What's Cortana Up To These Days?

win9598xp7 · Jun 20, 2024

I always turn off as much data collection options in Windows as possible, and just went through my new install of Windows 11 and turned off all those settings. But I've read that Cortana is still set to run in the background and collect/send data. I'm wondering if that is still the case, and if so, how can I also stop that?

I've tried pulling it up in the app settings to disable it, but don't see an option for stopping it to load at startup.

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

Hello @win9598xp7 and welcome to Eleven Forum.

You can just use REVO Uninstaller free, and completely remove Cortana.
After the uninstall, do the... "scan for leftovers", and remove whatever it finds.

It's easy to get Cortana back if you ever want it again.

Revo Uninstaller Free

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces

www.revouninstaller.com

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2024

I thought MS deprecated Cortana in August 2023?

Cannot find it in my Windows 11 PC. Am I the only one who isn't paranoid about what Microsoft gets up to?

Microsoft shuts down Cortana app on Windows 11

Farewell, Cortana.

www.theverge.com

And this from MS:

End of support for Cortana - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
I thought MS deprecated Cortana in August 2023?

I'm pretty sure they did.
But if there's any remnants left... REVO will get them.

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2024

Ghot said:
I'm pretty sure they did.
But if there's any remnants left... REVO will get them.

Searched for "Cortana" in the search in File Explorer, look what it found! Lots of dll's and other stuff. :look:

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
look what it found!

In Windows 10, I removed Cortana with REVO.
I did an In-Place Upgrade from Win 10 to Win 11.

I will also search for Cortana and see if anything is there.

It found tons of stuff, but mostly in the WinSxS folder.

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 21, 2024

Ghot said:
It found tons of stuff, but mostly in the WinSxS folder.

MS and other software developers, OEM manufacturers etc. are always guilty of having poor uninstall procedures that leave their junk behind.
Also, I purchased Revo Uninstaller Pro just now. It is on special for $US9.98. Should have got this a long time ago.

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
Also, I purchased Revo Uninstaller just now.

I just use the free version.
I just tried this powershell command too... it doesn't do any better.

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage

Look at the dates in the "Date Modified" column.
They're all the Windows Update days for Win 11 Home RTM...

All the Cortana files that aren't in the WinSxS folder are dated 5/7/2022 (probably when I did an In-Place Upgrade).
That's also the earliest date for any of the Cortana files.

Maybe tomorrow I'll reinstall Cortana and then REVO it again.

CLS · Jun 21, 2024

Ghot said:
Hello @win9598xp7 and welcome to Eleven Forum.

You can just use REVO Uninstaller free, and completely remove Cortana.
After the uninstall, do the... "scan for leftovers", and remove whatever it finds.

It's easy to get Cortana back if you ever want it again.

Revo Uninstaller Free

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces

www.revouninstaller.com

Does not Cortana coming again to Windows 11 after a Cumulative updates, and this inlude also other microsoft apps you have uninstalled using Revo?

For me Revo is not a useful app. Correct me if I have wrong about this.

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

CLS said:
Does not Cortana coming again to Windows 11 after a Cumulative updates, and this inlude also other microsoft apps you have uninstalled using Revo?

For me Revo is not a useful app. Correct me if I have wrong about this.

I think it might "only" be an In-Place Upgrade that brings some of Cortana back.
I have Windows set to never update MS Apps.

I don't "see" Cortana anywhere in Windows 11. Just those leftover files.
I "think" what happened is... the In-Place Upgrade brought some of Cortana's bones back.

I can't use REVO on it, because it no longer "shows" in REVO.

I think I'll reinstall Cortana again, tomorrow, and then remove it again with REVO and see if that changes anything.

Anyway... it's 1:30 am, I'm going to bed.

antspants · Jun 21, 2024

CLS said:
For me Revo is not a useful app. Correct me if I have wrong about this.

OK, you’re wrong about this.

Revo will remove any leftovers from Windows installs & Windows bloatware Apps.
Windows Programs & Features uninstall process removes programs badly and it has no easy option to remove Windows Apps.
Windows Programs uninstall process removes programs so you don't see them in the start menu and basically doesn’t care after that. It leaves folders behind, DLL’s etc. Eventually, your OS is full of dead files it doesn’t need.
Revo, on the other hand, will even remove Windows Apps that Windows gives you no option to remove.

Maybe you’re not using Revo properly?
Revo has one job, to remove programs and Windows Apps and it does it well.

idgat · Jun 21, 2024

CLS said:
For me Revo is not a useful app. Correct me if I have wrong about this.

You are corrected.

It's perfect. Never had it back after any updates.

idgat · Jun 21, 2024

Ghot said:
I can't use REVO on it, because it no longer "shows" in REVO.

Try GeekUninstallar. Occasionally (albeit very rarely) Revo might miss something but Geek will find it.

If neither find it, then it's not there in an uninstallable configuration

CLS · Jun 21, 2024

antspants said:
OK, you’re wrong about this.

Revo will remove any leftovers from Windows installs & Windows bloatware Apps.
Windows Programs & Features uninstall process removes programs badly and it has no easy option to remove Windows Apps.
Windows Programs uninstall process removes programs so you don't see them in the start menu and basically doesn’t care after that. It leaves folders behind, DLL’s etc. Eventually, your OS is full of dead files it doesn’t need.
Revo, on the other hand, will even remove Windows Apps that Windows gives you no option to remove.

Maybe you’re not using Revo properly?
Revo has one job, to remove programs and Windows Apps and it does it well.

I asking becuse for me all the Microsoft bloatware came back evertime after a major updates, for example cumulative updates. I don´t think I using Revo in a uncorrect way.

idgat · Jun 21, 2024

CLS said:
I asking becuse for me all the Microsoft bloatware came back evertime after a major updates, for example cumulative updates. I don´t think I using Revo in a uncorrect way.

Never had any bloatware return after Revo has rightly seen it off the premises.

USING REVO (both programs and apps)
Install and run RevoUninstaller
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default

FOR PROGRAMS
Double click the desired program
Run the uninstallation process
DO NOT reboot even if prompted when completed
Select the Advanced button and then run the process to remove all leftover files/folders/registry entries left behind after a normal uninstall process.
If prompted at any stage previously, now do the reboot

FOR WINDOWS APPS
Double click the app > Continue
Scan > Delete (all, everything, arbitrarily, no picking and choosing) > Yes (I'm sure) > Gone!

CLS · Jun 21, 2024

idgat said:
Never had any bloatware return after Revo has rightly seen it off the premises.

USING REVO (both programs and apps)
Install and run RevoUninstaller
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default

FOR PROGRAMS
Double click the desired program
Run the uninstallation process
DO NOT reboot even if prompted when completed
Select the Advanced button and then run the process to remove all leftover files/folders/registry entries left behind after a normal uninstall process.
If prompted at any stage previously, now do the reboot

FOR WINDOWS APPS
Double click the app > Continue
Scan > Delete (all, everything, arbitrarily, no picking and choosing) > Yes (I'm sure) > Gone!

OK, I will make a new try. Hopefully, all the bloatware stays away now...

CLS · Jun 21, 2024

idgat said:
Never had any bloatware return after Revo has rightly seen it off the premises.

USING REVO (both programs and apps)
Install and run RevoUninstaller
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default

FOR PROGRAMS
Double click the desired program
Run the uninstallation process
DO NOT reboot even if prompted when completed
Select the Advanced button and then run the process to remove all leftover files/folders/registry entries left behind after a normal uninstall process.
If prompted at any stage previously, now do the reboot

FOR WINDOWS APPS
Double click the app > Continue
Scan > Delete (all, everything, arbitrarily, no picking and choosing) > Yes (I'm sure) > Gone!

USING REVO (both programs and apps)
Install and run RevoUninstaller
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default

I can´t find "Make a Restore Point before uninstall" in options (Revo Uninstaller Pro)

CLS · Jun 21, 2024

CLS said:
USING REVO (both programs and apps)
Install and run RevoUninstaller
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default

I can´t find "Make a Restore Point before uninstall" in options (Revo Uninstaller Pro)

View attachment 99690

I found it now. It was in the "Backup" tab :)

jimbo45 · Jun 21, 2024

Cortana ????

"There was a young maiden from ......"

Cheers
jimbo

Ghot · Jun 21, 2024

Ghot said:
I think I'll reinstall Cortana again, tomorrow, and then remove it again with REVO and see if that changes anything.

OK... I just reinstalled Cortana. Now I'm gonna reboot, then remove it with REVO...again.
Then I'll search the C:\ drive for Cortana, and see what's leftover.

OK... I rebooted, now I'm gonna update REVO Uninstaller free to version 2.4.5
To make sure the "scan for leftovers" is up to date.

OK... updated REVO and uninstalled Cortana, and scanned for leftovers and deleted all those.
Now to reboot again, and search the C:\ drive again...

Searching the C:\ drive now...

Looks like all the search results are still there, including the Windows Updates dates, which is weird.

Here's the files that AREN'T in the WinSxS folder. Every time I've messed with files in the WinSxS folder, it has broken Windows (all versions)... so I don't mess with those files, any more.