You can install Windows 11 without the third-party bloatware in two clicks

5 Comments

1. 2023-08-11 3:14 pm

   MJ

   There a lot of third party apps with Windows 11 Home? I use Pro and there is Spotify and maybe Netflix on a new install. They are easily uninstalled (actually I use Spotify) so it doesn’t seem worth the mentioned errors on install with this “trick”.
• 2023-08-11 3:33 pm

  Alfman verbose=1

  MJ,

  There a lot of third party apps with Windows 11 Home? I use Pro and there is Spotify and maybe Netflix on a new install. They are easily uninstalled (actually I use Spotify) so it doesn’t seem worth the mentioned errors on install with this “trick”.

  The preinstalled apps will likely be different depending on region and the deals microsoft makes for every region. This incidentally explains why this “bug” exists, the region apps may not have been configured.
2. 2023-08-11 4:37 pm

   Bill Shooter of Bul Platinum Prime

   Damn. I love that encoding bug. I’ve used similar before for a quick and easy hack to get around data mangling by other systems. Hope other applications I’m depending on not understanding that don’t fix themselves.
• 2023-08-11 6:55 pm

  Alfman verbose=1

  I wonder how many other differences there might be based on regions?

  For example, I remember Thom Holwerda talking about the windows browser selection dialog box and assuming that everyone in the world was seeing it, when in fact it was only present in the EU edition crafted to comply with the EU antitrust lawsuit. Does anyone know of any other local differences in windows, macos, chromeos, android, iphone, etc? Not just language difference, but actual functional/privacy ones…?

  A search reveals that the chinese version of windows removes microsoft’s spyware, which is hilarious…

  https://www.techpowerup.com/231799/microsoft-lifts-spying-components-in-windows-10-for-chinese-government-version

  Reports have started coming in that Microsoft has finalized its special, “non-spying” edition of Windows 10 for the Chinese government. In a joint-venture with China’s own CTEC (China Electronics Technology Group), the Redmond-based company has apparently managed to deliver what they themselves thought impossible: a version of their operating system that doesn’t spy on its users.

  China’s government previously banned Windows 8 and its derivatives, citing security concerns, and later launched an anti-monopoly probe against Microsoft. This meant that Microsoft was largely left out of China’s huge state-backed enterprises in China – and one can imagine how lucrative a market this one is. Microsoft surely wouldn’t be willing to allow such a chance of revenue to just jostle over to the Linux field, following the Chinese government’s attempts to craft a custom OS (Kylin, which failed) and recent efforts with new NeoKylin initiative. Microsoft isn’t willing to relent so as to what and how were features cut from their Windows 10 version that leads it to continue normal functions even without the heavily baked-in, essential, flaunted telemetry features. What is true, though, is that the company did say telemetry and data collection was so deeply embedded on their operating system that removing them would break it at a fundamental level which is, apparently, only the case if you don’t have the money (or potential revenue) to pony up for a custom edition.

  Some people may not see the risks of mandatory telemetry, but they could easily be backdoored on behalf of the NSA, or other government entities. Suspicion of processes that phone home really is warranted. Clearly China doesn’t want windows phoning home to microsoft and spying on them, but how ironic is it that microsoft ignores everyone else’s privacy concerns around the world but removes MS spyware for the chinese market.

  https://www.computerworld.com/article/3200375/for-real-windows-10-privacy-you-need-the-china-government-edition.html

  For real Windows 10 privacy, you need the China Government Edition
  Windows 10 is infamous for having snooping baked in, but one government stood up for user privacy. Oh, the irony!
3. 2023-08-12 10:49 pm

   andrenext

   not exactly related to this, but some ransomware use windows regional settings to “choose victims”, for example, apparently it is interesting to add the russian language as a keyboard layout option, preventing some of these malware from working, although it is a mere hack , but it apparently works.

   https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/05/try-this-one-weird-trick-russian-hackers-hate/