This document is aimed at UNIX users who are stuck with Windows in some fashion and really do not know how to easily make Windows behave in any desired manner.
Let us look at some things we want to disable or otherwise configure and find ways to allow us to place a configuration file on a website, download it and seconds later have a perfect Windows session just like we like it.
Anything documented here can be applied to the Default User during install so all new accounts get the same defaults.
TODO: Insert tips that Limited User accounts can use to automatically configure their session to make them feel at home on a new computer.
TODO: Tips for Admins to automatically remove annoying features and configure their applications on a system-wide basis.
Some helpful basic knowledge:
One may choose to import all the Windows binaries into a version control tool and treat them as source files. It then becomes feasible to run Service Pack or Hotfix updates on a working copy and then do a normal checkin afterwards. Combined with normal software configuration management procedures such as branching and tagging, this allows for strict revision control of the base Windows install.
This is especially attractive in PXE-based environments where new installs can be tested without wasting CD-Rs or other types of disposable media.
There is free (or cheap) good software available for Windows for most purposes.