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.

  1. What can I do to eliminate annoyances - bloatware, spyware, etc.

  2. What should I do to protect my privacy from Microsoft? I want to turn everything off that reports to the fucking MS mothership.

  3. What apps, utilities, etc should I install? I’d like to use non-MS apps and utilities instead of whatever garbage comes with Windows.

  4. What apps, utilities, etc should I avoid?

  5. What am I forgetting to ask?

  • Formerlyfarman [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    5·
    27 days ago

    Even if you are against Linux, there is a custom win 7 iso that fixes some of the compatibility issues with newer videocard(I don’t know how new) drivers, USB, and solid state drives. Direct x 12 games are probably not going to run, then again I have heard of people managing to run proton on win 7, bit at that point you might as well use Linux.

    I found my ver2 iso in the internet archive. There should also be a link in the legacy windows storm front, but I’m banned and that sub is tagged nsfw for some reason.

    • merthyr1831@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      26 days ago

      you know you’re cooked when storefront autocorrects to storm front

      side note tho, I still probably wouldn’t recommend a win7 ISO for daily use even if it’s modified for modern hardware, purely because there are so many security vulnerabilities that will never be patched, and the install base is big enough (esp. in govt/business) that it’s still a target for modern malware.

      • Formerlyfarman [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
        1·
        26 days ago

        I meant reddit-logo a few years they had a link to an updated iso in their legacy windows sub, but can’t check it now, because that sub is nsfw for some reason, and I am banned.

        As for the security vulnerabilities, I have been using one for years and have not had a problem. I do have a Linux dualboot. And that pc does not have internet, but I used to transfer lots of files to it via USB. And I used to have a win 7 laptop with internet until a few months ago when it’s hard drive died. In my experience, if you don’t do anything too stupid it’s very hard to get malware.

        But thanks for the concern.