Because its buried far down and I can’t edit my post, I want to hijack this post to point out that it turns out in newer builds MS has actually removed the Candy Crush auto installation.

https://mspoweruser.com/rejoice-windows-users-candy-crush-is...

I didn’t notice because my Windows 10 image is out of date, presumably getting the latest ISO would fix the problem.

Nope. This feature bootstraps from the web and it's still in the latest update post-fresh install. This article is incorrect.

I will investigate, but if you have a solid source for that it would save me the trouble. Thanks anyways. I’d really like for MS to stop doing this if they haven’t, I have a personal ban on running Windows outside of VMs until its over.

UPDATE:

Sigh... you are correct. Fresh install, Win10 Pro, same garbage.

https://i.imgur.com/zDWo4Hb.png

Are you signed into Microsoft account or using local account?

I've heard that Microsoft account sync the start menu layout, so it might come from your previous install.

I'm using Win10 1903 fresh install (local account) and I haven't get candy crush tile ever.

Previously a fresh install was enough to fix windows. Does it mean that you need a new online account every time you reinstall?

Local account. If you are connected to the network it tries to download it.

most people think that the start menu ribbons are things that are installed. however with windows pro for home users you might also get candy crush, but there is also windows pro for business which only has some ribbons like bubble witch that would install it, when clicked.

i'm still always confused why somebody creates two versions and label them 'as business' and as home use.

So are most big corps methinks. Here about Nokia death caused by internal tension between depts ? Sony sub-units more or less completely independent (selling cd and cd-burners).

Sony is NOT like that.

For example their phones have extremely complicated DRM that makes everything slower (and reserves tons of memory and even affects things like camera) because of their movie and music business.

Oh man, I couldn't stop giggling looking at the Microsoft and Oracle org charts. Those two pictures capture those two organizations completely.

I've talked to some Microsoft employees who use the Server edition of Windows on their primary development machines, especially instead of Windows 10, since they can legally do that easily. Apparently it's somewhat popular to do that. I think it's quite telling when its own employees avoid Win10.