Support | Win11 for Gaming

[CyrodiilWarrior]

Hi,

I need support and guidance as a new paid premium home user. I want to safely create debloated operating systems where telemetry is removed, ideal for PC gaming.

I want to be able to update Windows, without removed stuff returning. I want additional handy tweaks and configurations. I want to know what I can safely remove and I can't. I want Brave browser. I probably want a local account (if better, perhaps an Administrator, with Standard User for general use). I want activation to work. I relocate user files.

I have gotten use to the Microsoft Store, with Phone Link, but if it was better to remove this entirely, I wouldn't mind. I think some modern-day games, like Age of Empires, needs Microsoft account stuff, too. I want more control, as everything usually installs on Local Disk by default.

Today, one compatibility issue I have is old school games not working with modern AMD drivers. Usually rolling back these drivers makes the games work again, but modern-day games work most smoothly with the up-to-date AMD drivers. My thought was to have dual-boot of two different operating systems - one for old school games, one for modern-day games and daily use.

I like the idea of incorporating drivers but my thought was if I ever upgraded anything - like graphics card - it would be pointless to have such old drivers preinstalled. I also don't know what I am doing where incorporating Windows updates.

What guidance and support do you suggest?

 

[chiles toreados]

i jumped right in and considered every single possible option and looked up every one that i felt i did not understand. i've got a slimmed down W11. i've even got it looking like W10 and behaving similarly in many ways. anything that isn't a calculator, a compass, or a speech/language package is something you probably don't need. i've tried probably 28 games from 1998 to 2017 and had 0 issues beyond the normal things that every single person would encounter trying to enjoy decades of games. the real fun begins when you can start with a debloated os and play with all the other tools now that your start menu is so clean.
i left Windows Defender on. it's a bit finnicky with the cloud-protection and the auto-sample but i got it disabled after disabling tamper protection and using PowerShell as admin.
if you need any precise advice, i may know. windows is shadowy and janky, though it is somewhat well-documented.
check out Chris Titus on YouTube! he really helped me to get a basic understanding.

 

[exba.2913]

If you need help creating an ISO file, please contact me. I'll help you.

 

[Necrosaro]

Hi,

I need support and guidance as a new paid premium home user. I want to safely create debloated operating systems where telemetry is removed, ideal for PC gaming.

I want to be able to update Windows, without removed stuff returning. I want additional handy tweaks and configurations. I want to know what I can safely remove and I can't. I want Brave browser. I probably want a local account (if better, perhaps an Administrator, with Standard User for general use). I want activation to work. I relocate user files.

I have gotten use to the Microsoft Store, with Phone Link, but if it was better to remove this entirely, I wouldn't mind. I think some modern-day games, like Age of Empires, needs Microsoft account stuff, too. I want more control, as everything usually installs on Local Disk by default.

Today, one compatibility issue I have is old school games not working with modern AMD drivers. Usually rolling back these drivers makes the games work again, but modern-day games work most smoothly with the up-to-date AMD drivers. My thought was to have dual-boot of two different operating systems - one for old school games, one for modern-day games and daily use.

I like the idea of incorporating drivers but my thought was if I ever upgraded anything - like graphics card - it would be pointless to have such old drivers preinstalled. I also don't know what I am doing where incorporating Windows updates.

What guidance and support do you suggest?

I find removing with live is the best way to learn personally but others like to do it from the iso and install.

You learn the most by doing it yourself and trying different things. Do it on a system where you can go back easy or not worrying about messing up.

 

[CyrodiilWarrior]

If you need help creating an ISO file, please contact me. I'll help you.

Reply: Thanks, that's very kind of you.

I find removing with live is the best way to learn personally but others like to do it from the iso and install.

You learn the most by doing it yourself and trying different things. Do it on a system where you can go back easy or not worrying about messing up.

Reply I understand that. I've touched Virtual Machines in past but lately, I've moved away from Virtual Machines.

Building my own ISO:
Personally, I am wanting to modify a Windows 11 ISO from scratch. I have difficulty with scripts. For security concerns, I dislike downloading random ISOs and scripts, or executing random online scripts. I am trying to construct a ISO which is both debloated, and of descent security.

My 'C: Local Disk' SSD:
My 'C: Local Disk' SSD is roughly 111GB. Using Windows 11 over time tends to fill this up a lot! Specific software can only be installed on 'C: Local Disk', but I try to install as much software as I can on an additional SSD.

User Folders Redirection:
On my main PC, I have my user directory files located on an additional HDD. I thought about including this in the ISO but I also thought this may prevent me from using this ISO file for other machines which may not have additional SSDs/HDDs. So I guess the manual redirection user directory process would be required.

Pre-installed software:
I like the idea of pre-installed software, but also understand the default install destination is 'C: Local Disk'. Usually, I have my applications installed on another SSD. Specific applications can only be installed on 'C: Local Disk'. Specific applications, such as Mod Organizer 2, dislike using default Windows installation paths due to security and folder settings.

If I was to have pre-installed software on 'C: Local Disk' though, I'd rather stick to the bare minimum:
- Brave web browser
- Notepad ++
- **Microsoft Office** (I have a non-subscription version with key. However, it's reached it's end-of-life support. Uses Microsoft account. It's been fine using.)

Pre-installed:
- Drivers (had considered this, but wouldn't be good for other machines which may want to use this same ISO)
- .NET Framework
- K-Lite Codec Pack (something, perhaps a game, required this)
- **WSL** (perhaps handy to have Linux subsystem?)

Remove/disable possible services:
- FAX related
- Telementry
- Printers (re-enable if ever get a printer)
- Etc

Stuff I'd love to remove, for example:
- Microsoft Edge (unless really, really needed)
- OneDrive
- Microsoft Store
- Windows Backup (never used, unless I should)
- Quick Assist
- One Note
- Get Help & Get Started
- Microsoft Teams
- Weather & News
- Copilot
- Bing web search
- Internet Explorer (unless OS really needs it)
- Etc.

Keep:
- File Explorer
- Calculator
- Paint
- Camera
- ** Media Player ** (despite also using VLC)
- Sound Recorder (sometimes handy)
- Etc.

 

[exba.2913]

Reply: Thanks, that's very kind of you.


Reply I understand that. I've touched Virtual Machines in past but lately, I've moved away from Virtual Machines.

Building my own ISO:
Personally, I am wanting to modify a Windows 11 ISO from scratch. I have difficulty with scripts. For security concerns, I dislike downloading random ISOs and scripts, or executing random online scripts. I am trying to construct a ISO which is both debloated, and of descent security.

My 'C: Local Disk' SSD:
My 'C: Local Disk' SSD is roughly 111GB. Using Windows 11 over time tends to fill this up a lot! Specific software can only be installed on 'C: Local Disk', but I try to install as much software as I can on an additional SSD.

User Folders Redirection:
On my main PC, I have my user directory files located on an additional HDD. I thought about including this in the ISO but I also thought this may prevent me from using this ISO file for other machines which may not have additional SSDs/HDDs. So I guess the manual redirection user directory process would be required.

Pre-installed software:
I like the idea of pre-installed software, but also understand the default install destination is 'C: Local Disk'. Usually, I have my applications installed on another SSD. Specific applications can only be installed on 'C: Local Disk'. Specific applications, such as Mod Organizer 2, dislike using default Windows installation paths due to security and folder settings.

If I was to have pre-installed software on 'C: Local Disk' though, I'd rather stick to the bare minimum:
- Brave web browser
- Notepad ++
- **Microsoft Office** (I have a non-subscription version with key. However, it's reached it's end-of-life support. Uses Microsoft account. It's been fine using.)

Pre-installed:
- Drivers (had considered this, but wouldn't be good for other machines which may want to use this same ISO)
- .NET Framework
- K-Lite Codec Pack (something, perhaps a game, required this)
- **WSL** (perhaps handy to have Linux subsystem?)

Remove/disable possible services:
- FAX related
- Telementry
- Printers (re-enable if ever get a printer)
- Etc

Stuff I'd love to remove, for example:
- Microsoft Edge (unless really, really needed)
- OneDrive
- Microsoft Store
- Windows Backup (never used, unless I should)
- Quick Assist
- One Note
- Get Help & Get Started
- Microsoft Teams
- Weather & News
- Copilot
- Bing web search
- Internet Explorer (unless OS really needs it)
- Etc.

Keep:
- File Explorer
- Calculator
- Paint
- Camera
- ** Media Player ** (despite also using VLC)
- Sound Recorder (sometimes handy)
- Etc.

I see that your requirements are quite easy to do, I don't know if you have done it, if not, you can text me via this email or via social networks, just like he said, you should try them on a virtual machine, but if you are not sure about the components or modified settings, I can help you, because I have many windows mods available. Remember to only download iso on the official microsoft page, 24h2 and 25h2 are not different in performance if your device is compatible