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Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

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51–60 of 196 posts

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#51

Imagine the goodwill Microsoft could garner with advanced users if this was a simple mouse click during the installation. Advanced Install > Minimal Install

It would cost them too much money. Everyone is in for rent seeking these days... back in ye olde days (aka early '00s) you could actually buy operating systems or software, and you could keep using them virtually forever if you were fine that after a year or two you wouldn't get any bugfixes, and no new features at all.

Nowadays, people simply don't have the money to shell out hundreds of dollars for Windows, Office or the Adobe Suite (the CS6 Master Collection was like what, 8.000$?) any more, and so it's cheaper on paper for everyone to either have subscription models (like Adobe or MS Office) or "freemium" models (Windows). Obviously Microsoft has to make up the difference in income somehow, and they chose to go the advertising route. Offering an easy way to get rid of all the invasive advertising and tracking would kill that golden goose.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#52
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite the slow enshittification of the Windows GUI, I still prefer it to the mess Linux has on the GUI front. Linux is great for CLI and headless. Hence I combine both.

Which parts are a mess? I don't think I could use Linux if it weren't for Linux Mint/Cinnamon specifically, as I haven't had good experiences with other desktop enviroments. It has one or two quirks, but at this point it's far less quirks than a fresh Windows install and the list of config options I had to change/the .reg file I started accumulating

> Which parts are a mess?

Usability conventions between GUI applications. Keyboardability. GUI automation à la AutoHotKey. Font rendering. X vs. Wayland.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#53
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree, you are comparing a one time setup vs re-learning how to use your computer. Not to mention any later compatibility issues you may need to diagnose, particularly with gaming. Not everything works with Proton and there are other stores than just Steam. A debloated Windows is still Windows. Bundle this with a "use these debloat settings for gaming" and it could be just clicking a couple of buttons for the ma…

Windows breaks all the time for lots of people. My brother has a weird issue with his computer where it gets temporarily stuck in a boot loop if "fast startup" is enabled in Windows. After I figured this out I turned it off and it was fine(and booted faster!). Then Windows update happened and the setting was switched back on again. I'm not sure how to solve it other than periodically making sure it hasn't magically b…

If we are going to talk about OS's failing to boot I have had this plenty of times with various Linux installations in VM's or raspberry pi's.

So not really sure I would specifically hold that against Windows. However I do agree that Windows turning on a feature with Updates is particularly annoying.

Personally the only time I have had that issue on my or my partners computer (at least in the last 10ish years) was when I updated my Nvidia driver and the installer didn't clean up the old one properly. While that is partially Windows fault I struggle to blame Windows specifically for a poor installer.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#54

Had a quick skim. Hmm, Teams, OneNote and Remote Desktop considered bloatware, gaming apps not. Not sure of the target demographic for this. Perhaps worth considering very carefully before running in productivity or office environments, assuming you have access.

I have to use that bloatware every day. Teams is pretty much the definition of it. I agree with the script.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#55
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite the slow enshittification of the Windows GUI, I still prefer it to the mess Linux has on the GUI front. Linux is great for CLI and headless. Hence I combine both.

Which mess? I see choice. My choice may not be the same as yours. Most major desktop projects allows you to have a clean and powerful desktop whose ergonomy is superior to those provided by current proprietary OSes.

What are some ways in which they are superior?

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#56

Had a quick skim. Hmm, Teams, OneNote and Remote Desktop considered bloatware, gaming apps not. Not sure of the target demographic for this. Perhaps worth considering very carefully before running in productivity or office environments, assuming you have access.

Yeah, I agree. I think games do count as bloat generally, so should be removed by default.

Maybe have a few more questions in the custom mode:

- Remove Teams

- Remove OneNote

- Remove RemoteDesktop

- Remove Games

I would answer yes to all the above but Remote Desktop.

A GUI with a tree view would be best for the custom mode. Then you can drill into the categories.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#58

If you turn the complexity curve of debloating and custom Windows ROMs about 90 degrees, it's the same as the backwards bend Windows users are doing to avoid jumping to something easier like Linux Mint.

Eh, depends on "easier".

For day-to-day tasks as a technical user I use a Mac but wouldn't find it to be an issue to use linux for most of my work.

However, my strictly-gaming PC runs Windows. It's by-far the easiest, least-effort, and overwhelmingly the most supported choice. I'm not wanting to put on the sysadmin hat when wanting to decompress after work.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#59
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite the slow enshittification of the Windows GUI, I still prefer it to the mess Linux has on the GUI front. Linux is great for CLI and headless. Hence I combine both.

Slow?

It started with Windows 8, which was released 11 years ago. If the enshittification keeps roughly the same velocity, I’d estimate at least another decade or so before it crosses my personal pain threshold.

Microsoft’s cloudification strategy may become another factor.

Re: Win11Debloat is a simple script that removes pre-installed windows bloatware

#60

Imagine the goodwill Microsoft could garner with advanced users if this was a simple mouse click during the installation. Advanced Install > Minimal Install

That's the Microsoft which will kick you back into setup wizard on every major update and try to reset default browser, search and document editing apps to Edge/Bing/Office-Outlook?
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