american built custom pc in EEA can't uninstall edge and is otherwise non compliant with DMA

cc dd 0

so I have an american build pc but it does not allow me to uninstall edge and get rid of bing. I expect someone from support to let me know how to uninstall this. its software was fully updated before shipped and so its w11 version 22631.3374 I did turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available" as instructed by https://blogs.microsoft.com/eupolicy/2024/03/07/microsoft-dma-compliance-windows-linkedin/ that article however it did not find any other updates.

So let me know what needs to be installed or changed to wipe out edge and kick bing off the computer as well. i do not see bing in the apps list but im getting bing results in the FILE search when im searching for FILES and there is still bing stuff on the lock screen.

Thank you and no im not going to reinstall the os as im not violating the DMA by having this machine made outside of the EEA and shipped here. now that it is here it must comply with the laws here

I also question what happens when i use a vpn so the DMA fix must be permanent I don't want edge to come back when i connect to some other country.

in short please send me the EEA DMA patches to get my machine in compliance.

1 answer

Yu Zhou-MSFT 12,061 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-04-01T03:14:32.44+00:00

Hi @cc dd

From this blog, you can refer to this paragraph European Economic Area PCs:

As noted above, some functionality is only available in the EEA. Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA. Once chosen in device setup, the region used for DMA compliance can only be changed by resetting the PC.

As you mentioned that your PC is American build, if it doesn't choose EEA region when setup, Windows won't identify it's an EEA PC. That's why you can't uninstall Edge and Bing web search. If you want to make your PC in DMA EEA compliance, the only way is reinstalling it: Give your PC a Fresh Start.

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Yu Zhou
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cc dd 0 Reputation points

2024-04-01T23:50:19.1766667+00:00

nobody should be required to reinstall windows just to get these options. I am positive there are many many people in the eea with systems set to united states or some other country outside of the eea like uk. it is unreasonable to expect all these people to pay for a shop to reinstall their operating system when the law states this must be made available to people in the EEA covered by the DMA. the law does NOT state "people must pay for a reinstall of their operating system or perform one themselves to be covered by the DMA laws" instead it states that "windows users in the EEA under the DMA must be allowed to uninstall these things" nothing about paying for more work or having the extreme inconvenience of reinstalling windows to access these options.

Yu Zhou-MSFT 12,061 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-04-02T05:31:11.06+00:00

Hi @cc dd

Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA. You need to meet this prerequisite first. You could provide feedback in Windows Feedback Hub if you have any concerns. Thanks for your understanding!

cc dd 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T15:10:25.6633333+00:00

well i just used a test machine installed w11 pro n workstation edition set it to ireland during initial setup installed all the updates including the ones after you select get them as soon as they are available as per the instructions from the link above and os build is 22631.3374 with experience pack 1000.22688.1000.0

and with all that there is still no option to uninstall edge also this is a brand new install. but again ms is in violation of the dma if someone has to fully reinstall their os just to get what the dma gives them by law. in short its an unreasonable amount of hassle to the citizens under the dma. its equivalent to saying the only way the laws work for murder is if the victim was wearing a "dont murder me" tshirt at the time of the murder. that would also be unreasonable. its probably more similar to indentured servitude where "freedom" only happens after doing something or paying back a debt.

anyway i am sure there are plenty of people me included that would like to know how a fresh install of windows in ireland with all current updates is not giving the option to trash ms bloatware?

either which way that new install should allow deleting of edge and other ms bloatware but it does not. do you know why perhaps? also none of this is directed at you just so you know. I am hoping either ms sees it and fixes it and or an eea lawyer sees it and starts a class action suit against ms over this because that would be cherry ;)

in short thank you for helping and posting ... it is what i was thinking might be what was going on but there has to be a different way. maybe a reg key to flip or something. but testing with a new install shows its still not following the law.

cc dd 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T15:22:22.8133333+00:00

ok so it did post my comment just late thought it deleted it

cc dd 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T15:24:04.03+00:00

and now i cant delete these other follow up posts

Yu Zhou-MSFT 12,061 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-04-03T05:24:17.0533333+00:00

Hi @cc dd

You could restart the Ireland computer after installing the updates to see if there's any changes. If it still doesn't show uninstall option for Edge, I suggest that you can provide feedback to Edge team by pressing Alt+Shift+I in Edge, or you can open a support ticket regarding this issue by choosing "Support for business" in this link: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/support/?form=MA13LH.

cc dd 0 Reputation points

2024-04-03T13:58:00.0866667+00:00

ok cool i will do that and yes its been restarted a few times
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