The World According to Mitch

While I am usually fond of the extra apps that Microsoft puts into Windows 8, I know that for most IT environments they will be more of a hassle than anything.  The following is the PowerShell script that Ben Hunter (SOLUTION ARCHITECT, Desktop – Microsoft Corp.) uses to remove the built-in applications.  Of course, you are free to edit this script to pick and choose the ones you want to leave in; it is a great exercise in getting used to longer scripts for the uninitiated! (Scroll down to the bottom for a simpler but less adaptable version)

##################################################
#
# This script removes the pre provisioned packages
# in Windows 8 RTM
#
#
##################################################

if([IntPtr]::Size -eq 4){
# This is an X86 OS – remove for all users
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package  Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
#Remove from Local Admin
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
}
Else{
# This is an X64 OS – remove for all users
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package  Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package      Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
#Remove from Local Admin
remove-AppxPackage -package     Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
}

—

Michael Niehaus (Senior Product Marketing Manager, Windows Commercial – Microsoft Corp.) piped in with a shorter solution.  He writes:

Import-Module DISM
Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | RemoveAppxProvisionedPackage –online
Get-AppXPackage | Remove-AppxPackage

–M