this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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Basically, install Windows as you normally would, but when asked for Time and Currency format, select English (World) instead of your country.

Then let the installer do its thing. Eventually, you will see a window with an ice cream cone on the floor with the words “Something went wrong” and the error message “OOBEREGION.” This cryptic message means that the “out of box experience” (OOBE) didn't launch because it didn't know which region to launch.

Click Skip, though, and Windows will install just fine. You won't be prompted to buy Microsoft 365, you won't be prompted to pay for a OneDrive subscription, and your Start menu won't be cluttered with apps.

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[–] [email protected] 106 points 11 months ago (15 children)

After the install. Create admin and user accounts not tied to ms. Use the user account normally, and when you need admin you enter the second account details.

Use Sophia script to clean up all the advert apps bundled with win11.

I wish I could find a script to remove the advert features from edge for when I have to office. Mozilla Firefox is your day to day browser.

Use chocolatey.org to install ur apps. When you do updates, one command can do it all.

Check start-up scripts, and ensure there is nothing that doesn't need to be there. Teams no, zoom also no.

[–] [email protected] 62 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Isn't it ironic how you need instructions now to install Windows with a bearable level of bloat? Kinda like installing Arch just for uninstalling/skipping instead of installing.

[–] cesium 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The sad truth is that most people don't care about all the bloat and adware.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago

Im assuming this is the Sophia Script you’re referring to? https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

I actually managed to excise Edge from my system entirely, so pressing F1 in explorer doesn't launch it anymore.

Dsspite some people warning that Edge was needed for some "core web functionality" it has broken nothing except the handful of places where they want to force you to launch a link in Edge. In that case nothing happens, but that's not a big deal since I know how to use search engines to find information, which is the only purpose those features served.

It took quite a few steps but I got there. There are a few extra steps to stop it coming back in the next update but you can do it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

I like to use Winget instead of chocolatey

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Check start-up scripts, and ensure there is nothing that doesn't need to be there.

Nothing better than Autoruns for this.

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[–] [email protected] 66 points 11 months ago (6 children)

According to the article, "The only downside is that the Windows Store appears not to work out of the box."

[–] [email protected] 159 points 11 months ago (1 children)

“The only downside is that the Windows Store appears not to work out of the box.”

This is a feature, not a bug.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Can be a major deal breaker though for anyone using GamePass.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

If you're gonna buy into the Microsoft ecosystem with a subscription service and a Microsoft Account, you'll be stuck with their trash. Should maybe consider what else might "break Gamepass" in the future (purely by accident of course).

Like how if you don't want OneDrive, whoops, now your Office documents can't autosave. Better put OneDrive back like a good consumer and here's some ads about increasing storage, you're welcome.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 11 months ago (3 children)

that is absolutely not a downside

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 months ago

Article's author didn't fully catch the meaning of "downside".

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (6 children)

I'm of the opinion that MS will eventually get this right, but it won't be called Windows 11 by the time it does. The redesign, efforts into command-line and WSL, they are moving in a positive direction, but the ads, bloat, spyware, needs to go. If they can release Win12 or whatever its called with the simplicity of Win11, have the features of Win10 (and finally put a nail in the old interfaces from XP and before), they could have another solid performer like Windows 7.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (8 children)

they are moving in a positive direction, but the ads, bloat, spyware, needs to go

They're going nowhere. It's making money, Microsoft is using that income to offset development cost instead of just selling the OS at a flat reasonable rate. It's part of the Windows business model now.

Windows is entrenched, they own most of the business world, they will never face serious kickback for their design decisions. Not at this point. Not until Gen Z gets old enough and numerous enough to start pushing workplaces to adopt Apple, and that's an even worse direction.

This isn't ever going to change. The only thing they'll do is give tools to Enterprise editions for businesses to control the install, and only via Azure, at a price point far too high for the average user. Anything less than Enterprise will be locked down and monetized to hell and back.

Effectively, if you're not a business, you will not have true control over Windows. Users no longer get to be admins. You have to pay for that privilege.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

They're not offsetting anything, they still charge money for the boxed copy sold in stores. This is pure profit for them.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago

the ads, bloat, spyware, needs to go

They just introduced them. What makes you think this isn't an integral part of the future of Windows?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Win12 gonna spy even harder tho

[–] captain_aggravated 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Win12 isn't gonna run locally. OS as a service.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I think they'll go even harder, making Windows only run stuff purchased through the Windows Store so they can completely lock in the market.

[–] maccentric 8 points 11 months ago (3 children)
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[–] [email protected] 43 points 11 months ago

> Clean Install

> Windows 11

[–] [email protected] 32 points 11 months ago

I choose antartica as region, and appers to be the same

[–] [email protected] 31 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I think you mean "how to polish a turd"

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Mythbusters managed to do that pretty well

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 11 months ago (4 children)

How has it been like 20 years since Slashdot was relevant, and we're still getting the same, "LOL install Linux instead" comments?

Like, I've been using and loving Linux since the late '90. But damn, I'm expecting to see "Micro$oft" in these comments any moment.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago

Slashdot or not, Microsoft sucks. The underlying truth of the "meme" will keep it alive forever.

[–] Jakeroxs 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Lmao I'm surprised I don't see Micro$oft anymore, was literally just thinking about that the other day for some reason.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Lemmy is FOSS, are you actually surprised?

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 months ago (10 children)

I would rather go for Linux but when Windows needed I'd go for LTSB/LTSC version, choose this oobe during install, after install run christitustech debloat script, activate through github script and in register turn off auto download/install updates. 1.4GB ram idle usage while having all you need.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (8 children)

1.4 GB ram idle usage

That is still comically high. Arch Linux with DWM gets 100 mb, I've seen gentoo builds with DWM get as low as 40 mb.

KDE looks better than windows and it gets a third of the ram idle usage at most.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Idle RAM usage means literally nothing.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

I exactly do this. It switches every services to manual and turn off so many notification bloat. After doing this windows never bothers me. Every app , games, hardware like capture card just works on windows.

But i use linux on my laptop because linux is good for browsing and wordprocessing.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 11 months ago

The cleanest windows 11 install topped off with formatting the drive and installing Linux.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Really cleanse yourself by booting into Linux

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

Pretty @#%^ing ironic posting this shortly before the W11 23H2 build releases and literally un-does everything all over again.

The only answer is refusing to use Microsoft malware full stop.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (3 children)

If you really need to use Windows for some reason--for instance, my job requires me to use software that isn't available for Linux (or, for that matter, Mac)--what you want to look for is a long-term service channel release of Windows. They're difficult for end users to find, but It's more or less just the OS, and not much of anything else. Updates are security only, not features. You'll typically need a Windows license, and then will have to buy an additional Win LTSC license on top of your existing license.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago (1 children)

So i tried this one and for some reason i cant find candy crush in my start menu. What did i do wrong?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

It's not a bug, it's a feature 😎

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

How do I install my Game Pass games?

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

Microsoft is a "New Oil" drilling company. Expect the Enron like approach

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (3 children)

This is my opinion ...

To clean install Windows 11, first, create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool. Boot your PC from the USB drive, select your language and region, and click "Install Now." Enter your product key if prompted or choose to activate later. Follow the on-screen instructions, format your desired drive, and complete the installation process.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (7 children)

I've created a powershell script for fresh installations that removes all the unnecessary preinstalled garbage and copies a cleaned up startmenu layout file to the appdata subfolder of my user and the default user because in a professional setting, people shouldn't see tiktok and Disney+ and shit like that. Fuck Microsoft. In private, I've switched to Linux and couldn't be happier.

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