Installing a "debloated" Windows 11 Pro

It's no secret that there are many issues with Windows 11, so there are some things that should be done during Windows installation to reduce its intrusiveness.

Be it Co-Pilot, Bitlocker, OneDrive, etc. Dealing with these things is recommended. There are several ways to go about it, and that is the problem! Which way is best for a good install?

Several things are involved that many just don't understand or know about: Rufus, WinUtility, WinHance, USB boot drive, etc.

So, you go watch videos about how to install Windows the "better way". Unless you are a programmer or really tech-savvy, it quickly gets confusing.

Which method is best?

I've watched several videos, from Linus Tech Tips to Chris Titus Tech. Each has its own way of doing it, though all of them are doing the same basic things to limit Windows bloat, remove or prevent the installation of items you really don't want.

What I have found so far is that there are problems with each; mostly, they seem to forget that the viewer usually won't understand various things. They assume, I guess, people already know this or that! Many don't. They make their video, blow right through the process, and bingo, you're good to go. Many people won't even make it through the first 5 minutes of the video before they get overwhelmed and stop watching.

While I've been messing with computers for well over 20 years, I'm an artist, not a programmer, and I'm still ignorant of many things relating to software. I still get confused when opening GitHub, trying to download something! Opening "command prompt" is unnerving.

When installing Windows 11 Pro on a new pc, which I will be doing here in a couple weeks, I want to do the best I can to avoid the pitfalls of things like Microsoft wanting to require a Microsoft account for everything. That is number 1.

Like many, I hate how Windows has become so nosey and tries to grab every bit of information it can! That is a whole long topic in itself.

So, the cost of a new Windows 11 Pro version? I'm not paying $199. I understand one can get Windows keys for around $20, legally. But I don't understand how that works in relation to an "ISO" download of Windows, and how that can be downloaded to a USB for install to a new drive.

Do you put the whole ISO in a USB? The file is just under 8GB as I understand it. I do have an empty (anything on there will get wiped, so empty it first!) 16GB USB, so no issue there.

Sorry TLDR, but it's not a short topic!

Any ideas, suggestions that myself and others can understand would be greatly appreciated!

Keep it clear, and please spare us the geek talk acronyms and abbreviations; we don't know what you are referring to. Yes, spell it out, please.

With how Win11 has progressed through its installation cycle in recent times, you'll have to get used to the thought of the console.
Installing without a Macro$lop account has become impossible. Debloating it after install is getting trickier with each update they are pushing out.

Honestly? If you're not 100% dependent on some software that forces you into windows, I wouldn't use it any more.
You said "I'm an artist, not a programmer" - If that means mainly image editing, you could look at Photopea. Free of charge, runs in your browser and uses your hardware. Nothing leaves your system. If that's A/V, there are a lot of applications that have linux versions as well (not alternatives, the same program).

The process of loading an operating system on to a usb stick and installing them is the same, you'll have to do that any way. It doesn't matter if it's win, linux or mac. Bazzite has a really nice setup guide here with troubleshooting etc. Go with the Fedora Media Writer approach, no matter what operating system you choose in the end. It's the easiest to use.
If you decide you want to give the linux approach a spin, most images for usb sticks com with a "live" mode. It's a generic setup that behaves like the installed version would, it just won't save any changes you're making to it. It allows you to test the version before making any changes to the computer.
In your case I'd recommend a Bazzite Linux with KDE plasma desktop or a Linux Mint with Cinnamon Desktop.
Bazzite is completely hands off, just runs. Linux Mint allows tinkering if you want but doesn't need you to. Both of them (most distros to be fair) can be controlled completely via graphical interfaces, no console necessary.

If you have any questions regarding that, reach out to me here or on Discord. I'll try to help you out as much as I can.

Edit: Just connected your two posts... Unreal Engine runs flawlessly on linux as well (using that myself).
For the 3D tools it depends on which you use.

Rastilion wrote:
With how Win11 has progressed through its installation cycle in recent times, you'll have to get used to the thought of the console.
Installing without a Macro$lop account has become impossible. Debloating it after install is getting trickier with each update they are pushing out.

Honestly? If you're not 100% dependent on some software that forces you into windows, I wouldn't use it any more.
You said "I'm an artist, not a programmer" - If that means mainly image editing, you could look at Photopea. Free of charge, runs in your browser and uses your hardware. Nothing leaves your system. If that's A/V, there are a lot of applications that have linux versions as well (not alternatives, the same program).

The process of loading an operating system on to a usb stick and installing them is the same, you'll have to do that any way. It doesn't matter if it's win, linux or mac. Bazzite has a really nice setup guide here with troubleshooting etc. Go with the Fedora Media Writer approach, no matter what operating system you choose in the end. It's the easiest to use.
If you decide you want to give the linux approach a spin, most images for usb sticks com with a "live" mode. It's a generic setup that behaves like the installed version would, it just won't save any changes you're making to it. It allows you to test the version before making any changes to the computer.
In your case I'd recommend a Bazzite Linux with KDE plasma desktop or a Linux Mint with Cinnamon Desktop.
Bazzite is completely hands off, just runs. Linux Mint allows tinkering if you want but doesn't need you to. Both of them (most distros to be fair) can be controlled completely via graphical interfaces, no console necessary.

If you have any questions regarding that, reach out to me here or on Discord. I'll try to help you out as much as I can.

Edit: Just connected your two posts... Unreal Engine runs flawlessly on linux as well (using that myself).
For the 3D tools it depends on which you use.

Thank you for the information and the offer of assistance. I'll keep you in mind.

Honestly, I've been considering a switch to Linux for a few years now. Old habits die hard!

Linux Mint has come up many times so I've felt that might be a starting point. I've watched several videos on installation and general use. It doesn't seem to be that much different; it just has a lot of different terminology that Windows users aren't familiar with.

I'm not completely opposed to a change, but right now? Not yet. I have things I need to get settled before such a change. I've mentioned elsewhere I have an old laptop that's hardly ever been used that I can use as a test bed. If things break, I wouldn't care.

As you noticed, multimedia and 3d work is key. I find what works and stick with it to build muscle memory and speed. Something new will slow me down a lot.

Unreal, Blender, and Photoshop are my main tools, but I do use others; not all are Linux-friendly, as I've learned over the years.

Photoshop? Now that is something I'm considering different options. Believe it or not, I'm still using a free version I got many years ago, CS2. They released it for free, and I jumped all over it. Been using it ever since. My needs are such that I don't need all those bells and whistles, most of use is texturing some and 2d graphics stuff. I've only done photo editing once in all these years! I retouched an old photo of my wife's father when he was young that had a big tear in it. Came out great, actually. For an alternative, there are a couple options that have come out recently, open source and free. For the rather light use I do, they may well work fine. I've used Inkscape for vector stuff a little, Never liked Illustrator, it's just...weird!

Main issue I have with Photoshop is Adobe. Don't get me started! I refuse to bend the knee to their business model. I HATE cloud-based anything. I avoid it like the plague. MY stuff is going to stay on MY rig. Any program that runs on the cloud, nope, not doing it. I will avoid that to the bitter end.

The last straw with me and Adobe is when they bought out Z-Brush. I was just getting started learning Z-Brush, then suddenly it was gone! I was so mad, and so were others. Adobe took it off the shelf for a while till they could put their grubby hands on it, then released it at a much higher price. Man, I was so mad! Z-Brush was an awesome tool for character sculpting. Fortunately, Blender can do most of that type of work now.

Yes, Unreal and Blender do run on Linux. No real issues that I know of so far. So that's good.

For now, it's Windows, but I do see change in the not-too-distant future if Microsoft doesn't change their ways, which I don't see happening.

"Debloating" is really mainly a generic term for setting it up the way you prefer. The key, from what I've learned, is in the installation process, to reduce their spying stuff. Winhance and CTT's app are great tools to set things they way you prefer.

I've got some clarification on using a USB and Rufus, as well as downloading an ISO and buying a license from a third party; about $25. So, I'm basically ready to go, I think. Installing a new OS is always a little unsettling.

So far, the times I've done it have worked first try, so far! If one checks and rechecks, measure twice, cut once, it SHOULD go well.