Transitioning from Linux to Windows—Looking for Guidance
Transitioning from Linux to Windows—Looking for Guidance
Hey Everyone, I have been using Linux for almost a year now. And have been surprisingly happy with my experience. Unless there is something you need that only Windows offers, there really is no need to go for Windows. However, I have several pieces of hardware related software that simply lack the feature set of windows versions. I am a dev, but don't even have the time to work on my own projects, let alone try and contribute to FOSS. So I want to move back, though need to put Windows through an STD Cleanamatron 2000 before even considering it. TLDR; Is there a software, paid or free, open or closed... That will monitor my system to; make sure all telemetry is disabled and keeps OneDrive uninstalled even after updates. Easily change default browser. Assist in clean software uninstall like (revo uninstaller). Registry, and whatever else you may think is important. Basically a tool to fix everything that is wrong and nasty with Windows. I know there are PS tools like the Chris Titus one to help with some of this, but my goal is for just a single tool that I can set and forget. None of this is an issue on Linux, so I am hoping for a simple enough solution.
I would suggest Windows 11 Pro for your project. Then follow these instructions to customize it according to your preferences: remember there are system requirements for Windows 11; unless you're using Rufus, you'll get the best performance from your OS when you're running on Alder Lake (12th Gen) or higher, or Zen 4 (Ryzen 7000+) or newer. At least according to what I know. Some claim Zen 3 works okay on Windows 11, while others say it doesn't quite meet expectations. The same applies to older Intel CPUs before Alder Lake (12th Gen). There are people who say they function well on those setups, but others argue it becomes problematic and force a switch back to Windows 10. So keep this tip in mind if you're working with such configurations.
Thank you for your response. The final details you mentioned are helpful. With volume licensing and solid hardware, most of these concerns aren’t major problems. I’m familiar with creating custom Windows boot images, but I run into issues because updates can undo some changes. That’s why I’m asking if there’s a reliable tool I can use without constant adjustments. It seems the system is designed to clean up any corruption automatically. On Linux, I notice about a 25% speed boost. There’s definitely something in the Windows environment that users are eager to fix.
I rely on ShutUp10, which functions on version 11 too. I prefer not to keep things running constantly, but you can. I just launch it occasionally and import my configuration (it will also alert you if your settings have been modified, when you open it). Usually I only review it after significant updates.
I appreciate your patience. I’ve recently changed some of my devices to Linux, which makes the experience even clearer. For those who are more experienced, I’d also recommend DoNotSpy11: https://pxc-coding.com/donotspy11/ And if you’re comfortable with advanced options, Blackbird is another good choice: https://www.getblackbird.net/download/
You should really think about this, because I still don’t feel comfortable with versions 11 and 12 being dominated by AI. Version 10 is ending soon, and they’ll charge a lot more for each security patch—starting around $58. Eventually, those updates will cost $570 each. That’s crazy! Imagine if an operating system demanded that much for every update. I’d probably reach out to Dr. Web (Igor) and send him back to the Russian MIG-30 he used before anti-virus, then hop to Redmond, Washington. He’d fly to the Microsoft Campus at 5 AM when nobody’s around and drop a message. Let’s avoid becoming part of the future Skynet. Stick with Linux if you can. If you have no choice, just install Windows 10 Home and stop worrying. Pro version only if it adds anything useful in the control panel…
OOSU 10++ is the perfect solution for what you need—silencing telemetry and other unwanted features in Windows. For Edge, registry adjustments can help, but making your own user account the owner of its installation folder and blocking system access has been effective for me. I’ve never seen OneDrive recover after uninstalling it, but if it does, restricting access to the folder is key.
It seems you're comparing the state of MacOS around 1993 with a modern marketing message. The earlier version would have had a more limited release and higher costs, while today's updates are widely available and often free.