Windows 10 LTSC 1809 - Optimize Gaming/Poweruser/Runtime Profile, retaining maximum compatibility. For x64/UEFI systems

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MT_

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Windows 10 LTSC 1809 - Optimize Gaming/Poweruser/Runtime Profile, retaining maximum compatibility. For x64/UEFI systems.
[Updated 2020-02-26, will not receive any more updates as I personally went on with Post-install scripts to configure my windows]

Version 1.0.5b
- Event Channels now fixed (NTLite 1.9.0.7330), so properly saved/applied to profile.
- Some reg changes and small tweaks.
- dnscache service disabled throws errors in steam logs, enabling.

NTLite Profile:
Ongoing tweaking of LTSC 2019:

- Minimal runtime overhead.
- De-jittering/low-latency.
- Power-user experience.
- Remove useless/privacy/risky/logging components.
- Maximum gaming performance.
- Disabling intrusive notifications / updates / background stuff.
- Attempt to implement most tweaks in profile itself.
- Retain full Windows integrity check / able to apply cumulative updates.
- Keep optional windows dependency compatibility, don't permanently break stuff. (Incl. Store/Xbox)

Some clarification seems necessary; With max compatibility I mean windows and dependencies compatibility, not hardware. This build is not suited for old hw out of the box. Tends to break legacy stuff.

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ISO: SW_DVD5_WIN_ENT_LTSC_2019_64-bit_English_MLF_X21-96425.ISO (I suppose all original LTSC iso's would work)
NTLite: Version shown in .xml, always assume latest (beta)

Prepping original .iso:
1. Add -> Template -> .NET Framework 3.5 (Optional, but if you use apps that still require it..)
2. Integrate latest cumulative update for this Windows build. i.e. KB4530715, Integrate latest .NET3/4 cumulative update, latest servicing stack. Skip Adobe Flash Player, Skip Intel microcode updates? (Not sure on performance impact).
3. Create .iso and use created image to apply further tweaking i.e. apply NTLite.xml profile. Saves some time when problems occur, otherwise you'd have to do the updates reintegration process over and over again.

Apply customized profile:
1. Load clean extracted .iso and apply NTLite.xml profile.
2. Adjust to your own liking, but i won't give support if you REMOVE anything in 'components removal' that the profile doesn't remove. Same goes for unflagging compatibility.
3. Get hardware profile from your target computers and import them into the profile.
Then go to Compatibility -> Machine Support -> Select your hardware profiles. (If you don't do this one of your computers might miss essential drivers and profile might not work)
4. Unattended, Auto-fill and use built-in Administrator account and set password. Anything else is filled in pretty much as desired out of the box.
5. Registry files:
Look them up in attachment, the path will differ from when I used the the profile so you'll have to re-add them yourself.
PostRegistry folder is to apply AFTER installation (if desired).
6. (Automated) Post-setup
Lots of other things to disable Task scheduler tasks, unhide power plan settings, some network tweaks, bcdedit, auto apply registry keys that do not like to be integrated. MTU tweak might not be desired for you.

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Some stuff to do after installation.
OldNewExplorer tool to fix explorer windows black outline not existing in 1809, see example.
The middle and top one are broken by default, there is no 1 pixel wide black line between the white titlebar and drop shadows.

fixdirtyoutline.png

StartIsBack to disable preloading of searchUI (and dependencies), remove search icon from taskbar, saves resources.

MSIUtil from Guru3D to enable Message Signalled Interrupts (MSI) on devices. Some older equipment can either BSOD or ignore it so be careful.

Post-setup reg files included in attachment (if desired)

Device manager
Sort by Connection (Show hidden) and disable any device (including hid/input etc) you don't require / configure them accordingly. (Write flush cache, networking, etc)

SetTimerResolutionService (Put timer on 1ms or lower) might actually be a necessity with useplatformtick yes (Or you could get rare stuttering in some cases).

Interrupt affinity Policy Tool to assign interrupts to specific cpu cores. Use LatencyMon to figure out which cores are most used, and then assign your GPU and USB controller to to lets say core1 and 2. Might have to test yourself.

MouseTester for polling stability.

LatencyMon to check your DPC on max core clock and tweaked system, I'm sitting around 2.5us average. with all relevant drivers installed.

NVSlimmer, TCPOptimizer are also useful tools.
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Screenshots (Some results have been further enhanced after installation by various tweaks, interrupts assignment, etc.):

Low memory consumption and minimum idle activity.


5325325.png

MouseTester / CapFrameX.

Default vs tweaked.

hax.png


Low DPC latency with further tweaked system, all drivers functional.

dpc.png

Control panel cleaned up.

ctrlpnl.png

Minimal services for general W7 era compatibility.

serv.png

Additional power settings exposed.

power.png

Clean Event Viewer.

cleanevent.png

Device Management (After additional purging)


devmgr.png


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MS Store/Xbox integration possible, everything should work. Tested with a few games; Roblox, Candy Crush, Sea of Thieves, etc.

Use bulk-enable UWP/Store support registry, reboot, download the file and put in C:\ then extract and run script inside. Update store/xbox etc and revert UWP/Store support with bulk-disable registry if desired.


Other services may be required depending on the specific app/game.

Required to manually install cumulative updates:
- Windows Update
- Update Orchestrator?


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Troubleshooting:

1. Ask away, anything in build could compromise certain computer configuration, since it is verified to work in VMWare it is most likely something hardware specific. Or maybe wrong iso image/ntlite version and/or premium limitation!

2. Test in a VM first (i.e. VMware). Make sure to select 'I will install an operating system later', otherwise the installation seems to use its own autoattend version. This can disguise problems which could popup on installation on a physical computer.

3. bcdedit, drivers, services or specific registry files could potentially break your specific setup or might not be optimal for your hardware, so target those first in case of problems. Also running old BIOS / CSM, lower than USB3 etc might not work out of the box.

4. I do not recommend using this profile on any other image or Windows 10 version, no support can be given.

5. Outbound connections are blocked in firewall by default.


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Disclaimer:
No guarantees for this profile or any of its updates. Fixes/changes can still be integrated later if found. Some elements might be catered to my specific hardware or personal preference and might not be ideal for you.

Credits:
Thanks to NTLite and forum member CLANGER for additional sources of useful registry tweaks!
 

Attachments

  • LTSC-All-Versions.zip
    1.1 MB
Last edited:
Hi,.. tried this preset on 17763.1.180914-1434.rs5_release_clientconsumer_ret_x64fre_en-us and mounted (at least tried) on VMWare, but installation didn't work well, it reported some error...
 

Attachments

  • 2019-01-10_233224.jpg
    2019-01-10_233224.jpg
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Hi,.. tried this preset on 17763.1.180914-1434.rs5_release_clientconsumer_ret_x64fre_en-us and mounted (at least tried) on VMWare, but installation didn't work well, it reported some error...

I see.

Well, could be anything, from different Windows build, different VMWare etc.. Try 3D Accel off or on in VMware perhaps? Since its related to dwm.exe?
 
Hi,.. tried this preset on 17763.1.180914-1434.rs5_release_clientconsumer_ret_x64fre_en-us and mounted (at least tried) on VMWare, but installation didn't work well, it reported some error...
Try to check VMWare in Compatibility as it would need some components not needed for non-virtual machines.
 
But the profile already inherits VMWare support and corresponding drivers, or did you take then out/redo profile?
 
MT_ ... I don't know what happened, maybe something when I added drivers from/for host machine, I mean my notebook... anyway this weekend I'll look at this deeper...
 
Why is it 2 power policy setting in post setup :O

Theres usually 3 profiles but with new win 10 builds some editions have 'Ultimate' setting. So I default delete Power saver and the old High Performance.

Since nobody has ever complained about performance degradation on the new profile or otherwise performance issues, I just decide to remove anything but Balanced and Ultimate :)

Still wise to go over the profiles manually yourself as well, as there are hidden entries like NVMe timeout states which can be adjusted. Default is like 200/2000ms.

PowerSettingsExplorer is what its called.
I also use it for USB3 Powersaving, Interrupt routing and disable core parking through GUI (min cores)
 
Almost perfect but not there yet. Still lots of issues after testing this out.
1- 209GB out of 232gb on a fresh install, where has my 10-15 GB gone? I get 218 GB on my non modified OS.
2- Firefox has a smooth scrolling issue with this after testing it out thoroughly and no other browsers seem to have this issue. Weird.
3- Media feature pack is needed for certain applications to run.
4- Startisback is having issues with linking the apps to the start menu
5- I'd recommend you uninstall and remove the network drivers as well so you can manually install everything.

Nitpicky but I feel like this is almost perfect just need help with these issues.
 
MT_ thanks a lot for your hard work.

Have some questions.
Is it possible for You to create a less Gutted version of Your profile?

**** First things first. I'm using your preset as base for Windows 10 Pro x64 version 1809!
NB! I have not integrated latest Security Cumulative of Windows and NET3/4. Do you have a good link to a tutorial?

When using Your profile, things that won't work or are not correctly working:

  1. Skype Metro app won't work (tried Enabling Windows Update Service, logging in to Windows App Store and reinstalling it)
  2. Kind of missing Notifications Panel, since it has several handy buttons for usage like "bluetooth" [yes some people use it occasionally :)],
ScreenSnip direct buttons, Nigh Light, Project, Tablet mode (For when you have a Touchscreen Laptop) and etc.
3) Do I absolutely have to make a Premeditated User with password?
Enable Auto-attend -> Autofill -> Create account and simple use built-in administrator, give it a name, password, change timezone and done.
4)Added My modified Preset to this post (based on yours).

Additionally info about my Preferences (Use Case scenarios):
I'm using
SmartCard / for Estonian ID Card usage!
WWAN Support for USB Internet Dongles (From local ISP vendors)
Printers
Streaming Software like Spotify
Using a lot of DLNA (Meaning media from my NAS).
Projector Connecting / Secondary Display possibilities in general!
Gaming
SketchUp Modelling
Virtualizing with 3rd party Apps like VMWare, VirtualBox
Encoding/Decoding Video/Audio (Asio support needed)
3rd party USB-C/USB-A Audio units
**** Although MS account login is not necessary / is it possible to let it be used if needed?
Heavy Web media usage!

1565
 
Last edited:
Almost perfect but not there yet. Still lots of issues after testing this out.
1- 209GB out of 232gb on a fresh install, where has my 10-15 GB gone? I get 218 GB on my non modified OS.
2- Firefox has a smooth scrolling issue with this after testing it out thoroughly and no other browsers seem to have this issue. Weird.
3- Media feature pack is needed for certain applications to run.
4- Startisback is having issues with linking the apps to the start menu
5- I'd recommend you uninstall and remove the network drivers as well so you can manually install everything.

Nitpicky but I feel like this is almost perfect just need help with these issues.

Perhaps the 16GB pagefile addressed? Like the title says, its not an 'absolutely minimized' LTSC build as that would indeed break more than it fixes. Whatever runs in memory is still more important than stripping out literally 90% that is not even touched in runtime cases.

I can run Sea of thieves on this build and tried Candy Crush just to see if it all worked, which it does. But there is so much different use case scenarios its impossible for 1 man to test possibly all pieces of software :p

Also differences in Windows builds/security patches etc... At the end people should probably use profiles as a blueprint and work themselves up from there to find what they think works best.

For personal usage, I just make sure that nothing that does not help me in any way with gaming gets unloaded out of memory, I dont even care that much for the actual installation footprint. Runtime performance > space used.
 
At the end people should probably use profiles as a blueprint and work themselves up from there to find what they think works best.
:cool: There aint no one size fits all in this game. If there are 100 NTLite users(for instance) then there will be 100 different configurations.
 
Last edited:
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Hello,
Thanks for sharing your profile, any idea how to fix this error 0x80080206 when trying to install Sea of Thieves?
 
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