howardhwen
Staff
If Windows 11 feels cluttered with AI features, ads, and background services, these popular free tools help strip out the bloat, disable telemetry, and give you more control over the OS.
Stop the Slop: 8 Tools That Clean Up Windows 11
- Thread starter howardhwen
- Start date
Can you just stop with these "fight the flood with a bucket" kind of apps and move to Linux? I know it's hard leaving drive letters behind, but get on with the times.
The best apps to fight Win Spyware (11): Linux, Win 10 (for gaming).
I use Rufus to install Windows with a local account then Win11Debloat and then remove additional telemetry like Adobe with winscript.cc Then some manual tweaks on (not 365) Office 2024 and a handful of one off registry tweaks.
A soon as Linux gets with the times and supports the dominant graphics cards, office suite, specialized statistical software.
Some of us do more than (limited) gaming and facebook on our computers so the best I can do before retirement is dual boot - which still requires taming Windows.
Melkor Unlimited
Posts: 343 +316
Would you put your money into bank runing on Windows?
Would you feel safe to put your card into ATM showing Windows XP screen?
Would you feel your retirement budget is safe counted on Windows?
Windows is (not very) good to do some petty office work in corporates with big IT.
Microsoft office suite is not good enough to reliably work on microsoft file formats.
No doubt, the Linux kernel is good, as is NT's, but the distributions have various shortcomings. Android succeeds not because of Linux but because everything works and a lack of fragmentation. Windows is sinking, we all know that, but it doesn't follow that Linux is the answer, as some of its proselytisers suggest.
What I also find baffling is why some Linux distributions and UIs go out of their way to copy the Windows' metaphor if they resent it so much.
guillejp
Posts: 303 +307
Great "listicle" that tackles and provides guidance to users on a current underlying issue. They provide solid value.
Keep that whole concept in mind and keep these coming.
Keep that whole concept in mind and keep these coming.
I'd love to be able to switch to Linux, but, as is the case for most Windows users, until it natively supports the several applications I use daily to make a living, it's not an option. And no, there are not Linux alternatives for most mainstream applications, and the ones that do exist are poor, unpolished copies that lack stability, features, etc.
Linux is fine for hobbyists. I've played with it myself, but for most of us, it's not an option and never will be.
Looking at all the world infrastructure running in Linux.
Looking at all the software I developed exclusively on Linux.
UHM...
Linux has its place. It's great for the uses you mention, but for serious business and home users, not so much. A hammer is great for driving a nail, but it's worthless for sawing a board in two...
And look at the rest of the world that runs on windows. What’s your point?
brunocasarini
Posts: 156 +495
Melkor Unlimited
Posts: 343 +316
Just tell me how many of them are using Windows.
Most of them work in some thin or thick (hello SAP) client, access things through browser or use some app.
Java Virtual Machine used to run on almost anything (fridge included). So the "apps" based on electron and like could be no different.
Linux has users.
Windows has (a lot of) admins and people doing office work.
I've been trying to move to Linux the past few months, but keep running into limitations, like programs that not available with no good replacement--trust me, I've tried dozens. And I've tried over a dozen distros so far. Proton, Wine, Bottles are nice, but still hobbyist-level, not mainstream. The average user wants it 'to just work'.
I do some Android in Windows via Bluestacks. There are Android containers for Linux, but I have a couple of apps that either will not install or games that have audio but no video (makes it hard to play). And I haven't used a command line this much since my MS-DOS days. (yeah, I got started in computers in 1979, the pre-DOS era--anyone remember cassette tapes?)
So Android - ChromeOS / Chromebooks or ChromiumOS or FydeOS. I can get all my Android apps to run, but not the Windows type apps I need, they do not exist. I even tried FydeOS Linux (Crostini) to use EmuDeck and it installed quite well. Well, after enough terminal commands to get all the missing libraries installed. But ES-DE will not display because there is no real window manager in Crostini. A suggestion was to try install KDE Plasma, but I haven't tried that yet. And may not because...
I may abandon the Chrome variants for a few reasons: (1) the Files app is still barely capable--try to see Properties of used, fee space, and using a Linux one takes 8+ seconds for it to load; (2) It cannot keep a persistent connection to my NAS, I have to remove and re-add it most days; (3) (and this is a Real Biggie!) You cannot play 2 audio sources at the same time like listen to tunes while playing a game. In this era???
I left my Chromebook 5+ years ago and just stayed with Windows because of these exact same issues that are still prevalent today. Will Google's almighty ALOS fix all this? Maybe, but Android still has a lot of other limitations, especially on large screens.
And when one does want to leave Windows for Linux, which of the @ 500 distros should one pick? Oh, some like Mint and Zorin try to look Windows-like to ease you in, but in the end, they do not have the Windows 'feel'. Back to the command line.
Maybe the entire OS industry needs an overhaul? And as much as 'They' would like AI to be that, I do not believe the average user wants all that intrusion. They want to boot up and click on what they want to run without a lot of prompting and suggesting while they're trying to 'do their thing'.
/End /Rant
No windows has more users. “Office work” is still using the OS. CAD is still using the OS. Linux software support is basically non existent and it’s not usable by 99% of people and a significant portion of that is its no supported and too fragmented to be.
For debloating etc.... I found the best tool is Chris Titus's Windows Utility. Highly recommend that one.
However talking of moving off Win11...
I finally cracked it with Microslop about 1 month ago. I searched online to see what I could find in a linux distro that would at least support at least 75% of my game collection and still have a bare bones and fast system that wasn't riddled with AI slop, telemetry and spyware....
I ended up choosing CashyOS and honestly I'm not going to go back.
It was more than easy to use and with little learning curve required. Gemini AI or Claude will help you with any commands if you need them or guides, so its really easy to adjust.
I'm now using CashyOS as my daily driver. I'm converting all my machines at home to CashyOS and its so nice to have something that's so customizable, a menu system that just has the applications listed that also has a search function that works.
Steam works...it just works which still blows my mind. CashyOS boots really fast and you can update WHEN YOU WANT TO!... I could go on but if you're not sure about it...try running the live version off USB first to try but I highly recommend buying a new NVME and using that to install to so you can go back to Microslop on the old drive if you have to. Dual booting is messy with any distro so I don't recommend that.
Now, when I get to work and have to use Winslop 11 I die inside..... I've already started asking if I can format my work laptop and change over to CashyOS as most of my work applications are either just using RDP or Office sh!te that's web based anyways....
However talking of moving off Win11...
I finally cracked it with Microslop about 1 month ago. I searched online to see what I could find in a linux distro that would at least support at least 75% of my game collection and still have a bare bones and fast system that wasn't riddled with AI slop, telemetry and spyware....
I ended up choosing CashyOS and honestly I'm not going to go back.
It was more than easy to use and with little learning curve required. Gemini AI or Claude will help you with any commands if you need them or guides, so its really easy to adjust.
I'm now using CashyOS as my daily driver. I'm converting all my machines at home to CashyOS and its so nice to have something that's so customizable, a menu system that just has the applications listed that also has a search function that works.
Steam works...it just works which still blows my mind. CashyOS boots really fast and you can update WHEN YOU WANT TO!... I could go on but if you're not sure about it...try running the live version off USB first to try but I highly recommend buying a new NVME and using that to install to so you can go back to Microslop on the old drive if you have to. Dual booting is messy with any distro so I don't recommend that.
Now, when I get to work and have to use Winslop 11 I die inside..... I've already started asking if I can format my work laptop and change over to CashyOS as most of my work applications are either just using RDP or Office sh!te that's web based anyways....
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Northy
Posts: 572 +265
People
Windows doesn't magically do the things you mention but is somehow unable to reliably release a monthly update that doesn't bork millions of computers, it's 3rd party developers who produce software for the most used operating systems.
There isn't a world where some OS appears and fixes everything, just one where pressure from end users demanding from the devs of the products they use to support more stable operating systems, or just more of the same anti-consumer winjunk and crapple. Probably the latter for the moment.
Linux supports whatever software is made for it, like Windows.
Windows doesn't magically do the things you mention but is somehow unable to reliably release a monthly update that doesn't bork millions of computers, it's 3rd party developers who produce software for the most used operating systems.
There isn't a world where some OS appears and fixes everything, just one where pressure from end users demanding from the devs of the products they use to support more stable operating systems, or just more of the same anti-consumer winjunk and crapple. Probably the latter for the moment.
daffy duck
Posts: 1,101 +1,008
Alas a photographer none of the software I use will ever come to Linux natively - thanks for nothing Adobe etc - and I'm not going back to dual booting. If Linux had even 10-15% market share we might see software companies give a damn.
bclaymiles
Posts: 458 +402
Religious fervor over operating systems is, well, typical human tribalism. Use what you like. Don't use what you don't like. If what you like can't do what you need, try something that does what you need; doesn't mean you have to stop using what you like. If what you don't like can't do what you need, well, first rule of Fight Club is....
(currently using Windows 10, Windows 11, Debian, Android, and MacOS)
(currently using Windows 10, Windows 11, Debian, Android, and MacOS)
Melkor Unlimited
Posts: 343 +316
Chance to find user is higher on Linux.
Widows has those ... biological units who click on everything mouse pointer goes over.
SO. Its between app and OS.
Why bother users?
Linux support exists.
You have to pay for it.
As you have to pay for support for Windows, Oracle, Adobe, ....
As is windows software without training, manuals, books ...
Look at bookshelves:
How to use Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ...
Advanced function of Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ...
Be a master in Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ...
Windows and apps for windows are so intuitive and well supported, one can do a very good business selling books.
Melkor Unlimited
Posts: 343 +316
There are easy choices:
- you like it and it does what you need
- you do not like it and it does not what you need
And not so easy choices:
- you like it but lack something
- you do not like it but provides something
user of QNX, Solarix, Linux - Red Hat (work), Gentoo (Home)
clicker in Windows
I wild argue Linux users are normally the more robot like
Applications is why you use the OS. You don’t just sit there staring at the desktop.
Nope. For example I want to use solidworks, flat out doesn’t work on anything but windows.
Windows doesn’t require the use of the command line
The vast majority of people can use windows more intuitively than they can Linux and everything you’ve just mentioned is not supported on Linux
Melkor Unlimited
Posts: 343 +316
You may not agree with that.
You may deny that.
But it is all you can do about that.
Compatibility between App and OS is between App and OS.
Why bother person using App?
You said Linux has no support.
Now you crying Solidworks has not support.
You are crying nice & loud but on wrong tombstone.
Ask Dassault Systèmes why they do not provide support for Linux.
1) If I do not want to use command line in Linux, I do not have to.
2) Sure. Windows do not use Command line (from old DOS age command.com). They (mostly) use Power Shell.
3) A lot of work is done easier, faster and more reliable using Power Shell or older Command Line.
Good Joke.
Book sellers know better.
Try better.
With some exception here and there MS Word and MS Excel work under Linux too.
And sometimes have issues on Windows too.
Quality of SW is not as good as it used to be
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Becaure there isn’t enough users and Linux doesn’t have the required support for the program?
Yes you do.
MS word and excel do not have a native Linux version. You cannot run them on Linux.Good Joke.
Book sellers know better.
Try better.
With some exception here and there MS Word and MS Excel work under Linux too.
And sometimes have issues on Windows too.
Quality of SW is not as good as it used to be
You’re literally just trying to defend what is a niche and practically useless OS for general compute becaure you have a superiority complex. I’ve used Linux and if there’s not a specific reason why you’d want to use it macOS or windows are just better to use. I’d rather spend more time doing what I booted the machine up for rather than troubleshooting something becaure an update bricked half my apps
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