Fresh reload of Windows 10 and the way it looks

My Laptop SSD drive failed, totally so I lost everything and a reload of Windows 10 looks different. Some good, some bad.

1. One of the bad for me is the page/screen at power-up. Use to be just the BACKGROUND, Internet connection icon to logon.
Now Windows has added extra stuff of "do you like this? Do you like that?.....".I can not find a way to get rid of this "extra" stuff, etc.
Must be someway to get back to a CLEAN PICTURE/BACKGROUND??
Is there?
2. I use my Taskbar on the LEFT due to width versus height of a computer screen [better proportion]. I can make my TASKBAR Icons really small. BUT my "small icons" on my: DESKTOP Icons are BIG in proportions. [ View > Large icons, Medium icons, Small icons] to the size of the Taskbar Icons.
Desktop Icons, is SMALL the smallest I can make them??

Are you talking about the lock screen? there are plenty of tutorials and tweeks to get it where you want.
Or as I have done, disable it all together. Since I'm the only one using them and don't keep anything value on the laptops
I find no need for it.

jagman said:

Now Windows has added extra stuff of "do you like this? Do you like that?.....".I can not find a way to get rid of this "extra" stuff, etc.
Must be someway to get back to a CLEAN PICTURE/BACKGROUND??

The "do you like this?" message is the Spotlight picture on the Lock screen, you can turn off Spotlight....

Change Lock Screen Background in Windows 10 | Tutorials

...also, you could disable Secure Sign in to remove the lock screen at start up.

Enable or Disable Secure Sign-in with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows 10 | Tutorials

Bree: I think you got it. Seems to be LOCK SCREEN that eliminates the "cutesy", notes, advertisements Microsoft displays on startup. Thx.

BREE: You may know this. I see on example/site that explained LOCK SCREEN, there was an example showing a CALENDAR reminder could be put on the STARTUP SCREEN. I have a Doctors appointment coming up, I put on my CALENDAR, but do you know how to get, like the example, my STARTUP screen?

Bree said:

The "do you like this?" message is the Spotlight picture on the Lock screen, you can turn off Spotlight....

That is the funniest thing I've ever seen, "do you like this" with no way of saying HELL NO!!!

Your right there......