My new PC will be delivered this week. I've never used 11. I've had 8 all this time. I spent the extra money to get Windows 11 Pro in the hopes I could avoid more annoyances that way. I just wasn't willing to jump into Unix.
I just want the desktop and not whatever new horrors Windows tries to force on you since 8. I have a Charms Bar killer app for 8. Why anybody would want super annoying non-desktop crap is beyond me.
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What can I do to eliminate annoyances - bloatware, spyware, etc.
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What should I do to protect my privacy from Microsoft? I want to turn everything off that reports to the fucking MS mothership.
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What apps, utilities, etc should I install? I'd like to use non-MS apps and utilities instead of whatever garbage comes with Windows.
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What apps, utilities, etc should I avoid?
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What am I forgetting to ask?
this is the version i use, its least bloated.
https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links
activate using https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
Additionally, no matter what Windows ISO you run, use MAS and change your edition to Enterprise. You can configure a Windows Group Policy that sets telemetry even lower than normally possible (I used to think this set it to zero telemetry, but apparently that's not the case). Windows will only honour this setting if you're running an Enterprise build.
In the case of OP this comes with one small caveat however, which is that the Windows key they paid extra for is useless
Is it possible to either convert a different install of Win10 to LTSC or dual-boot Win10 and 11?
you can convert to Enterprise using MAS like the other person suggested. Even Enterprise (non-LTSC) clears any 'regular' Windows 11 versions.
I strongly second this. Use stock Windows 11 for a few days then try this. The difference is immensse.