Is there a guide on how to install a minimalist version of Windows 11 or how to remove all of the MS junk?
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I've seen a lot of complaints and Windows 11 on Lemmy, (ads in the OS, intrusive AI, SSD damage, privacy issues, etc.) I've gone to Linux on my laptop, but I don't believe I can do this for my daily driver desktop. So if I'm forced to update to 11, I'd like to do so in the "safest possible manner." Any guidance would be appreciated.
ShutUp10 has been my go-to for many years. (Yes it does 11 too)
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Protondb
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I've seen a lot of complaints and Windows 11 on Lemmy, (ads in the OS, intrusive AI, SSD damage, privacy issues, etc.) I've gone to Linux on my laptop, but I don't believe I can do this for my daily driver desktop. So if I'm forced to update to 11, I'd like to do so in the "safest possible manner." Any guidance would be appreciated.
Install the LTSC IoT edition of Windows, which comes minus the bloat. It's sort of an official Microsoft minimal install version. You can activate it with the scripts you find at massgrave.
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You know how there's those large burials that happen sometimes? What would you call a place where lots of deceased humans are buried?
Pretend I am 5 and have just discovered the internet. Please.
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ShutUp10 has been my go-to for many years. (Yes it does 11 too)
updates brick this
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Pretend I am 5 and have just discovered the internet. Please.
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What I do is a clean installation with Rufus (disabling ram limitation, bitlocker among other things), then I run Crapfixer, next I remove Bing, OneDrive, default video player, etc. with RevoUninstaller. Finally I do install my own drop-in replacements for video player, image viewer, and so on.
And then you have to re-verify your changes after every update.
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Install the LTSC IoT edition of Windows, which comes minus the bloat. It's sort of an official Microsoft minimal install version. You can activate it with the scripts you find at massgrave.
This is the best answer, by far. Also look to use StartAllBack on top of that. Best modern Windows experience.
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Pretend I am 5 and have just discovered the internet. Please.
Massgrave.dev
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You can use Chris Titus tool to make a debloated usb before even having to install it. You download the official .iso from MS, and use his tool instead of Rufus to burn a debloated minimal version to a bootable usb.
If one wants to use Windows for some stupid reason, this tool I would second. Otherwise, join the Free Software side and use Linux.
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Only a few settings on some updates, and then you just run your saved template and reboot and it's back to normal
Although I see there are some better minimal install options in the other comments -
I've seen a lot of complaints and Windows 11 on Lemmy, (ads in the OS, intrusive AI, SSD damage, privacy issues, etc.) I've gone to Linux on my laptop, but I don't believe I can do this for my daily driver desktop. So if I'm forced to update to 11, I'd like to do so in the "safest possible manner." Any guidance would be appreciated.
I use this:
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I've seen a lot of complaints and Windows 11 on Lemmy, (ads in the OS, intrusive AI, SSD damage, privacy issues, etc.) I've gone to Linux on my laptop, but I don't believe I can do this for my daily driver desktop. So if I'm forced to update to 11, I'd like to do so in the "safest possible manner." Any guidance would be appreciated.
https://archive.org/details/tiny-11-NTDEV
Tiny11. But be careful not to update this.
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I've seen a lot of complaints and Windows 11 on Lemmy, (ads in the OS, intrusive AI, SSD damage, privacy issues, etc.) I've gone to Linux on my laptop, but I don't believe I can do this for my daily driver desktop. So if I'm forced to update to 11, I'd like to do so in the "safest possible manner." Any guidance would be appreciated.
Before I went all in with Linux I used to make a custom autounattended.xml file that you dump in the usb installer root. This tool makes it easy to generate one with your desired options:
https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/
Then after install, use ShutUp10 to block telemetry/keyloggers/sync and run after every Windows Update because Microsoft resets these things often.
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Install the LTSC IoT edition of Windows, which comes minus the bloat. It's sort of an official Microsoft minimal install version. You can activate it with the scripts you find at massgrave.
this one
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Install the LTSC IoT edition of Windows, which comes minus the bloat. It's sort of an official Microsoft minimal install version. You can activate it with the scripts you find at massgrave.
Thirded! Its what i use on my only non-linux pc. I will help you make a bootable usb drive if you want.
I installed it 2 years ago. In that time, it has received maybe 4 or 5 updates requiring a reboot. Everytime, i go to check to see if it has reinstalled Edge or any AI bloatware. It has not. -
https://archive.org/details/tiny-11-NTDEV
Tiny11. But be careful not to update this.
If you're not supposed to update the install, why not stay on win10 that isn't going to get updates after next month?
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Before I went all in with Linux I used to make a custom autounattended.xml file that you dump in the usb installer root. This tool makes it easy to generate one with your desired options:
https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/
Then after install, use ShutUp10 to block telemetry/keyloggers/sync and run after every Windows Update because Microsoft resets these things often.
Afaik there is an option in the autounattend tk run scripts at first logon. This could be used to run the ShutUp10 script and create a schuled task that keeps it enabled too
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And then you have to re-verify your changes after every update.
Yes.
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Protondb.
I'll say, almost every game is likely going to work unless it has shitty kernel anti cheat, and we shouldn't support those games anyways.
Vr is a little bit of a hassle but it does work. Its only a little more jank than windows.
