WTools feedback/suggestions

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Wagnard
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Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by Wagnard »

Spartan wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:44 am Can you please give us a checklist in the Store AppX Manager so we can uninstall multiple apps in one go instead of having to do it one at a time?

Thank you
Ill do that.

For the previous request about ipconfig. you may want to check another app I have called IP Changer. I may satisfy your need.
okiedokie400
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:11 pm

Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by okiedokie400 »

Consider add 'Clean Shellbags' to file cleaner.

"Shellbags are hidden Windows registry keys that track your folder viewing preferences, such as window size, icon layout, and view mode (e.g., list vs. details). They are primarily used by digital forensic investigators to reconstruct user activity and uncover deleted, hidden, or external directories.

From an IT security and digital forensics standpoint, Shellbags are highly valuable because they are persistent. Even if a user deletes a folder, unplugs a USB drive, or clears their recent history, the Shellbag entry for that folder usually remains in the Windows registry."

I have been doing it manually it is delete 4 keys-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

They come back automatically so no further steps required.
=================================================================

Consider adding cleaner for Windows Defender files. There are several files that can be cleaned, like logs and temp files, but it must be done in safe mode. Copy however Bleachbit does this.
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Wagnard
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Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 5:18 pm
Location: 127.0.0.1

Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by Wagnard »

okiedokie400 wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2026 6:28 am Consider add 'Clean Shellbags' to file cleaner.

"Shellbags are hidden Windows registry keys that track your folder viewing preferences, such as window size, icon layout, and view mode (e.g., list vs. details). They are primarily used by digital forensic investigators to reconstruct user activity and uncover deleted, hidden, or external directories.

From an IT security and digital forensics standpoint, Shellbags are highly valuable because they are persistent. Even if a user deletes a folder, unplugs a USB drive, or clears their recent history, the Shellbag entry for that folder usually remains in the Windows registry."

I have been doing it manually it is delete 4 keys-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

They come back automatically so no further steps required.
=================================================================

Consider adding cleaner for Windows Defender files. There are several files that can be cleaned, like logs and temp files, but it must be done in safe mode. Copy however Bleachbit does this.
Thanks, I'll consider adding this.
okiedokie400
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:11 pm

Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by okiedokie400 »

Potential suggestion for 'Optimize' section with other telemetry disabling.

GDID was a big tech privacy story over the past week. https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/1 ... -captures/

Test and copy the mitigations from this repo
First read - https://windowsforum.com/threads/gdid-o ... it.436048/

https://github.com/Korben00/no-gdid

it is to block
'dds.microsoft.com'
'fd.dds.microsoft.com'
'aad.cs.dds.microsoft.com'
'cdpcs.access.microsoft.com'
'geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com'

it is to disable these services
CDPSvc -> Disabled (via Set-Service)"
DoSvc -> Disabled (via registry Start=4; SCM denies Set-Service)"
CDPUserSvc -> Disabled (stop first in services menu, then set registry Start=4)"

https://github.com/SmtimesIWndr/gdid-reversal
Reducing the exposure
The GDID exists because your device is registered into the Microsoft Account device graph and the Connected Devices Platform keeps it synced. To cut it back:
Kill the Connected Devices Platform (CDPSvc, CDPUserSvc) and turn off Activity History (Settings, Privacy, Activity history) to stop the graph sync and the activity uploads.

I have been testing some of these mitigations - blocking those addresses, and disabling both CDP services. It says it breaks Phone Link / "Continue on PC", and nearby sharing, but I dont use those functions so I have not noticed any issues with having those services disabled. CDP services seem to be the primary agreed upon services to disable to break functionality of GDID. PC still updates normally.
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Wagnard
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Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 5:18 pm
Location: 127.0.0.1

Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by Wagnard »

okiedokie400 wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2026 4:26 am Potential suggestion for 'Optimize' section with other telemetry disabling.

GDID was a big tech privacy story over the past week. https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/1 ... -captures/

Test and copy the mitigations from this repo
First read - https://windowsforum.com/threads/gdid-o ... it.436048/

https://github.com/Korben00/no-gdid

it is to block
'dds.microsoft.com'
'fd.dds.microsoft.com'
'aad.cs.dds.microsoft.com'
'cdpcs.access.microsoft.com'
'geo.prod.do.dsp.mp.microsoft.com'

it is to disable these services
CDPSvc -> Disabled (via Set-Service)"
DoSvc -> Disabled (via registry Start=4; SCM denies Set-Service)"
CDPUserSvc -> Disabled (stop first in services menu, then set registry Start=4)"

https://github.com/SmtimesIWndr/gdid-reversal
Reducing the exposure
The GDID exists because your device is registered into the Microsoft Account device graph and the Connected Devices Platform keeps it synced. To cut it back:
Kill the Connected Devices Platform (CDPSvc, CDPUserSvc) and turn off Activity History (Settings, Privacy, Activity history) to stop the graph sync and the activity uploads.

I have been testing some of these mitigations - blocking those addresses, and disabling both CDP services. It says it breaks Phone Link / "Continue on PC", and nearby sharing, but I dont use those functions so I have not noticed any issues with having those services disabled. CDP services seem to be the primary agreed upon services to disable to break functionality of GDID. PC still updates normally.
Added most stuff that I consider safe to do.
For the Windows Defender I may not add this one as interacting with this may flag WTools.
okiedokie400
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:11 pm

Re: WTools feedback/suggestions

Post by okiedokie400 »

That is fine not to include the Defender cleaner. Sending people to safe mode to clean something that 99% of people already don't care about is probably a step too far as well. If you ever do go farther into telemetry type stuff it would be useful to rip many of the settings from O&O Shutup10 into WTools so I'd never have to use the O&O software again. I use Raphire Debloat, O&O Shutup, and WTools to optimize fresh Windows installations. Ultimately, eventually, it would be beneficial to see as much of this into an all-in-one tool as possible. Your tool is the best one available that covers multiple things in one program. Thanks for your works.