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Windows 11 so much to complain about. Most people do not like all the mostly useless crap the Microsoft stick you with as default when you get a new computer or when you install a new copy of the OS, but it’s what we got unless you can afford to go to the Macintosh route or if you are a computer expert and go with one of the many Linux flavors.
There is more to hate Microsoft these days now that Windows 10 support has/or will soon evaporate.
I have tried a couple of the “De-Bloat” utilities that are out there and have not have had much luck. I usually end up with a crashed system or a system that just does not run right.
I have found an unattended install script that does work for me when you do a Win 11 install with Microsoft Media Creation Tool.
I buy my legitimate Window 11 Pro key from:
https://www.cdkdeals.com/software/p202110081405434367.html
Microsoft Media Creation Tool here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
And the Unattended Windows install script is here:
https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/

If you are reinstalling Win 11 on a modern machine that came with Win 11 preinstalled like a Dell the Win 11 product key may be embedded in the BIOS and this script can grab it so you do not have to buy a new key. This works quite well and it save me when I had an NvMe drive fail on one of these little mico PC I got from Amazon>
If you have gone to Windows 11 here are two command line commands that can save your butt if things go awry but you can still boot.
I hope this will help someone frustrated with Windows 11

When I find any of my Windows machines acting up I run these two commands after I open a dos box in “Run as an Administrator” by right clicking on the Command icon.
SFC /scannow
Will do a fairly quick security scan of all files and correct the problems.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Will restore your windows op system image back to what it should be. You need to be connected to the internet so your system can grab files from Microsoft and replace any corrupted files.
On my main daily use computer, I do this once a month when I do my backup routine. I have done this many times with no problems and I am confident that my main system stays healthy.

If your motherboard has a second ssd slot (I am assuming a desktop and not a laptop computer) you might try linux in a dual boot mode. I would be happy to do an install for you. What are you using for sound out from your computer?

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Walt

Thanks Paul. When I got my new Dell laptop I did my usual when going through the setup and said no to all the crap Windows wanted to activate. There were still a few differences I had to learn in things like Windows Explorer, but overall, it is working OK.

Microsoft Windows, the most widely distributed malware in history.

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I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.

There is a myth that Linux is difficult or requires being a techie to install and make it work.

Children run Linux every day in school. ChromeOS on every Chromebook is based on Linux, in a sandbox environment where the image (and your data) is saved to Google and restore-able if the computer hardware fails or is lost. It is too limited for those who want to DO something on the computer, but fantastic as a Web device for browsing, email, and light office type application (word processor, spreadsheet, etc.). I recommend it for people who have only basic computer needs. If something screws up you do a restore image, and you are back.

The right Linux distribution makes a big difference. There are alot of choices, and you can pick a distro that best meets your needs.

Linux typically is easier to install and maintain than Windows. I can install Linux in a few minutes, only rebooting once. You do not have to worry about anti-virus, and the Linux community is on top of internet security (should be, since the internet runs on Linux).

If you keep with the native Linux applications, there are some very capable substitutes to the Microsoft Office (365) set of applications. LibreOffice is just as capable. You also have the Google suite available as well. If you are interested in EDA applications, you have come to the right place.

Audio applications may need a bit of work to setup properly, though. There is an installable Windows emulator (Wine) that allows you to run a large number of Windows programs, including the Windows version of the Roon control app, but does take some techie skills to setup. Roon Server is already native to Linux (Debian based). Qobuz is thru the WebPlayer.

But once it is setup, it generally does not break and is stable. I have run machines with uptimes of several months.

Well, enough Linux evangelism. I do admit I have been running it since the early 1990's, shortly after kernel 1.0 came out and when you had to download the installation image on a few dozen floppy discs. Command line interface only (well you could download X-Windows if you had a suitable card and monitor).

David

I also have been running it since the 1990's when I installed Slackware from 50 high density floppy disks. Currently I am using Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 versions. I have a Linux HTPC on each of my home theaters. A Linux workstation which I spend most of my time on and also what is for all practical purposes a file server with about 56TB of hard drives (a lot of videos). Using Linux has let me have a single remote control (MX3 Air Mouse) to control the TV/Projector (turn on/off), audio (on/off, mute, and volume), and the HTPC (Kodi for playing videos and TV). I also use the work station for programming (python), zoom meetings, Facebook, email, home office, writing (LaTeX, TeX-Maker, and Libre-Writer), video and audio file conversion (ffmpeg), ripping CD's (Rubyripper), and playing CD's, DVD's, Blu-Ray, and even 4K Blu-Ray (Kodi and makemkv). The workstation is dual boot some I can program some hardware with Windows 11 namely for burning blu-ray disks with Imageburn, writing labels on optical disks with my Canon printer and programing my miniDSP Flex 8 and Danville Signal dspNexus 2/8 (Audio Weavers).

I have run Linux and know its simple to install but my most important programs are Photoshop and Lightroom and I just do not want to deal with the complexity of running a Wine layer.
I just want to get on my computer and do my work and get out

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Walt

Have you looked for free equivalent programs that will run on Linux -

https://www.linux.org/threads/photoshop ... nux.55253/

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/04048 ... ternatives

and yes I know old farts (like me) don't want to learn new programs but I have been using Linux since the 1990's so it is old for me.

The other alternative is to have a dual boot system (I do) and only run on Windows the programs (for me that is programming my miniDSP Flex 8 or desNexus) that there is no Linux equivalent to. I never do emails, browsing, Facebook, etc. on Windows.