CleanPC CSP removes pre-installed software from Windows

2 min. read

Published on April 26, 2017

published on April 26, 2017

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Usually, PC manufacturers are stuffing your devices with various pre-installed programs in order to make some extra cash. Therefore even if a certain manufacturer will claim that the device is offering 32 GB of free space, you’ll see that it is already at least 20% full at the time of the purchase.

Remove pre-installed software with CleanPC CSP

Windows 10, version 1703 reveals a new Configuration Service Provider (CSP) named CleanPC CSP. This service is going to allow system administrators to remove user-installed and also pre-installed apps from their Windows OS.

A CSP – Configuration Service Provider – represents an interface to read, set, modify, or delete the config settings on a device. These settings map to files or registry keys.

CleanPC CSP features and compatibilities

CleanPC CSP is compatible with Windows 10 Business, Education, and Enterprise versions. When you are going to install Windows 10 v 1703 via Desktop Wizard under Configuration Designer, you’re going to see an option that allows you to remove pre-installed software. This latest option is based on new Clean PC Configuration Service Provider.

The CSP is practically an interface in the client OS between configuration settings specified in a provisioning file and the configuration settings on the device.

CSP’s functions are similar to the ones of Group Policy client-side extensions: providing an interface for reading, setting, modifying and deleting config setting for a specific feature.

Some CSPs support the WAP format, others support SyncML, and some of them can support both.

How it works

The root node for the CleanPC configuration service provider is: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/CleanPC

CleanPCWithoutRetainingUserData is an integer specifying a CleanPC operation without retaining users’ data. The only operation that is supported is Execute.

CleanPCRetainingUserData is an integer specifying a CleanPC operation with retention of users’ data. The only operation that is supported is Execute.

You should visit MSDN blog for more information related to Configuration Service Provider and CleanPC CSP.

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Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.