Windows can go fuck itself, I’m sick of their shit. Teams kept opening links in Edge even though it’s not my default browser. Found out that Teams specifically has a setting to ignore the default browser and use Edge anyway. The fuck is that about?
Then I wanted to turn off the web search in the Start menu and I had to do a fucking RegEdit! They’re making it more and more complicated to not use their services, where’s the anti-trust regulations when you need them?
This is the norm. They have settings in Group Policy for a lot of this (sans the teams opening in edge, that is absolutely utter horseshit).
The regedit you did (and most regedits to “fix” stupid default settings) is a manual version of the GP setting to just disable web search in the start menu.
If you don’t use Windows with a Pro license, and you stay with Windows, next time buy a Pro license from a bulk OEM Pro License seller for cheap (or look up the latest way to spoof licensing and get it for free), and get access to Group Policy. It’s effectively Control Panel/Settings menu on steroids for corporate sysadmins.
I swear that 80% of peoples complaints with Windows can be handled with Group Policy. Shit that it’s locked away from the average user, but the average user literally can’t tell the difference between web browsers if you make the shortcuts have the same icon.
I swear that 80% of peoples complaints with Windows can be handled with Group Policy.
One shouldn't have to go into the Group Policy screens just to restore basic functionality like 'use my default browser' and 'stop searching the web when I am searching my computer' and 'stop sending all my actions to your servers'. There is a reason people have been telling others to use Linux, rather than continue to put up with Microsoft's crap.
Install Pro or Enterprise, or Tiny10 and then go here and run the Power Shell script: https://massgrave.dev/
And choose the first option. Takes a minute but then you'll be fully activated. If you don't trust the script, download it and check it yourself.
Then you can use the Group Policy editor to turn a bunch of crap off that Home users aren't allowed to. I use Winaero Tweaker to edit all these things with a UI. It works even on the Home edition except for the few settings that require the Group Policy.