Will this #@$% up my computer?

[Just Joe]

I'm sitting here at work (lunch break) on a Dell Precision T1600 work station (2011). Kubuntu KDE has just worked for me even with using a half dozen video streaming services via Chrome.

At home we'll hang on to Win10 as long as we possibly can while Win11 sorts itself out. Maybe Win12 will come along and be better than Win11. Microsoft seems to do that - one good version, one meh version. That computer is for our kids' gaming needs plus school work. Still a good computer (Dell XPS desktop).

It also happily dual boots Kubuntu. I've installed Kubuntu on several friends and family computers. Mint Linux on others.

Life is too short for problems like Win11.

[frugalnacho]

I would recommend just creating a microsoft account.  You don't actually have to use it, or do anything with it.  It was required when setting up my computer so I just did it because it seemed faster than trying to figure out a work around, even though I really don't want a MS account.   So I just created one, and immediately turned off S mode, and forgot about it.

About one year later my computer got locked up by "microsoft bitlocker".  If you're unaware bitlocker is drive encryption software, and it's installed by default on new windows machines.  I'm not sure how to disable it, or if it's even possible.  I wasn't even aware of its existence until I got locked out of my laptop.  Once locked you will not be able to boot up or access any of your data.  Apparently you cannot even remove the drive and recover it using another machine because the drive itself is locked and inaccessible.  The only way to unlock it is to use the unique 48-digit recovery key that is created when initially set up.  I never knew about any of this until I got locked out and had to find a 48-digit recovery key that I didn't even know existed.  Apparently when setting up your account microsoft automatically saves this recovery key to your account, so you can log in to your account (from another device) and recover the key from your account, which is what I did.

[oneday]

If only I could just have Win10 on this new computer!!!

You can:
https://pureinfotech.com/downgrade-windows-11-10/

@ChpBstrd  wins the thread!

UPDATE:

Microsoft has bested me, damn those capitalists. Tried the registry hack: the registry edit was saved, but it did not eliminate S mode. Tried to downgrade to Win10 and the installer just shut itself off after downloading the files...twice. Tried using my work MS account credentials, but that errored out (account does not exist). Finally, I created an MS account and got out of S mode the regular way.

This is all exhausting.

[BDWW]

If only I could just have Win10 on this new computer!!!

You can:
https://pureinfotech.com/downgrade-windows-11-10/

@ChpBstrd  wins the thread!

UPDATE:

Microsoft has bested me, damn those capitalists. Tried the registry hack: the registry edit was saved, but it did not eliminate S mode. Tried to downgrade to Win10 and the installer just shut itself off after downloading the files...twice. Tried using my work MS account credentials, but that errored out (account does not exist). Finally, I created an MS account and got out of S mode the regular way.

This is all exhausting.

I've heard Windows just works though, and Linux is complicated. So clearly you're doing something wrong? /jk

I'm always a bit leery of offering my advice/experience because I seem to exist in some weird netherworld where my experience is apparently a unicorn. I've run Ubuntu as my sole operating system for over 12 years now. Two 1440p monitors sitting in front of me with no issues. At work we have ~20 nucs with Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 loaded on them running workstations for the frontline/data entry staff all with multiple monitors working fine.

I remember using ndiswrapper 20 years ago to get wireless to work, but I'm struggling to remember the last time something I had an issue with something that didn't just work.  I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone reading about these struggles people seemingly have. Knock on wood I guess.

[jim555]

If anyone needs the original bits here is the link.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download

It should auto activate if the machine was used with a valid license before.

[neo von retorch]

To elaborate on the above... the ideal for going from Windows 11 (S / Home / Pro) to Windows 10 is probably this:

1. Make sure all personal files are saved elsewhere (physical drives, cloud, etc.)
2. Use above download link to get Windows 10 Media - I like to use a USB drive at this point (though in theory if you have an optical read/write drive, you could make a disc)
3. Make installation media
4. Find an option specific to your computer to boot from the media (by default, it boots from your hard drive, with Windows already on it) - there may be an "Advanced/ Recovery" option buried in Windows settings that may get you here, too
5. Once you boot into the media / setup, just delete the Windows drive partition and install Windows 10 there
6. Navigate all the dark patterns to avoid re-installing Windows 11