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Windows 11 fresh install to do list

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sram

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I don't want to but I have to switch to windows 11 because windows 10 support will end soon so you will have to switch and I'm also getting a new system and it only makes sense to install windows 11 in it. So what's your proven to work "to do list" that can be used to get rid of Microsoft’s bloat, telemetry, annoying background nonsense and other junk??? I know there is a program called shut up 10 which I used previously with my different windows 10 installations but I think there is more it to completely shut up windows 11 than just installing a little software. I haven't used windows 11 except in work computers which you can't mess with of course. I'll install it soon however in my new system and i'm planning to rid it off all unnecessary stuff.

Thanks in advance.
 
During Win11 setup when you are choosing the language, choose (i think its called) English (Worldwide) or something like that. It doesnt install any of the bloatware.
 
Well I have this Acemagic S1 and I deleted the SSD and installed 11 ofc and things are good. Yes my bypass create a local account. Yes I installed various programs like Active@ Boot Disk, All video Downloader Pro, K Lite, Start11 etc. I Do have WAU Manager to pause updates or whatever. I did install WIN10ET just for kicks at once point but that needed Wi-Fi Drivers which I used Driver Booster for that only Driver. I may Go Back to it teehee
 
Alternatively, there's Windows 10 21H2 IoT LTSC, if you don't mind grey market keys.
 
azrael said:
Alternatively, there's Windows 10 21H2 IoT LTSC, if you don't mind grey market keys.
Click to expand...
Never heard of it before but it looks promising now that you mentioned it. Does it lack any of the standard features available in regular windows? Will a normal casual user be able to run everything on it?
 
sram said:
Never heard of it before but it looks promising now that you mentioned it. Does it lack any of the standard features available in regular windows? Will a normal casual user be able to run everything on it?
Click to expand...
It lacks some of the stuff most people are happy to be rid of. Some of it you can easily (re)install. Best thing about it is support until 2031. If you've got an Alder Lake or newer Intel CPU you might be best off with Win 11, though, because of the improved core scheduler.
 
sram said:
Never heard of it before but it looks promising now that you mentioned it. Does it lack any of the standard features available in regular windows? Will a normal casual user be able to run everything on it?
Click to expand...

The only major thing that comes to mind is Store, which is absent in all LTSC but easily reinstalled if needed with a single command in PowerShell (wsreset -i). I'm on Win11 LTSC and it's much the same experience as previous versions - no bs everywhere.
 
And how do you obtain the keys? And if there is an LTSC version of windows 11, then it should better than the LTSC version of windows 10 (Better support with no bloatware). Right?
 
tabascosauz said:
The only major thing that comes to mind is Store, which is absent in all LTSC but easily reinstalled if needed with a single command in PowerShell (wsreset -i). I'm on Win11 LTSC and it's much the same experience as previous versions - no bs everywhere.
Click to expand...
Yes sir.

And once you install the store you can get App Installer from the store, and then it is a breeze to add and remove WinUI/UWP apps.

sram said:
And how do you obtain the keys? And if there is an LTSC version of windows 11, then it should better than the LTSC version of windows 10 (Better support with no bloatware). Right?
Click to expand...
The proper way is through your microsoft account manager or through an authorized distributor.

https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/en-us/connect/distributor

But many places that sell windows licenses have it. Even newegg and cdw. Seems legit enough. You're buying in good faith, and they are selling for the whole world to see.
 
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sram said:
And how do you obtain the keys? And if there is an LTSC version of windows 11, then it should better than the LTSC version of windows 10 (Better support with no bloatware). Right?
Click to expand...

The 10 vs 11 thing is up to you. There are some newer fullscreen/graphics/flip model optimizations in 11 that I value for certain games, thus preventing me from going back to 10. Current (i.e. in the past 2 years) CPUs/mobos should be mostly using 11 for performance optimizations. The latest 11 LTSC gets 2 extra years of support over last 10 LTSC (2032 vs 2034), but both have plenty of life left in them.
 
You can debloat windows 11 install file with https://github.com/memstechtips/UnattendedWinstall but if You need to reset windows, all crap will be back.
And how long do You plan to use this windows between reinstallation?
Cause somewhere in the future there will be time, that ltsc that is not getting major updates, only security patches will be outdated for newer games.
(Like it was with 10 ltsc, and games that needed 1903, but I've had 1809, and no option to upgrade, only install newer version).
 
Have you decided local or MS account log in :P

I don't know if LTSC wants at first restart, but skipping it requires shift+F10 and typing the command oobe\bypassnro . OOBE meaning "out-of-the-box" experience.
 
Of course local account. I just finished a system for the kids with windows 11 and used a local account. OOBE\bypassNRO didn't work but I resorted to other tricks and it worked.
 
sram said:
OOBE\bypassNRO didn't work but I resorted to other tricks and it worked.
Click to expand...
Strange..., it worked perfectly for me in the last few installs. Anyhow, you know the drill. :)
 
PLAfiller said:
Strange..., it worked perfectly for me in the last few installs. Anyhow, you know the drill. :)
Click to expand...
I connected to wifi by mistake and got connected to the internet that's why it didn't work. It kept asking me to sign in with a microsoft account. I had to delete the wifi profile using command prompt. Once I lost the internet connection it gave me the option to continue with limited setup (local account).
 
CrAsHnBuRnXp said:
During Win11 setup when you are choosing the language, choose (i think its called) English (Worldwide) or something like that. It doesnt install any of the bloatware.
Click to expand...
Nice to know, I've used UK ENG for years myself.
 
CrAsHnBuRnXp said:
During Win11 setup when you are choosing the language, choose (i think its called) English (Worldwide) or something like that. It doesnt install any of the bloatware.
Click to expand...
Never heard of that particular trick before. Is there anywhere to read up on it?
 
tabascosauz said:
The 10 vs 11 thing is up to you. There are some newer fullscreen/graphics/flip model optimizations in 11 that I value for certain games, thus preventing me from going back to 10. Current (i.e. in the past 2 years) CPUs/mobos should be mostly using 11 for performance optimizations. The latest 11 LTSC gets 2 extra years of support over last 10 LTSC (2032 vs 2034), but both have plenty of life left in them.
Click to expand...

do you know what games you prefer to use win 11 with, just off the top of your head? no big deal, I am just curious
 
Honestly, the only way to fresh-install Windows 11 is with the autounattend.xml. The best way to cull all of W11's default, anti-consumer nonsense is to prevent it from ever installing in the first place:

 
I like to use UUP Dump to create a custom ISO where you can leave the apps out completely where they are not even in the component store/payload...

uupdump.net

UUP dump

UUP dump lets you download Unified Update Platform files, like Windows Insider updates, directly from Windows Update.
uupdump.net

Only way they would show back up is if you did one of those stupid "feature updates"...

Set "AppsLevel = 1" and only the Store, Security Health, App Installer are installed.
Also above that you can set "SkipEdge =1" to have MS Edge not installed as well.

1744808276281.png
 
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JLBENEDICT said:
I like to use UUP Dump to create a custom ISO where you can leave the apps out completely where they are not even in the component store/payload...
Only way they would show back up is if you did one of those stupid "feature updates"...

Set "AppsLevel = 1" and only the Store, Security Health, App Installer are installed.
Also above that you can set "SkipEdge =1" to have MS Edge not installed as well.

View attachment 395298
Click to expand...

@W1zzard the greatest lurker of all time. give this dude a fucking special badge, lmao

1744808791235.png
 
sram said:
Of course local account. I just finished a system for the kids with windows 11 and used a local account. OOBE\bypassNRO didn't work but I resorted to other tricks and it worked.
Click to expand...
Microsoft has discontinued the oobe\bypassnro method.

Can use "start ms-cxh:localonly" instead
 
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