Here is how to disable Telemetry and Data Logging in Windows 10

[Socio]

A poster named TS4H at Wilders Security Forum http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/windows-10-which-services-disable.378804/ posted his Windows 10 services tweaks;

http://pastebin.com/m26z309a

and his host file for disabling Telemetry and Data Logging

@echo off
cls

echo This Script will do the following:
echo Disable Data Logging Services
echo Configure Windows Explorer
echo Uninstall Onedrive
echo Edit the Hosts file to block sending Telemetry Data to Microsoft
echo.
echo press any key to continue...
pause > NUL

echo Checking for Administrator elevation...
echo.
openfiles > NUL 2>&1
if %errorlevel%==0 (
    echo Elevation found! Proceeding...
) else (
    echo You are not running as Administrator...
    echo This batch cannot do it's job without elevation!
    echo.
    echo Right-click and select ^'Run as Administrator^' and try again...
    echo.
    echo Press any key to exit...
    pause > NUL
    exit
)

echo.
echo Disabling Data Logging Services

sc config diagtrack start=disabled
sc config dmwappushservice start=disabled
sc config RetailDemo start=disabled
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection" /v AllowTelemetry /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f > NUL 2>&1
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection" /v AllowTelemetry /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f > NUL 2>&1
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\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
echo "" > C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl

echo.
echo Removing all Folders from MyPC
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{d3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{f86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a}" /f > NUL 2>&1

echo.
echo Setup Windows Explorer View
REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v LaunchTo /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f > NUL 2>&1
REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f > NUL 2>&1
REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v Hidden /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CABFolder\CLSID" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.cab\CLSID" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CompressedFolder\CLSID" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.zip\CLSID" /f > NUL 2>&1

echo.
echo Uninstalling OneDrive

set x86="%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\OneDriveSetup.exe"
set x64="%SYSTEMROOT%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe"

taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe > NUL 2>&1
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 5 > NUL 2>&1

if exist %x64% (
%x64% /uninstall
) else (
%x86% /uninstall
)
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 8 > NUL 2>&1

rd "%USERPROFILE%\OneDrive" /Q /S > NUL 2>&1
rd "C:\OneDriveTemp" /Q /S > NUL 2>&1
rd "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive" /Q /S > NUL 2>&1
rd "%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft OneDrive" /Q /S > NUL 2>&1

echo.
echo Removeing OneDrive from the Explorer Side Panel.
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}" /f > NUL 2>&1
REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}" /f > NUL 2>&1

echo.
echo Editing Hosts File

SET NEWLINE=^& echo.

FIND /C /I "telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "vortex.data.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 vortex.data.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "vortex-win.data.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "oca.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "watson.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "redir.metaservices.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "choice.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "df.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 df.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "telemetry.appex.bing.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "telemetry.urs.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "telemetry.appex.bing.net:443" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net:443>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "watson.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 watson.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "survey.watson.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 survey.watson.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "watson.live.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 watson.live.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "compatexchange.cloudapp.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 compatexchange.cloudapp.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "a-0001.a-msedge.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 a-0001.a-msedge.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "fe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 fe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "sls.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 sls.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "diagnostics.support.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "corp.sts.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 corp.sts.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "pre.footprintpredict.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 pre.footprintpredict.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "i1.services.social.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "feedback.windows.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 feedback.windows.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "feedback.microsoft-hohm.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 feedback.microsoft-hohm.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
FIND /C /I "feedback.search.microsoft.com" %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts > NUL 2>&1
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 ECHO %NEWLINE%^0.0.0.0 feedback.search.microsoft.com>>%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

echo.
echo.
echo Please make sure you do the following as well:
echo Head to Settings > Privacy, and disable everything, unless there are some things you really need.
echo While within the Privacy page, go to Feedback, select Never in the first box, and Basic in the second box

pause
pause

I have not upgraded to 10 yet but thought I would pass this information on so those that have can check it out.

 

[Ketchup]

If you have Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use gpedit to turn off telemetry.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2443138

The hosts file may come in handy if you have other versions.

 

[TeknoBug]

Isn't that Smartsscreen? Not a good idea to turn off if it is.

Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /DISABLE

 

[JackMDS]

Executing the file and all of its commands in the OP info is very risky it does much more than just dealing with Telemetry, it might deem user Computer Not functional.

It changes and Blocks Networking/sharing and other functions, it gets rid of drivers and alter many settings that do not relate to Telemetry.

DO NOT Use it without understanding all its functions and back up the computer before you try it.

 

[Ketchup]

Executing the file and all of its commands in the OP info is very risky it does much more than just dealing with Telemetry, it might deem user Computer Not functional.

It changes and Blocks Networking/sharing and other functions, it gets rid of drivers and alter many settings that do not relate to Telemetry.

DO NOT Use it without understanding all its functions and back up the computer before you try it.

VERY good advice. Also, TeknoBug, I don't use IE, but with all this talk about what servers/sites windows is using to grab information, I don't trust the smartscreen not to be used as another way to track visited sites if I did.

 

[Berryracer]

Executing the file and all of its commands in the OP info is very risky it does much more than just dealing with Telemetry, it might deem user Computer Not functional.

It changes and Blocks Networking/sharing and other functions, it gets rid of drivers and alter many settings that do not relate to Telemetry.

DO NOT Use it without understanding all its functions and back up the computer before you try it.

I also read on MDL forums that this block list is useless as those IP addresses can change so it's just a temporary fix that may even cripple the OS from doing basic things. Highly not recommended.

 

[Whisper2]

"Scheduled Tasks" has a lot more tasks that send stuff to MSFT than previous versions of Windows. The Customer Experience ones are supposed to be opt-in but mine always are enabled even though I do not ever see any opt-in choices. Anyway, I have been disabling them for many years. With Win 10, I have disabled in the neighborhood of a dozen. The scariest one is under Windows Update called "sih". This is the description:

"This daily task launches the SIH client (server-initiated healing) to detect and fix system components that are vital to automatic updating of Windows and Microsoft software installed on the machine. This task can go online, evaluate applicability of healing actions, download necessary payloads to execute the actions, and execute healing actions."

I have seen Windows make changes to my system that were based on settings I had in my upgraded version of Win 10 that I subsequently wiped. The server logic thought it was repairing my install but in reality I had changed my mine on which setting I wanted to use.

 

[Underclocked]

I don't think changing settings has much real impact on what gets sent to Microsoft. The settings changes may cause a delay, but I believe the data will get sent at first opportunity - even during startup or shutdown.

 

[yinan]

Why go through all of this work, just block it at the firewall.

 

[Whisper2]

I don't think changing settings has much real impact on what gets sent to Microsoft.

It has impact because the programs do not run after I disable them. If you look at the tasks, it will show the last run date and the next run date.

Why go through all of this work

It is not much work, just a right click and a click on the "disable" button.

just block it at the firewall

I am not trying to block everything -- only the things that are useless to me. The software companies (MFST is not alone) seem eager to add all these "Tasks" and "Services" that benefit them (I guess) but do little or nothing for the users.

Individually, they have minimal impact but I think 25 or so do.

 

[Underclocked]

I'm not suggesting you not try. I've just seen some oddities on an older computer which is running 10 that leads me to believe the 10 might be entirely too sneaky to successfully block the information flow. I could easily be wrong but I've never before seen settings I've made go back to default then suddenly switch to my settings on boot up.

I'm trying myself with O&O's little tool and TinyWall.

 

[Whisper2]

10 might be entirely too sneaky to successfully block the information flow

I suspect you are right, but I did shut-down at least some of it. I disable to cut down on the useless background programs running as much as information flow.

I had several setting changes that "just changed" not necessarily to default but to settings I had previously used. The strangest was my desktop background.

My 8.1 install that I upgraded to Win 10 had six of my photos setup as a slideshow for the desktop. I ran the upgraded install for a day or so and then wiped the disk with "Diskpart" "Clean". Nothing is supposed to be left. I then installed Win 10 from the disk I made with the ISO. I let Win set up my UEFI partitions and ran an uneventful install. I then added my software and made many changes to Win settings (I always do).
But I did not change the default blue desktop background. Several days later, I booted-up and one of pictures I had used before I wiped was now my desktop background. The only way Win could have selected that picture was to have sent at least some of my settings to its servers. Then when my system ran "sih" it determined that the wrong desktop background was there and then "fixed" it.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Why don't you just set it to 'Disabled' ?