Make Windows 10 Home Faster And Safer - Part 7 of 8
Part 7 Tuning System Settings.
Now that Windows 10 Home is a service, Microsoft makes its money from advertisements and supplying user data to advertising organisations. The EU has forced Microsoft to make it easier to opt out of supplying data not related to product improvement. Many Apps also do data mining and you must be careful to check that you have not accidentally opted in, sometimes the opt-in checkbox is hidden in some way. Do not allow Apps or the Microsoft Store to update automatically unless you have a valid reason for doing so.
The most efficient way to adjust settings is to do each section in order. Some settings are admin specific and others are user specific. In general if you don't need the function turn it off.
Here are some suggested settings.
System
- Display
A useful tool for checking your display is a 16:9 HD testcard (click to download). You can check the aspect ratio of your displays and select the correct resolution (from the dropdown) for a normal picture. I set the testcard as the background when I am testing.
- Display
Storage
Turn on 'Storage Sense' to clean-up temp files. As of the October 2018 major update 'Storage Sense' will be upgraded to replace the existing 'Cleanup' tool, that tool will be deprecated.Network And Internet
- Downloading updates is always a pain in the backside and it slows down the PC. You can control updates to an extent this way.
- Select 'Wi-Fi', select your Wi-Fi connection, set metered connection to 'on'. You now have manual control of updates. Be careful, clicking 'check for updates' initiates an update and it is impossible to stop it.
Privacy
- Windows permissions.
Turn everything 'off', diagnostic data to 'basic', scroll down to bottom of page and select 'never' for feedback frequency. This will reduce the data uploaded to Microsoft to a minimum. - App permissions.
The admin view of permissions contains an extra 'Change' button which is a global denial of services for all accounts. Only use the 'Change' button if you are certain that you do not want to give any app permissions. If you turn all the blue on/off buttons to 'off' any app that you use normally will ask to be given permissions which you can grant on an ad hoc basis.
- Windows permissions.
Each user will have a different profile and most of the settings are obvious or just common sense.
List of parts in this series.
1. Clean up and update your PC.
2. Remove unwanted apps and defrag the hard disk.
3. Creating a User Data volume (optional)
4. Setting up your User Data volume.
5. Separating Administration Permissions From User Permissions.
6. Tuning For Performance.
7. Tuning System Settings.
8. Security.