Question Windows 11 upgrade for possibly better performance

[Shmee]

I am thinking of upgrading, for hopefully better performance. Specifically I hear there are improvements for Ryzen CPUs as of recently over Windows 10. How about memory management?

I would do a backup of the system drive first, but I would like to know more just the same. I refuse to use an MS account to sign in, I prefer my local account. Still no issue here, right?

I currently have Windows 10 tweaked with programs such as Winaero, which I understand can also help with Windows 11. Is it possible to manage or turn off updates in Windows 11 if I don't want them or want to delay/skip particular updates? Oh and is there a way to modify the Windows 11 UI so that the start button is on the bottom left?

I understand the upgrade is still free, but what if I want to go back? Is the Windows 10 license still good?

Thanks.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Windows 11 KB5043145 Update Preview Causes BSOD and Bootloops, Microsoft Pulls it

Microsoft releases a monthly cumulative update to Windows every second Tuesday of a month, dubbed "patch Tuesday," however sometimes the company has the updates ready to go before that date, and puts them out as Update Previews. These are not "beta" versions of a software update, but contents of...

www.techpowerup.com

Ummm...good luck. I have Windows 11 only on non-critical systems that I use for tinkering/tweaking etc.

Would really hate it if my main system got borked due to an update.

On something important, I would stick with Windows 10 as long as I can and I would ideally keep the gaming PC separate strictly with the mindset that it can become unusable and can be quickly brought back up with a quick OS reinstall.

My web browsing laptop has Win8.1 and it usually has an uptime of almost a year.

 

[Shmee]

Yeah this is my main gaming PC, but it is also important. I suppose I do other stuff than game on it, a little. Like browsing/posting.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Maybe block Windows updates with one of these methods: https://kartikmehtablog.com/how-to-stop-windows-11-update-the-comprehensive-guide/

Later apply the updates only if you think you need them. I would use the CMD method or the Group Policy method.

Still, I would recommend trying out Win11 in a VM first, just to see if you can tolerate the various changes they have made.

 

[mikeymikec]

I am thinking of upgrading, for hopefully better performance. Specifically I hear there are improvements for Ryzen CPUs as of recently over Windows 10. How about memory management?

I would do a backup of the system drive first, but I would like to know more just the same. I refuse to use an MS account to sign in, I prefer my local account. Still no issue here, right?

I currently have Windows 10 tweaked with programs such as Winaero, which I understand can also help with Windows 11. Is it possible to manage or turn off updates in Windows 11 if I don't want them or want to delay/skip particular updates? Oh and is there a way to modify the Windows 11 UI so that the start button is on the bottom left?

I understand the upgrade is still free, but what if I want to go back? Is the Windows 10 license still good?

Thanks.

HWUB did some testing already, but like igor said, given how MS has been somewhat more lax in recent years about Windows update QA, I would wait a good long while (maybe 6 months after the performance patch / 24H2's release) and further review of the benefits before acting on it.

The most recent Win10 to 11 update I've done was within the last 30 days.

 

[balloonshark]

Yes you can move the start button / taskbar to the bottom left on the screen. Personalization - Taskbar - Taskbar behaviors - Taskbar alignment and select left.

You can only pause updates like you can in Windows 10. You have to click the pause for one week however many times as it will let you. Around a month total I think. There may be other ways to block updates.

I'm pretty sure you can still install without a MS account but it's not a straightforward process. https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

You should be able to go back to windows 10. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-downgrade-from-windows-11-to-windows-10/

 

[igor_kavinski]

I'm pretty sure you can still install without a MS account but it's not a straightforward process. https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Made me really angry the last two times I installed Windows 11. The cmd prompt didn't open easily for me to do the bypassnro command. Kept bashing the keyboard until it finally came.

 

[Shmee]

I would be doing an upgrade from an existing local account.

 

[mikeymikec]

I would be doing an upgrade from an existing local account.

In my experience it doesn't attempt to sell you an MS account through that route.

---

Btw, apparently clean installing Win11 without an MS account is going to change as of 24H2.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I just found out about this: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/windows-11-dev-drive-with-massive-speed-improvements-o.2622769/

Raise your hands if you are curious whether this will work with thousands of photos and audio files!

Don't ask me though, my hand is up too! Just waiting for someone to try it and report back