have just about had it with Windows updates being forced on me. Graphics drivers breaking. My settings getting reset every time I get on and many other reasons I won’t begin to rant about. I chose to go with a decently common operating system for better compatibility.

I have gone through the install process and have installed Ubuntu 18.04LTS. For less advanced Linux users you can go with a simpler Linux like Solus which is a little more GUI friendly system.

You can modify ubuntu to your likings using a tool called “gnome tweaks” and you can disable animations to speed things up by using a tool called “dconf-editor”.

In dconf-editor, browse to org.gnome.desktop.interface and set enable-animations=false.

You can also run this command to disable animations:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface enable-animations false

You do not need to log out and back in, it should take effect immediately.

After getting all settled and having all my software carried over. I had a few pieces of software that was not compatible and I still needed. Most of my software was available in Ubuntu application store. Everything left is listed below:

Ubuntu Get right click new documents back. Here is a link to a couple of templates we made.

File previews on file explorer:

apt install gnome-sushi

To get the Windows-only software running I installed Virtualbox and installed Windows 10 and started to hack away at all its imperfections to slim it down. This virtual machine won’t be used that often so its a compromise I’m willing to make. I can also set quick one click restore points just in case windows breaks. I have compiled a list for all to use:

You can do much of the following using w10privacy.exe

  • Enable bidirectional clipboard and drag and drop in Virtualbox
  • Disabled UAC - Annoying in VMs, slight delay in the dialog
  • Power options, enabled performance
  • Turned off Windows defender
  • Deffered windows updates to 30 days or max
  • Disabled firewall, since I will be enabling NAT in VM for Ubuntu to manage firewall
  • Disabled Microsoft smart screen
  • installed Virtualbox extensions pack
  • installed VM guest additions pack
  • Disabled sleep in power options
  • Performance options - adjust for best performance
  • Disabled cortana
  • Disabled any windows “sharing” data stuff
  • Single click shutdown - “%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 0”
  • Disable hibernate
  • Auto login user
  • Hide taskbar items, People, cortana, task view
  • Made start menu smaller by dragging and removed most icons from right side
  • Disable system restore points
  • Disabled system dumps and startup logs
  • Disabled windows defender in task manager startup items
  • Disabled ipv6
  • Set static ip using existing ip as baseline (10.0.2.15, 255.255.255.0, 10.0.2.2, DNS Your router ip, 1.1.1.1). Since we will be disabling DHCP service.
  • Disabled windows cloud search
  • Disabled device history
  • Right click Uninstall any apps in start menu you don’t need
  • Indexing options -> removed Users, I won’t be using this for files. Left start menu alone
  • Disable page file, Only do if you have enough memory
  • set solid background
  • set solid taskbar colors and disable transparency
  • Turned of windows features:
    • Internet explorer
    • Microsoft print to PDF
    • Microsoft XPS document writer
    • Powershell 2
  • Disabled services:
    • Data usage
    • Windows Defender firewall
  • Manual services
    • Print Spooler - I may still need it to print out tax software stuff
    • DHCP
  • Combine start menu folders by right click open file location then drag the shortcuts. Combined Ease of access, powershell and system into one
  • Killed windows apps - Powershell (admin) Run the commands below (copy and Paste) and hit Enter -
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *zunemusic* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *3dbuilder* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *alarms* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *communicationsapps* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *camera* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *feedback* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *officehub* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *getstarted* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *skypeapp* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *zunemusic* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *zune* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *maps* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *messaging* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *solitaire* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *wallet* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *connectivitystore* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *bingfinance* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *bing* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *zunevideo* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *bingnews* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *onenote* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *oneconnect* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *people* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *commsphone* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *windowsphone* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *phone* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *photos* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *bingsports* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *sticky* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *sway* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *3d* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *soundrecorder* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *bingweather* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *holographic* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *windowsstore* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *xbox* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *mspaint* | remove-appxpackage
    • get-appxpackage -allusers *holographic* | remove-appxpackage

Other untested stuff: