When W10 finally stops getting updates, I'm almost certainly going to have to jump back to Linux on my gaming PC.
Nothing on this Earth could make me use Windows 11. I highly doubt Windows 12 will be any better.
Nothing on this Earth could make me use Windows 11. I highly doubt Windows 12 will be any better.
It covers both the initial installation, as well as all my post-install recommendations. It eliminates I believe all the tracking, adware, suggestions, Cortana, feeding the Bing/ChatGPT machine, telemetry, etc. Absolutely nothing breaks. No need for a Microsoft account. It should be straightforward and to-the-click/keystroke.
https://github.com/GoofGarage/Win11Clean
If there’s any bugbears, create an issue. I’ll be responding to them every few weeks, and I try to update the release every 3 months.
But I noticed that I don't get the preview when dragging over the button but that might also have something to do with my particular setup.
It absolutely does work if you disable UAC via Group Policy, but disabling UAC in my opinion is much a step too far as that loosens security in too many areas and would greatly increase Windows 11's attack surface.
I'll open an issue to investigate trying to identify the Group Policy setting to change to specifically re-enable this behavior without disabling UAC. Be advised that it'll be a few weeks as I'll be waiting until the January patch to drop (should be January 9th, 2024) for me to test prior to the January 2024 update to the guide.
Wow, that's awesome. Thanks! (I love HN)
Is there a fix for that other than installing something like OpenShell?
That may be fixed with https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher which restores win10 bar, there's no builtin solution to any of the above afaik
Labels, combining, alignment and displayed system icons (search, etc) may be configured in settings
I have two monitors, and might want some distances of the same application to be on separate taskbars with two monitors, and it just wouldn't respect that at all.
I use OpenShell currently, but I really shouldn't have to.
Regardless awesome guide thank you.
I don’t disagree that it shouldn’t be necessary, though thankfully it’s a one time cost.
Earlier this year I switched to Windows 11 then installed ExplorerPatcher, now its just like Windows 10 and I no longer care that is its Windows 11.
I have never, ever seen another OS so intent on resetting my settings and reverting what I've installed. I even had a case where Windows Defender was removing cracked software even after being disabled.
What poweruser things are you trying to do that Windows 11 prevents?
More details in my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38546849
I need windows sans microsoft.
Not a command line with partial graphical wrappers and not an OS exclusive to an overpriced line of propriety computers.
Windows but open source. Please.
Note:I have been on ubuntu for the past year, and hate it. Just like I hated whatever other distros the last 3 times I tried to switch in my life.
But its an exercise in masochistic self flagellation to be a tech nerd with no interest in linux (learning OS structure and CLI syntax) to use it on a daily basis. Linux is extremely powerful via the command line. But I have no interest in learning/memorizing commands.
It's entirely possible to install and use Linux without touching the command line, just like with Windows. The days where command-line skills were required passed a long while back.
Of course they're UX issues that could be improved, especially with Canonical trying to push Snap on people, but I'm more inclined to believe many peoples' exasperation with the Linux desktop experience is really due to long-standing familiarity with Windows. The things you "have to learn" as an enthusiast coming from the Windows ecosystem are things that by its conventions are done through graphical interfaces. Which doesn't make them easier, you've just already memorized them.
So I need someone to make an OS with the longstanding windows user in mind. Using a GUI absolutely is easier. I need drop down lists and check boxes. Mouse hover tips and visual menus. Not some cryptographic string of command line arguments that I am futilely copy+pasting from some random web page.
Additionally, graphical interfaces have a lot of downsides, as Microsoft themselves has discovered as evidenced by how over the past couple years they've been promoting PowerShell as a way to automate administrative tasks on Windows themselves and allow powerusers to pass around PowerShell invocations for quick fixes in the same way users of every other OS have for decades.
A desktop environment like KDE is a fully modern, integrated desktop even down to being able to use KDE Connect to use your smart phone from your desktop.
You mentioned hating Ubuntu and 3 other distros, but really the fundamental differences between distros is mostly how they package software, and how frequently they downstream new software. Install something like Pop_OS, never touch a terminal and move on.
Somewhat true. But ... it's also true for Windows. Did you see the post above? https://github.com/GoofGarage/Win11Clean. It's a very long list of instructions just to get the think installed in a way that keeps most of Microsoft's fingers out of your pockets and while keeping the familiar Windows interface. But if you follow it you will have a non-standard install, and later some overnight upgrade will break it.
Just FYI, I use Linux exclusively on my own machines and I hate Ubuntu as well.
I'm not totally against change but there's a lot of change in Windows that just doesn't many sense.
With some pretty minor changes and maybe purchasing some inexpensive software, Windows 11 is quite decent. Whenever I visit a stock Windows 11 machine I am a bit horrified.
I use StartAllBack for Start menu and task bar customization.