Begin with W11
Begin with W11
I understand your needs. You plan to use Rufus for installing Windows, then remove or disable certain intrusive tools with the Chris Titus utility. Regarding the operating system, you're considering Windows LTSC over Pro or Home edition. Since you need Xbox connectivity and access to the MS Store, let me know!
Adjust the settings to disable it, assuming they function properly. When using Rufus, consider whether you can rely on its stability in upcoming updates.
I believe you're being too detailed. You don't have to rely on Rufus; actually, using it for a standard Windows 11 install can waste time. Just use the Media Creation tool to create the USB, and then focus on clearing out the clutter.
I disable telemetry in the settings, modify my updates schedule, and turn off Windows driver installation via updates. Cortana/Copilot... off Location.... off Advertising... off You can manage all of this during the Windows setup installation, just switch them off.
Other programs exist, and some updates can't be unblocked, such as Host entries.
So you don't trust MS, but you trust a random tool put up (and likely not maintained) by a random guy on github? Even if that guy is legit and the tool is good, what if someone takes over that github page and injects their malicious code and now you give it root access? Anything such tools do you can do yourself. But then you know what it is you do. I've read many tests of similar tools and in some cases they speed up your PC by disabling security features. I also had used such tools (like shutup 10 etc.) just to end up having problems weeks later and then spending days to figure out what setting i had to revert that the tool had changed. and in my young XP years I used ccleaner to "optimize" my PC, just to have to re-install Windows. After some "optimizations" I got really fast installing Windows. And anything that tool changes may be undone by a future W11 update anyway. At best those tools are snake oil. I made myself a cheat sheet with the settings I need to change manually on a new Windows installation. it is one page and takes maybe 20 minutes.
Starting this discussion again... Should I worry about Windows LTSC? I expect no major issues if I have it installed. Things like missing dependencies might pop up, but I’m prepared to reinstall the MS Store and Xbox components for games if needed. It seems installing any missing items should work smoothly.