How to upgrade to Windows 11 with as much privacy, freedom and efficiency as possible
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You obviously didnt read the post
You obviously didn't format it.
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I'd just replace Rufus with Ventoy.
Best concept for a piece of software I've discovered after being a happy Rufus user for years.
Ventoy is so goated, I used Rufus then Balena for ages, then YUMI, and finally Ventoy. I've got a 128gb tiny USB attached to my phone case with every OS and utility I could need with over 80gb still free for file storage. Being able to download an iso and copy it with no software is huge, like in an emergency I could download an ISO on my phone if needed
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True. Windows 10 is atrocious. I have to say, a debloated Win11 feels almost too good.
So, lets focus on making Linux distros shiny and easy to use!
If you don't think the modern Linux distro are shiny and easy to use, how long has it been since you tried? There are plenty of feature complete distros that are shiny and modern and comfortable to start using as a lifelong windows user
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I mean, this is about privacy, is it not? It's pretty well-known by now that Windows mines your data.
It's either private or it's Windows.
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If you don't think the modern Linux distro are shiny and easy to use, how long has it been since you tried? There are plenty of feature complete distros that are shiny and modern and comfortable to start using as a lifelong windows user
I tried switching to linux permanently three times. Each time it got easier and more polished until eventually I didn't go back.
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- Go to linuxmint.com
- Download
- Write to usb with rufus
- Reboot using the usb
- Install
- Done
I'm one of those morons that really hates himself so is running systems that are highly optimized (hardened, custom kernels, no systemd) and all I can say, yes, mint cheff's kiss
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I'm one of those morons that really hates himself so is running systems that are highly optimized (hardened, custom kernels, no systemd) and all I can say, yes, mint cheff's kiss
Exactly. I used to play with installing different Linux distros all the time, just to see what was available. And when you use Linux Mint, your computer just fucking works. You install the damn thing, and then you just use it, and use it, and use it until the fucking wheels fall off.
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Exactly. I used to play with installing different Linux distros all the time, just to see what was available. And when you use Linux Mint, your computer just fucking works. You install the damn thing, and then you just use it, and use it, and use it until the fucking wheels fall off.
Yeah, its damn solid. In the same vein I am testing the atomic release of fedora, really hard to break that thing, same goes for bazzite.
Now i'm thinking ... an atomic release of mint would be ... wow
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Yeah, its damn solid. In the same vein I am testing the atomic release of fedora, really hard to break that thing, same goes for bazzite.
Now i'm thinking ... an atomic release of mint would be ... wow
I don't know much about atomic releases. Is that in any way similar to immutable distros such as NixOS? If so, and you ran mid in that way, it ought to be damn near impossible to break.
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How do you want to read this Brick
Andi Summary:
How to Upgrade to Windows 11 While Maintaining Privacy and Control
Before You Start
- Back up all important files to an external drive or cloud storage
- Verify system compatibility using Microsoft's PC Health Check app
- Disable third-party antivirus software temporarily to prevent installation conflicts
Most Efficient Method
- Download the Windows 11 ISO file directly from Microsoft's website
- Mount the ISO by right-clicking and selecting "Mount"
- Run setup.exe as administrator from the mounted drive
- During installation, select "Keep personal files and apps" for fastest transition
Privacy-Focused Settings
- During initial setup, decline optional data collection and analytics
- Skip the "complete installation" prompts for Edge browser and OneDrive backup
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security after installation to disable unwanted tracking features
Maintain Control
- Move the Start menu back to the left: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors
- Restore classic context menus and file explorer views for better efficiency
- Set up default apps through Settings > Apps > Default apps to avoid Microsoft's preferred applications
Recovery Options
- Within 10 days of upgrading, you can roll back to Windows 10 through Settings > System > Recovery
- Keep your Windows 10 backup for 30 days until you're comfortable with Windows 11
: PCWorld - How to upgrade to Windows 11: Every option explained
: Prajwal Desai - Best Guide to Upgrade to Windows 11
: PCWorld - How to update from Windows 10 to Windows 11I?ll add also WindHawk, which is imperative in W11
Meh. Pretty useless IMHO. There are plenty of tricks to apply after this basic stuff and even then, they will try to insert new telemetry on every small update.
It's now worth the fight. Try to switch to Linux mint and have a dual boot for relevant software like Adobe. -
I'm one of those morons that really hates himself so is running systems that are highly optimized (hardened, custom kernels, no systemd) and all I can say, yes, mint cheff's kiss
Hardened Gentoo?
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If you don't think the modern Linux distro are shiny and easy to use, how long has it been since you tried? There are plenty of feature complete distros that are shiny and modern and comfortable to start using as a lifelong windows user
I am daily driving Linux...
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Exactly. I used to play with installing different Linux distros all the time, just to see what was available. And when you use Linux Mint, your computer just fucking works. You install the damn thing, and then you just use it, and use it, and use it until the fucking wheels fall off.
This. Is. About. People. Needing. Windows. Only. Software.
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You obviously didn't format it.
Format what?
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How do you want to read this Brick
Andi Summary:
How to Upgrade to Windows 11 While Maintaining Privacy and Control
Before You Start
- Back up all important files to an external drive or cloud storage
- Verify system compatibility using Microsoft's PC Health Check app
- Disable third-party antivirus software temporarily to prevent installation conflicts
Most Efficient Method
- Download the Windows 11 ISO file directly from Microsoft's website
- Mount the ISO by right-clicking and selecting "Mount"
- Run setup.exe as administrator from the mounted drive
- During installation, select "Keep personal files and apps" for fastest transition
Privacy-Focused Settings
- During initial setup, decline optional data collection and analytics
- Skip the "complete installation" prompts for Edge browser and OneDrive backup
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security after installation to disable unwanted tracking features
Maintain Control
- Move the Start menu back to the left: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors
- Restore classic context menus and file explorer views for better efficiency
- Set up default apps through Settings > Apps > Default apps to avoid Microsoft's preferred applications
Recovery Options
- Within 10 days of upgrading, you can roll back to Windows 10 through Settings > System > Recovery
- Keep your Windows 10 backup for 30 days until you're comfortable with Windows 11
: PCWorld - How to upgrade to Windows 11: Every option explained
: Prajwal Desai - Best Guide to Upgrade to Windows 11
: PCWorld - How to update from Windows 10 to Windows 11I?ll add also WindHawk, which is imperative in W11
Uhm this is a link. Click on it.
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To be fair, while Microsoft is absolutely vile for such restrictions, I think people overestimate how many people would switch computers just to get Windows 11. It's probably a concern for big corporations indeed, but regular users? I don't think so. Most people don't see anything wrong with staying on an OS that doesn't receive updates. A lot of them already do so - on their phones, because the support is so short! I am now in the process of switching my father to Linux, and it's genuinely hard to explain him why he has to get used to a different OS: his reaction to "But Windows 10 would no longer receive security updates!" is "So what?". Windows 7 probably would've still had a high market share if 10 had a similar system requirements change.
Every work from home person and every corporate end point will be upgrading; simply due to legal liability for the corporations. That alone is hundreds of millions of pcs and laptops getting thrown out (because anyone in IT knows no corpo is going to pay the extra hours to recycle properly).
Average users with no liability? Plenty will stay on win 10 until their use case no longer works, i.e. when steam dropped win vista compatibility, but plenty will be scared enough to upgrade.
The weird part will be seeing who sidegrades to a tablet in the corporate environment. Many android tablets can do everything needed for office work, and don't have the same security cross section. Most app front ends are electron anyway these days so its not like x86 is needed.
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Mind to tell me what is missing then? NextDNS or Portmaster could be used, but they add more complexity. And as said, Windows should not be considered a safe OS so hardening it is kinda useless
That’s the point. Windows 11 cannot be made to be a private OS. So you have to adjust your privacy model instead if you want to use it.
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Meh. Pretty useless IMHO. There are plenty of tricks to apply after this basic stuff and even then, they will try to insert new telemetry on every small update.
It's now worth the fight. Try to switch to Linux mint and have a dual boot for relevant software like Adobe.Yes, dual boot is an option, but for certain things user need to use Windows. But you can make Windows a valid, fast and private OS, not so easy but possible. Telemetries re a minor problem and easy to avoid not needed. My W11 instalation has less than 1 GB and there is nothing working in the background which I don't want. Certainly I don't use any of the default Windows apps, nor the infame powersHell. Only the Defender and security updates.
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That’s the point. Windows 11 cannot be made to be a private OS. So you have to adjust your privacy model instead if you want to use it.
Ok so there is no point?
What you said is mentioned in the post multiple times. Poorly, node.js garbage like Adobe creative garbage blocks Linux for no reason, so Windows is needed.
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- Go to linuxmint.com
- Download
- Write to usb with rufus
- Reboot using the usb
- Install
- Done
I know you think you’re being clever. But what you really are is arrogant. Telling someone the answer to their problem is to do as you do, instead of helping them with their issue.
