CleanPC CSP: Remove pre-installed software during provisioning

PC manufacturers, generally stuff your machines with pre-installed software to make extra money. So, although the manufacturer claims the product offers 32 GB of free space, it’s already 20% or more full at the time of purchase. Windows 11/10 includes a Configuration Service Provider (CSP) called CleanPC CSP that can help system administrators remove user-installed as well as pre-installed applications from their Windows system.

A Configuration Service Provider (CSP) is an interface to read, set, modify, or delete configuration settings on the device. These settings map to registry keys or files.

CleanPC CSP: Remove pre-installed software during provisioning

CleanPC CSP is supported in Windows 11/10 Business, Enterprise, and Education versions. Now, when you choose to install Windows via Desktop Wizard under Configuration Designer, you will find an option to remove pre-installed software. This new option is based on the new Clean PC Configuration Service Provider. The CSP is an interface in the client operating system between configuration settings specified in a provisioning document and configuration settings on the device.

Their function is similar to that of Group Policy client-side extensions in that they provide an interface to read, set, modify, or delete configuration settings for a given feature. These settings map to registry keys or files. Some configuration service providers support the WAP format, some support SyncML, and some support both.

The following diagram shows the CleanPC configuration service provider in a tree format.

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/CleanPC

The root node for the CleanPC configuration service provider.

CleanPCWithoutRetainingUserData

An integer specifying a CleanPC operation without any retention of user data.

The only supported operation is Execute.

CleanPCRetainingUserData

An integer specifying a CleanPC operation with retention of user data.

The only supported operation is Execute.

For more information about Configuration Service Provider and CleanPC CSP visit the MSDN blog.

Can I remove pre-installed software?

Yes, you can remove pre-installed software on Windows 11 and Windows 10. There are two ways to remove such apps from your computer. First, you can use Windows PowerShell to get the job done. Second, you can take the help of third-party programs such as 10AppsManager, Bloatware Removal Utility, etc.

Read: Best free Crapware, Junkware or Bloatware Removal Tools

How do I remove pre-installed programs in Windows 11/10?

To remove or uninstall pre-installed programs in Windows 11 and Windows 10, you need to use either Windows PowerShell or third-party apps. Some of the best apps to remove pre-installed apps are mentioned above, and you can download them to get things done. However, if you want to complete this task quickly, it is recommended to use 10AppsManager.