TL;DR:
The Windows File Explorer is now dependent on Microsoft Recall being installed on Windows 11 24H2 editions and likely later.
This means that if you wish to use newer versions of the Window file explorer, you have to install recall on your system. Recall is a deeply-rooted, non-negotiable feature on all modern versions of Windows.
Solution
If you wish to strip out recall from your system, you are no longer able to use the built-in graphical file explorer and must use a third-party tool, and if you're not allowed to do that on the machine, then you are forced to have recall running on the system as it doesn't appear on any graphical settings pages.
The other solution is to prepare for transitioning into a free operating system such as GNU/Linux with distributions such as Linux Mint which is designed specifically for that transition. You can also run an older version of Windows and refuse to update.
Errata
Turns out that this issue has been exaggerated and that there are ways to disable co-pilot on Windows machines (or at the very least, command Windows to do so). Also it's debatable whether this program does any harm on non "copilot" computers but you can be the judge of that.
It's a cheap NIC I had in the box of undifferentiated PC parts. TP Link, idk, archer 600 or something? It's in the closet now. This is apparently the only nic in the world that isn't plug and play with Linux, so in accordance with the fundamental principle of the Perversity of the Universe that's the one that I had.
Ah I see: tp link ac600? Yup all the instructions seem to involve git. I'd say fuck that, spend $10-20 for a known compatible device. (Unless money is worth more than time, in which case try another distro and see if you have better luck..)
here is a list: https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/The_Short_List.md
Or just search on amazon for linux + read the reviews to see what others have said.