Still missing XP with the classic 98 theme

Win2k for life.

I'm a big fan of reinstalling all of the default Microsoft online services and resetting your user preferences every time they feel like updating your computer.

If you want to feel real madness try reinstalling Win10 from even the latest installation media, checking for updates, finding none, and then finding your computer restarted the next day with a new iteration of the Bing search box on your taskbar, and repeating this experience at least 4 times.

Here's a minimal -> maximal (choose your own adventure) windows 10 and|or 11 debloat | tweak | install | BYO install utility.

https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UQZ5oQg8XA

The defaults are not at all extreme with the knife, it takes away all the advertorial ad-ons and shows how to disable more (including Edge and defaulting to Edge from system links).

Also includes the ability to mod your own ISO to make a lean clean fast install | boot disk for later on or friends.

It's "open" if you read powershell scripts, it's literally just a pipe from a readable GIT reposity to a powershell GUI that toggles scripts that can be read by clicking on [?]'s.

If nothing else you can select the default recommended updates setting which is no new features just security updates.

I literally just did this for my partner and while the defaults of everything are ungodly user hostile they haven't yet reset the preferences I set and I've been watching them like a hawk.

I don't love having to keep a loaded gun pointed at tower and constantly being on guard with supposedly above-board software but it seems to stay down.

Windows 7 with tighter handcuffs

The latter problem can be (partially) addressed by setting your network interface to metered mode. Then you get some control over updates.

My laptop (Win10 home) installed updates over metered connections (and actively combated my efforts to disable the update service, take ownership of the service, etc.). Ultimately the fix was to install Ubuntu.

Group policy editor allows you to select what type of updates you want (if any), if you want them to be downloaded/ installed automatically or just notify.

>Win10 Home

If you're running a version of windows that includes group policy editor, it does. Given the way windows 10+ disregards if not outright changes settings, I wouldn't exactly bet my life or my PC on it anyways.

My specific point, at any rate, was that Windows does not respect settings regarding metered connection.

You can enable GPE or even install it if not available in your Win home edition. I’m not trying to argue, just dropping the info so everybody knows.