>>11827246
2/2
Now download Glary Utilities. This is one of those "PC tuner" type programs, except this one isn't glorified malware and actually works. You can use it to disable startup apps so you don't have a bunch of bullshit hogging your resources, delete redundant registry entries, and so on.
Next, optimize your interface. Disable stupid taskbar features, get rid of the tiles in the start menu, remove the cortana and taskview shortcuts, etc. Basically, disable as many extraneous visual features as possible and add shortcuts where necessary to make accessing what you actually use as easily as possible.
You have now achieved computer 0. You have a blank slate with no ads and popups and annoying quirks. At this point, it's just a matter of installing what you want, and potentially re-enabling certain features that you need for work or play (e.g. voice and video if you have to do conference calls for work).
The only other thing I'd recommend, if you want to keep life simple, is learn how to disconnect from DRM and subscription services. If you pay for spotify, learn to rip mp3s from youtube or elsewhere and have the music downloaded on your computer instead of streaming it. If you pay for netflix or hulu, learn to pirate videos similarly. Don't use steam, pirate what you can and have a dedicated games folder with shortcuts to each game .exe. If you insist on paying for games, gog is a much better option. So on and so on.
At this point, you will have a modern Windows PC that offers an experience which is altogether inseparable from XP at its best, but faster and more efficient. This whole process might take you a whole lazy afternoon, but once you do it, you'll never need to do it again and the hours you spent will be nothing compared to the untold amounts of frustration and wasted seconds you'll avoid thereafter.
