[GTALUG] installing Windows is uselessly worse than installing Linux

[o1bigtenor]

On Sat, Sep 16, 2023 at 3:13 PM Giles Orr via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 15 Sept 2023 at 14:35, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk
> <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
> >
> > [Always do backups before such drastic measures.]
> >
> > The best way to install Windows is to go to another Windows box and use
> > the the Window Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB stick
> > <https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11>
> > Alternatively you could download the WIndows 11 Disk Image.
> >
> > During installation, you have to answer a lot of questions.  It is
> > extremely hard to evade linking the installation with a global Microsoft
> > account (google to learn the ever-evolving tricks).
> >
> > Good news: Windows can let other partitions on the disk remain.  In
> > earlier years, it would just grab the whole disk.
> >
> > Once it is installed, Windows will spend a lot of time installing updates
> > and rebooting.  Installing updates is quite slow (perhaps due to
> > anti-malware software).
> >
> > And it lies about whether there are more updates.  When it says there are
> > none, ask it to look again.
> >
> > You also need to separately run the Microsoft app store app and ask it to
> > do updates.
> >
> > You also need to run you system vendor's update thingee too for some
> > driver and firmware updates.  Even then, it is useful to see what firmware
> > is available on the vendor's web site
> >
> > This whole process involves multipler reboots, each requiring babysitting.
>
> Regular readers of this list may recall that I recently bought a
> mini-mini-computer: the slim instruction manual basically said that if
> you wanted to avoid trouble (which I take to mean "having to connect
> to a global M$ account"), I should boot WITHOUT a network connection.
> Which I did, and it seemed to create a local account without
> hesitation.  At which point I shut the machine down, imaged the drive,
> wiped it, and installed Linux.  Windows might have fought me hard the
> second I booted with a network connection, but that really seems to be
> a great way to win that first fight.  How long they'll leave that door
> open I don't know - I expect Windows 12 to say "I have no network
> connection, therefore this is not a real computer.  Shutting down
> now."
>
AIUI Win 11 does not run on an air gapped system.

(Know someone who is still on Win7 but air gapped.)

Regards