W10 -
Nanami still applies for most things, most programs here apply for 8 too.


                                             / Basics


       ~ Taskbar color, start menu and explorer options.
http://www.classicshell.net


       ~ Explorer options; remove up button and ribbon.
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/170375-oldnewexplorer-117


       ~ To remove language indicator.
http://www.askvg.com/fix-input-indicator-icon-comes-back-in-taskbar-notification-area-after-restarting-windows


       ~ Change global text, border size, titlebar color, switch to W10 "Dark Theme" and much more.
http://winaero.com/download.php?view.1796


       ~ List of shortcuts.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/keyboard-shortcuts

Most helpful:
Win + i - Open Settings
Win + Tab - Task View
Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow - Switch desktops
Alt + P - Show/Hide Preview Pane
Win + G - Game bar
Win X - Open Quick Link - Same as right clicking start button
Win + M - Minimize all
Win + Shift + M - Restore all
Win + Down - Minimize window
Win + C - Activate Cortana
Win + L - Lock pc


                                             / Privacy & solutions.

       ~ Prevent automatic updates.
http://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent-windows-10-from-automatically-downloading-updates
You should also do this w/ your drivers as updating both W10 and your drivers has been known to cause problems.
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2763685/stop-windows-automatically-updating-device-drivers.html


       ~ About "muh privacy" with W10.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/no-microsoft-is-not-spying-on-you-with-windows-10
http://lifehacker.com/what-windows-10s-privacy-nightmare-settings-actually-1722267229
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3h5wwg


        ~ Automatic restart after updates.
http://lifehacker.com/prevent-windows-10-from-automatically-restarting-your-p-1723647582


        ~ Start menu stops working, W10 apps don't open, doesn't perform properly.
Restart explorer, if not then your PC, it's depressing how much time you can waste troubleshooting when restarting either fixes most problems.
But, it could also be corrupt files or broken W10 apps, so look into it.
http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/has-your-windows-10-start-menu-stopped-working-here-are-four-ways-to-fix-it-11364000314532



                                             / VS's


       ~ Visual Styles.
http://www.deviantart.com/browse/all/customization/skins/windows/win10/


        ~ Patching for Visual Styles.
Create a system restore point before delving into any of these.~


        ~ Method 1: UxStyle Method - http://pastebin.com/Fsn6RrJe
(Source: http://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/70555-Uxstyle-and-Theme-Signature-Bypass-for-Windows-10-TH2-AKA-1511-AKA-10586)
No system 32 files need changing, Windows could overwrite the folder in an update and you'd have to set it up again, when switching between VS's UxStyle can stop working and needs to be reinstalled using the launcher, but it is the safest method of patching.

        ~ Method 2: UXThemePatcher Method - http://hs1987.deviantart.com/art/UXThemePatcher-For-Windows-10-Version-1511-10586-588288175
UXThemePatcher has been updated to work on 10 and has been tested on the latest version, but a lot of people complain that it causes troubles, can break Explorer so just be warned, VS fonts apply globally w/o other program.


        ~ Patching questions.
   UxStyle doesn't work/gives error?
Uninstall previous versions, use Microsoft's 'Fix It' program to uninstall the old version completely.

   After I lock my pc/put it to sleep parts of the theme breaks or when switching between themes the patcher doesn't work anymore?
Known UxStyle problem, re-enable the theme or reinstall UxStyle.

   Difference between UxStyle and UxThemePatcher?
UxStyle doesn't replace system files, which right now means that it only temporarily patches, and so you have to run the .exe again or reapply themes when you log off etc, it's safe but it can be inconvenient.

UxThemePatcher replaces system files which can cause problems, it's also been known to cause problems when uninstalling and leave users with a bsod.

  I broke explorer/broke my pc, halp?
That's why you  c r e a t e   a   s y s t e m   r e s t o r e   p o i n t   p r i o r.


        ~ Creating/editing Visual Styles.
Most questions are answered here about where certain values are located: http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=390l8b5fqcpcqfhbop47nucua5&board=27.0

DL from here: https://a.pomf.cat/tbifcy.7z
Or buy a registration then DL the latest working version from this thread: http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2130.0


                                             / "Advanced"


        ~ Debloat (disable features you don't use).
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7247-windows-features-turn-off-windows-10-a.html
Hxc debloat (only for a madman): https://imgur.com/npiQe16


        ~ Registry Tweaks (create a restore point and triple check what you're doing)

Remove One Drive, Network etc from Navigation Pane: http://www.askvg.com/windows-10-tip-remove-onedrive-quick-access-homegroup-and-network-icons-from-navigation-pane-of-this-pc/

Remove Display Settings from desktop context menu: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/24936-display-settings-desktop-context-menu-add-remove-windows-10-a.html

Remove Personalize from desktop context menu: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/25058-personalize-desktop-context-menu-add-remove-windows-10-a.html

Custom Quick Access icon: Find " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}\DefaultIcon" in Regedit, have full control on DefaultIcon, change data path to the ico, basically steps 1 to 10 from here: http://windowscustoms.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/how-to-change-windows-10-quick-access.html

Add programs to desktop context menu: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-any-application-to-the-desktop-right-click-menu-in-vista/

Remove border for video files: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/48535-thumbnail-previews-change-border.html
Even though the tutorial is for W7 it does also work for 10, but I'd still suggest using Method 2 to be safe.



        ~ Custom Start Menu Tiles.
http://www.motzek.org/MyTile.rar
Tile.png is a template of the size and placement of the icon that your tiles should have.
First make a shortcut (make sure it's a .lnk) of the program you want to change, then go to "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and move it there, then find the path in MyTile and change the image, if you did it correct the image will change immediately.
Some programs, especially 10 apps, won't show up in MyTile because they won't be a .lnk.
To set it back to the default image delete the tile and pin it again.


        ~ Change icon of file types.
FilesTypesMan - http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html
Doesn't require installation, just run it, find the file type you want to change, double click it, and choose the icon you want, may require refreshing FilesTypesMan or logging off and back on for it to apply.



Credits for all this crap:
google.com
tenforums.com
A bunch of a+ DA ricers.

--