One day I'll move this machine to 10, but I think I'm not going to engage with 11 at all.

12 will likely be out before then anyway...

Just my 2 cents on one thing you said.  I work on, build, refurb, repair PCs.  Several times I have switched a computer from S mode to regular mode. It doesn't even require a reinstall.   It's just a setting.

Just saying.  It may not change your post, but S mode isn't something you're stuck with. 

On a second point, I have had zero issues installing just about anything I want on 11.  I have installed everything I always run on every PC I have had since Windows 7. No issues.

With the exception of WindowBlinds.

RND - I agree S mode is not something you are stuck with... for now.  And don't doubt you that the mode can be changed via a setting.  My tech may have just preferred to use the MS Windows installation tool, as opposed to changing a setting, perhaps because of the ancillary driver & BT issues we encountered.  Thanks for your input.

And thanks for the article link, DaveRI.  Pretty much nutshells it.  Being the cynic that I am, I see nothing to stop MS simply locking the OS from the gitgo in future versions.  Or reaching in and locking existing 'open' versions if they get the itch.

Windows 11 for me has been just fine allowing me to use plenty of my Software i used in older Windows Editions with no problems except Windowblinds as that does not work without using ExplorerPatcher.

There are always plenty of free programs around which remove all the bloatware and close down all the MS loopholes that this thread refers too, and there has been such programs since Late Windows 7, now they are just much better matching removing the new stuff we do not  and should not have.

Agree with you PhoenixRising1.

MS has for a long time tried to increase the info they can skim from a users Operating System, and i too realised a long while ago not to use a Microsoft account when installing a fresh Windows 7/8/8.1/10/ and now 11, maybe this is why i have no problem migrating to Win 11.MS are trying to make it harder during the initial set up of Win 11, trying to steer you to include a MS id or account, but for all the ways the try to spy on you, peeps will always come up with ways to for that not to happen, even the account set up stage of a clean re install makes you believe you can not progress to the next step unless you add a MS id or account, i just go for a local account to avoid those hard wired settings, then later change those details on the users terms making the changes necessary and what suits the user best. Now and again i will run one of the free tools to close MS spying just in case there is something i have missed.

The offer of a free upgrade to Win 10 and 11 was not a mistake by MS as they knew they would gather enough info on the user using default settings to cover the cost of the "Free" Upgrade"  So it has always been a users responsibility to close down these Legit backdoors using some or all of the methods we have talked about.

I do not think a user should be put off upgrading to Win 11 based on something MS has been doing for years, they act and as long as we react a balance can be achieved.

If And Tech Support should make a bold statement like  "I've been advised by my tech support company to not install Windows 11 under any circumstances."  They should also include the ways to negate such risks making the Operating System better fit the average user, yes the average user should not need to do this but we are talking about Microsoft here, they are not a trusted family member but a Multi National Info Muncher who want to make it sound like they are offering you something too good to be true.

Hippa is one of those things you don't want to mess around with and I don't blame tech support for wanting to take extra steps in protecting peoples privacy.

I think Microsoft was pretty clever with how they are decietfully handling the use of their third party access on Windows 11. On one hand you can absolutely say that they are data mining people. But on the other hand Microsoft can respond like this. "Look the on off switches are there, all you have to do is turn it off. We care about your privacy"

Truth be told is that by default these are set to on and about 80 percent of people will keep them on without realizing. So what you end up with is that techies will tell you that Windows 11 is good for privacy. And this is simply because they offer just slightly more then what google and apple does for privacy. However, this does not mean they aren't playing the exact same game when it comes to extracting your data. This makes Microsoft clever, they are able to do what apple and google are doing AND get some good press in the process.

- slightly edited to better word my point.

"...but opens your computer to all kinds of background third party access."

Exactly. The reason I won't go with 11.

I think it's outrageous to create an OS which disrespects the consumer's security/privacy. Unless this is changed, I'll migrate to another OS. I believe an OS's default should be for maximum security. That was supposed to be the reason W11 came into being, no?

Fix 10, and there'll be no need for 11.

This is not a new thing, MS has been doing it for years but we are never going to see the line

"Window 8/10/11 The Best OS Yet, Just Ignore all the Spying" 

Peeps like us expect the Spying and third party access to grow with each New OS, so we take steps to prevent it, is it right Hell NO, but if we want to use Windows for free we deal with it and close down those backdoors.

I am sure many of us as Techy people help others, family and friends, so our job is to spread the word, educate and when we do work for said peeps show them how to negate this.

Some are saying in this topic  "I will not move to Win 11 Due To This, i will stick with Win 10, come on guys and gals, the same thing was happening in that OS too, or do you really think MS spying on us is a Win 11 only thing.

LightStar   In a perfect world Win 7 would have been a good point to stop, but how else is MS going to sell it's Go Faster Striped Windows even as a free upgrade.

Do we all remember MS telling us there will be NO Windows after Win 10, how many of us actually believed this when they read it for the first time, i did not, and the reason i did not is very simple.

MICROSOFT LIES TO PEOPLE, they have, they are, and they will continue too, the process to limit this to what we consider is ok is not only in the realms of Techy people, the free tools on the net are easy to find and use, so make the move to Win 11, shut down the loopholes, job done, or you can stick with an OS that will one day become dangerous to use as MS will make sure of that by stopping Security Patches and other Companies will remove support also.

Then one day you will think, it was far better MS knowing what sites i spend my time on (if you did not close this down) than a Pirate scumbag using an unsupported OS to empty your Bank Account.

I was curious about this when I upgraded to 11. However, I also realize Google and Microsoft already have ways to get into your machine without doing something this lame. Every time you have an update, Microsoft can stick it to you, or when you use something Google, they can get you. Do anyone have any idea what is really in Windows? Of course not because we don't have access to the source code. I just run mine on a local account which means I don't need Microsoft's permission to use anything. For now this is the best I can do.

I Absolutely Agree ...   

The only claimed issue with continuing to use Win 7 is you will die a horrible death from disease and Virii.

I use 0 Patch ....costs a tad [not free like win10] but does everything in realtime...you don't wait for 'Some Tuesday' so is a better way to go anyway...

Welcome to the era of vulnerability micropatching - 0patch 

It'll be about $25 USD I think.  I just bought via PayPal and let the conversion sort itself out...

Try the trial first, anyway...and you'll see what it's doing....tho that's  a bit restricted...the full paid-for ver does it all...

There will always be backdoors created by MS, and there will always be free tools out there to close these doors(if a person does not understand how to do this for themselves), a whole new sub section has been created by MS by removing the older start menu , even Stardock is in on the act with Start 10 and 11. Microsoft will always make an Operating System how they think it should be, even if there customers "US" disagrees , and in that, software companies who do listen will keep pushing out Start Replacement Programs.

You have to wonder how the Insiders Program actually convinces MS to do some of the things they do and think it is in the better way forward.

This is just one example of how MS will do things, and if a change or feature update makes sweeping changes we as consumers do not like, others will spring up with third party software to change it back to how we did like it originally

MS Spying is no different, but as i have said before, this is not a new thing but so many members are seeing it as a Windows 11 thing when it is not, it was there in Win 10 and Win 7/8 to some degree.

They will always do this (and other things), and resourceful people will also re act. Every one of us has the option to use another kind of Operating System, but if we choose to use the latest Windows, accept MS will try to shaft you, so those of us who can push back should shaft them right back by blocking what they hope to achieve, educating others in how this is done, and accept there new Operating System with a sly grin on our face knowing full well they can not have it there own way.