So, a different question. Instead of removing Cortana, how do I completely disable it?

Reach for your PC's microphone........speak nicely to her and ask her - politely - to go away.

Yeah, but she's a sneaky bitch!  She'll just go 'round the corner and still listen to everything he says.      

Kona, go into Settings and Privacy.  There you will find means to turn Cortana and other apps off.

the block has supposedly already kicked in this month. according to the ars link i posted.

I was able to update my new computer successfully, so either they are incorrect, or its a rolling release on that program. I received that Ryzen cpu on the 7th, and assembled/updated on the 8th and 9th.

No, I certainly won't count on it. I'd be shocked (happily) for sure. Honestly, thinking about the whole situation kinda bums me out. Such a disappointing change in personal computing.

And if she refuses, drag her off by her feet. Be sure to bust her lip a little.

Still running 7, but I wouldn't buy a copy today if building a new rig. I would get a copy of 10 and figure out how to best tweak it to suit my needs.

That's probably the best solution for new rig builders these days, given that MS won't support old OSes when users opt for the most modern CPUs.

I probably would have gone that route if:

a. Setting it up one time would definitely stick. Meaning no checking after every damn update to see if they have reset to spying on you.

b. I believed that they have actually admitted to, and put in place controls to stop all of their spying. I very much doubt they have actually admitted to all the crap they have in place, even after their latest round of saying what they are actually collecting.

edit: For the record, I do have Win10 Pro on one PC (along side a dual boot of Ubuntu 16.04) as a test bed.

User-Made Patch Allows Users To Install Blocked Windows 7/8.1 Updates On Newer CPUs

https://fossbytes.com/windows-7-installing-on-next-gen-cpus-patch/ 

It was only a matter of time!  In fact, it is more than likely that somebody is working on a user-made patch to combat MS' hard-coding telemetry and advertising into Explorer.  I recall somebody saying that it could likely be done via modifications to Windows Firewall, thus alleviating the need to remove those 'features' and consequently borking one's system.

Can't be soon enough, for mine.

As far as I know, Cortana is now impervious to being removed, as of the Anniversary Update. The best you can do is disable it on Win10pro as others have shown already.

You used to be able to fake out Cortana by killing its task and then renaming the folder, which would allow you to use the remove command. Unfortunately it seems that only made MS redouble its efforts to harden Cortana so it couldn't be tampered with, by embedding it further into the OS's functionality.

Which further goes to prove that Cortana is more about data collection than it is about users wants, needs, etc.

Actually it doesn't prove that at all.  There isn't even 'proof' that the data collected does anything other than help MS improve the services Cortana provides to the user.  Let's not feed the tinfoil hats more than is necessary......   

Damn.  You're so...  reasonable, Monk.  

Yes, but you've had a love affair with Cortana since she first appeared on the scene, so obviously you're not going to hear anything bad about her.... or believe that her data collection is more than just improving the provision of services.  I mean, why else would MS hard-code Cortana and advertising into Explorer if it didn't benefit and profit from users data... damned intrusive advertising?   

Oh, and it has nothing to do with tinfoil hats.  MS has installed a for-profit setup within the Win 10 OS that may have some benefits for users [who wish to avail themselves of it], but the benefits to MS far outweigh those for users.  An OS was always a tool for PC users to run their programs and businesses, etc, but MS has taken the OS in an entirely different direction that includes things that should never ever be there.

Worse still, if a user [who values their privacy and wishes to be ad free] happens to disable those 'features', the OS will irreparably shut down and cannot be restarted.... period.  That does NOT gel well as being user related or an improvement of services, but rather, they're bully-boy tactics that force more unwanted crap on users to benefit a power hungry corporation with little to no respect for its customers.

Put bluntly, the walls around the MS garden are getting higher, and with no garden gate [viable alternative], MS continues to abuse users trust and respect, which is at an all-time low because MS betrayed of millions of Win 7 and 8.1 users when it forced Windows 10 down their throats.

Daiwa

reply 37

Damn.  You're so...  reasonable, Monk.  

Nope, he's just blinded by his Cortana love affair... and that other 'thing' that can make you go blind.

And me?  Well the glare off my tinfoil hat may have impaired my vision a little, but I'm not so blind I can't see I've bin took.

I'll show you all tinfoil hat...

The bat file I use for disabling all the crap in Windows 10 actually destroys my start menu now after the content creator's update (it was working for anniversary, except for Cortana removal and xbox app removal).
To repair my start menu, I needed to run sfc /scannow after running the below bat file.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT USE THIS AS IS, (unless you want to run sfc /scannow) it needs more work as of the Creator's Update, and I haven't had the time to put any into it right now. It is provided as an example of a bat file that you should keep handy for removing crap in Windows 10. You probably want to REM out the stuff you personally think should stay enabled.

@rem *** Disable Some Service ***
sc stop DiagTrack
sc stop diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service
sc stop dmwappushservice
sc stop WMPNetworkSvc
sc stop WSearch

sc config DiagTrack start= disabled
sc config diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service start= disabled
sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled
REM sc config RemoteRegistry start= disabled
REM sc config TrkWks start= disabled
sc config WMPNetworkSvc start= disabled
sc config WSearch start= disabled
REM sc config SysMain start= disabled

REM *** SCHEDULED TASKS tweaks ***
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\AppID\SmartScreenSpecific" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\StartupAppTask" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\KernelCeipTask" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\UsbCeip" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Uploader" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyUpload" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentLogOn" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentFallBack" /Disable
schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office 15 Subscription Heartbeat" /Disable

REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\CloudExperienceHost\CreateObjectTask" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\DiskFootprint\Diagnostics" /Disable *** Not sure if should be disabled, maybe related to S.M.A.R.T.
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\File History (maintenance mode)" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance\WinSAT" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\NetTrace\GatherNetworkInfo" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\PI\Sqm-Tasks" /Disable
REM The stubborn task Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync\BackgroundUploadTask can be Disabled using a simple bit change.
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Time Synchronization\ForceSynchronizeTime" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Time Synchronization\SynchronizeTime" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting\QueueReporting" /Disable
REM schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Automatic App Update" /Disable

REM *** Remove Cortana ***
REM Currently MS doesn't allow to uninstall Cortana using the above step claiming it's a required OS component (hah!)
REM We will have to rename the Cortana App folder (add ".bak" to its name), but this can be done only if Cortana is not running.
REM The issue is that when Cortana process (SearchUI) is killed, it respawns very quickly
REM So the following code needs to be quick (and it is) so we can manage to rename the folder
taskkill /F /IM SearchUI.exe
move "%windir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy" "%windir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy.bak"

@rem *** Remove Telemetry & Data Collection ***
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata" /v PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection" /v "AllowTelemetry" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT" /v DontOfferThroughWUAU /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows" /v "CEIPEnable" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v "AITEnable" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v "DisableUAR" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" /v "AllowTelemetry" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener" /v "Start" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\AutoLogger\SQMLogger" /v "Start" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

@REM Settings -> Privacy -> General -> Let apps use my advertising ID...
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AdvertisingInfo" /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
REM - SmartScreen Filter for Store Apps: Disable
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppHost" /v EnableWebContentEvaluation /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
REM - Let websites provide locally...
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\International\User Profile" /v HttpAcceptLanguageOptOut /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

@REM WiFi Sense: HotSpot Sharing: Disable
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\WiFi\AllowWiFiHotSpotReporting" /v value /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
@REM WiFi Sense: Shared HotSpot Auto-Connect: Disable
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\WiFi\AllowAutoConnectToWiFiSenseHotspots" /v value /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

@REM Change Windows Updates to "Notify to schedule restart"
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings" /v UxOption /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
@REM Disable P2P Update downlods outside of local network
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeliveryOptimization\Config" /v DODownloadMode /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

@REM *** Disable Cortana & Telemetry ***
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCortana" /t REG_DWORD /d 0

REM *** Hide the search box from taskbar. You can still search by pressing the Win key and start typing what you're looking for ***
REM 0 = hide completely, 1 = show only icon, 2 = show long search box
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "SearchboxTaskbarMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

REM *** Disable MRU lists (jump lists) of XAML apps in Start Menu ***
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "Start_TrackDocs" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

REM *** Set Windows Explorer to start on This PC instead of Quick Access ***
REM 1 = This PC, 2 = Quick access
REM reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "LaunchTo" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

@rem Remove Apps
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *3DBuilder* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *Cortana* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *Getstarted* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsAlarms* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsCamera* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *bing* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftOfficeHub* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *people* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsPhone* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *photos* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *SkypeApp* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *solit* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsSoundRecorder* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *xbox* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *zune* | Remove-AppxPackage"
REM PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsCalculator* | Remove-AppxPackage"
REM PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *WindowsMaps* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *Sway* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *CommsPhone* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *ConnectivityStore* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Messaging* | Remove-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage *ContentDeliveryManager* | Remove-AppxPackage"


@rem NOW JUST SOME TWEAKS
REM *** Show hidden files in Explorer ***
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "Hidden" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
 
REM *** Show super hidden system files in Explorer ***
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "ShowSuperHidden" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

REM *** Show file extensions in Explorer ***
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "HideFileExt" /t  REG_DWORD /d 0 /f



REM *** Uninstall OneDrive ***
start /wait "" "%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSWOW64\ONEDRIVESETUP.EXE" /UNINSTALL
rd C:\OneDriveTemp /Q /S >NUL 2>&1
rd "%USERPROFILE%\OneDrive" /Q /S >NUL 2>&1
rd "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive" /Q /S >NUL 2>&1
rd "%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft OneDrive" /Q /S >NUL 2>&1
REM The below removes the one drive icons, google it for verification.
reg add "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}\ShellFolder" /f /v Attributes /t REG_DWORD /d 0 >NUL 2>&1
reg add "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}\ShellFolder" /f /v Attributes /t REG_DWORD /d 0 >NUL 2>&1
echo OneDrive has been removed. Windows Explorer needs to be restarted.
pause
start /wait TASKKILL /F /IM explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Some interesting stuff there, LORD ORION.  

I shall have to take a proper look when I'm not so distracted with life and other PC matters.