I helped my 77 year old mother purchase a new laptop, and I want to be sure to get all the bloatware off of it, and set her up with with some better privacy options. I am aMac guy at home so I haven’t done this kind of thing for many years. (I use Windows at work, so I’m quite familiar and capable, but obviously I have to rely on IT knowing what they are doing (they don’t)). I did make sure to get the pro version of Windows 11. I’m going to set her up with Proton mail I think. This is the computer that is coming:
(Forgive me if this is not the correct place to post)
I highly recommend Chris Titus’ tool to debloat and switch off/remove unnecessary components.
You can also switch off Windows Updates and only allow security updates.
It is multiple tools in one place. Super useful and reliable.
Thanks!!
Used this last week. Great asset for making windows a little more bearable
SO MANY OPTIONS. Anyone have any recommendations?
There are recommended selections in there, and they are good from what i remember
Get a 16gb thumb drive and download windows media creation tool
Laptop usually have proprietary drivers for wifi/ethernet/Bluetooth so visit manufacturers site for those drivers
Delete all partitions on the drive and create a single large partition (windows will make 3 that’s fine)
To begin with you would need to configure the machine to the desktop disabling all what can be disabled.
Then I’d check something from here and remove only what can be deemed safe.
Having somewhat answered the main query if mom does not do anything that makes windows a necessity I’d highly suggest installing something like this and set yourself up for unattended remote control so you can assist if seen necessary.
Linux is an awful answer. See my other comment as to why.
I will agree with you it’s not the one stop solution but I recommend it due to having triaged it on my own.
Yes they gave me the mandatory eye roll and sighs as to why I installed Linux but aren’t bothered with updates, ads, malware, tracking and whatnot. They want to watch a movie or do some work it just works and doesn’t bog them.
Also I emphasise that I can’t recommend it for CAD/Graphic/Professional workflows that are tailored for windows sadly.
I like the remote control idea! She does do WordPress, not sure which interface.
Could put rustdesk on it.
I doubt whether “debloating” could reduce stability or not. I’ve never done that and have no intention to do it for my 88 year old grandfather’s windows. I’d have strict applocker rules on, though
Checkout things like WinDebloat, Privatezilla, Winaero Tweaker, Bulk Crap Uninstaller, and LoveWindowsAgain. There’s some overlap between them (as they were built for different purposes), but they all pretty much kill telemetry at the service or installed level (as in remove the components providing telemetry).
Yea, it’s BS you have to do this. And screw MS for this crap.
You could also download Win10/11 LTSC, which natively doesn’t have some of this crap, but also doesn’t get feature updates automatically - just system/security updates 2x/year - so you won’t deal with problems caused by updates.
And you can still run the apps above to reduce what’s left.
Also, go grab MAS on github. It’ll help if you have any problems with activating. It’s a script Microsoft tech support uses.
