Why people are running away from Windows 11? Can't Co-Pilot be deactivated completely?

[DCBassman]

You're experience is in no way typical.

For the record, I've been using Windows since version 1.0, and there's been a cavalcade of errors, failures, and performance issues, from version 3.0, Windows 2000, Vista, windows 8, etc. BSOD has been a meme, thanks to the issues windwos has over years. My point is, its hard to justify a stance that there's been little to no problems with windows. There's been versions that Microsoft has hit it out of the park, Windows 7, and 10. Windows XP was a great OS, but it had its share of instabilities and crashes, not to mention vulnerabilities.

There's a dave2d video out there comparing a Lenovo handheld gaming unit running windows 11 and the same one running steamos. The steamos using emulation for gaming out performed the windows. If that doesn't speak volumes of the bloat and sluggishness of windows 11 then I don't know what.

I was and still am a big fan of windows, but recent moves and actions by Microsoft, has caused me to not only lose faith inn the direction of windows, but I prefer not to be forced to use an operating system that requires an online account where my decryption keys are handed over to the government and/or my actions, interactions and typing is recorded and sent to the mothership in various forms.

Windows 11, has more negatives then positives at this point. Microsoft has promised renewed attention regarding the quality of life stuff and pulling back on the copilot integration as well. Yet at this stage, its hard to recommend given the increasing telemetry being sent, the advertisements, and senseless insertion of copilot into every nook and cranny of the system.

I don't disagree with most of this. I just never had that many problems. Win 11...no. Tried it over a couple of years on various machines. It's not for me. To be clear, I no longer have a use case for anything bar email, browsing, and word processing, so anything is capable of that. On that restricted level, Linux wins hands fown, simply because you install it, and everything is there, ready to go. No, it doesn't have the fairly seamless migration of macOS when buying a new Mac. Nothing else does. But that's the closed system for you, nice and easy, stay where you are, don't do anything rash...Not an issue if it does everything you need. Insurmountable problem if it doesn't, or you begin to realise that the grass, while not necessarily greener, can be refreshingly different.
My favourite? Old Intel machines (3rd gen onward, usually) running MX Linux. Old Intel machines covers any brand. In my case, they are mainly old Macs, as it happens, and on most Macs I've tried, MX works flawlessly out of the box. If you're using generic Intel equipment, it's equally easy, usually.
While Linux is still a bit niche, that niche is hugely bigger than it was...
Grab an old Macbook, say 2012 or so, and try it. You might be pleasantly surprised!

 

[infinitegusto]

I didn't have issues with Windows 11 so much as the default hardware not working that great with my Studio Display, and my 4K monitor. My work laptop was a 2024 HP ProBook 445 G11 had 16gb of memory, Ryzen 5, AMD Radeon Graphics. In theory it shouldn't struggle with doing a video conference and a screen share but it did. The Studio mic started to cut out in the middle of almost every meeting. Tried a screen share while opening an Excel file and both monitors went black but my audio was still live. Switched to an M4 MacBook Air base config and it hasn't struggled to do either of those tasks.

 

[macguy167]

…there is a lot of discontent within the windows community, people are angry at the issues with updates, with MS focusing more effort on pushing copilot, trying to push recall, failing to address actual issues…

This is the result of the commoditization of the Windows operating system…

 

[maflynn]

I didn't have issues with Windows 11 so much as the default hardware not working that great with my Studio Display,

I was looking to upgrade my display late last year and truth be told the Studio Display was on my short list, even with its high price. One requirement was that it had to be a good option for windows, as I have a couple of windows computers along side my Mac. One of those is my work laptop and that needs to work flawlessly. In doing my research I felt that it was not a great cross platform display, and bought something else.

 

[LeeW]

If anything, I am finding all the initial complaints about CoPilot are slowly turning into dependency, whether people admit it or not. Whether it's just to get an answer for something or to use it inside office products, People are turning to it.

 

[Ctrlos]

Odd, that. I've used Windows almost from day one, and only ever suffered such problems due to hardware errors/failures. Once the codebase was NT, rock solid. However, as mentioned up there ^^^ , I no longer use W11 due to restricted UI choices.

I have a Surface Laptop Go 1st Gen on Windows 11 which is.... fine but I wouldn't ,mind reverting it back to W10 if I can. I'm not IT averse but if I reinstalled 10 from a USB ISO would it carry my licence backwards?

 

[throAU]

Hi, as I recall last year MS offered users an option not to use those Co-Pilot/AI/automatic screenshots rubbish. I did not enable it and it seemed fine. Few weeks ago Co-Pilot showed up daily and I uninstalled it. Doesn't that uninstall all those AI/monitoring/screenshots rubbish? Why some people said that they are moving from Windows to Mac OS because of this?

It’s not just copilot.

Microsoft user hostile behaviour
monthly garbage patches
changes to apps nobody asked for
explorer has gotten WAY worse in terms of performance since windows 10
ads everywhere
taskbar can’i be moved


basically microsoft is user hostile. you can either fight the OS continuallly…. or just leave for something better.

 

[pshufd]

I have a Surface Laptop Go 1st Gen on Windows 11 which is.... fine but I wouldn't ,mind reverting it back to W10 if I can. I'm not IT averse but if I reinstalled 10 from a USB ISO would it carry my licence backwards?

You don't need a license on Windows 10 or Windows 11. You lose a few UI customizations and you have a nag watermark but that's about it. I've been using Windows unlicensed (outside of the systems that I've bought with it included) for over ten years.

 

[pshufd]

It’s not just copilot.

Microsoft user hostile behaviour
monthly garbage patches
changes to apps nobody asked for
explorer has gotten WAY worse in terms of performance since windows 10
ads everywhere
taskbar can’i be moved


basically microsoft is user hostile. you can either fight the OS continuallly…. or just leave for something better.

I am not seeing ads from Microsoft. I do see them from Lenovo but I suspect it's part of Vantage which I need to use from time to time.

All of the other stuff doesn't bother me or I haven't run into it.

I do secure/privacy stuff on macOS.

I'm stuck on Windows because of software dependencies and somewhat because of Tahoe problems.

 

[throAU]

I am not seeing ads from Microsoft. I do see them from Lenovo but I suspect it's part of Vantage which I need to use from time to time.

All of the other stuff doesn't bother me or I haven't run into it.

I do secure/privacy stuff on macOS.

I'm stuck on Windows because of software dependencies and somewhat because of Tahoe problems.

When you install you get a bunch of prompts to install 365, you’re continually prompted to set up onedrive, etc.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

If anything, I am finding all the initial complaints about CoPilot are slowly turning into dependency, whether people admit it or not. Whether it's just to get an answer for something or to use it inside office products, People are turning to it.

I don't know anyone that uses copilot for anything, at all, and I work at all Microsoft company.

 

[pshufd]

When you install you get a bunch of prompts to install 365, you’re continually prompted to set up onedrive, etc.

I'm running without a Microsoft Windows account - maybe that makes a difference in ads.

I don't get prompts to install 365 nor do I hear a peep about onedrive.

 

[maflynn]

I don't know anyone that uses copilot for anything, at all, and I work at all Microsoft company.

Same, its largely a useless feature. Like why did you add copilot into notepad - that makes no sense.

 

[maflynn]

I'm running without a Microsoft Windows account - maybe that makes a difference in ads.

definitely, that's why they're pushing the online account to deliver ads, and collect telemetry.

 

[pshufd]

I don't know anyone that uses copilot for anything, at all, and I work at all Microsoft company.

For years, Microsoft has championed its Copilot artificial intelligence as the future of developer productivity. The company consistently spotlights Copilot in software updates and underscores its close partnership with OpenAI. Yet, inside Microsoft’s own engineering ranks, an unexpected development is unfolding: employees are being directed to use another AI solution, not created by Microsoft or its direct partners, but by a competitor.

Microsoft sells Copilot to the world — but its own engineers don’t use it

Contents Behind the scenes: why Microsoft’s internal teams turn to external AI solutions? The impact of leadership decisions and strategic partnerships User critiques and the balancing act of innovation For years, Microsoft has championed its Copilot artificial intelligence as the future of...

ucstrategies.com

Son used to use CoPilot as their organization bought a license for it. I think that they're offered a choice of two competing products now.

 

[pshufd]

Same, its largely a useless feature. Like why did you add copilot into notepad - that makes no sense.

Probably Microsoft Windows Engineering brownie points for developers that implement a feature using it.

 

[Ctrlos]

It’s not just copilot.

Microsoft user hostile behaviour
monthly garbage patches
changes to apps nobody asked for
explorer has gotten WAY worse in terms of performance since windows 10
ads everywhere
taskbar can’i be moved


basically microsoft is user hostile. you can either fight the OS continuallly…. or just leave for something better.

Whilst I do not disagree with any of your points, you can just run a straightforward 'decrapifying' script in powershell to remove pretty much all of the bloat and its easy enough swapping out the explorer for a better file manager from the store.

 

[Ctrlos]

Probably Microsoft Windows Engineering brownie points for developers that implement a feature using it.

On one hand there are so few people using it they have had to bundle it with Office to massage the figures.

On the other hand I fully expect Windows 12 to be built around the on-device LLM they build from their acquired ashes of OpenAI in 2027.

 

[pshufd]

Whilst I do not disagree with any of your points, you can just run a straightforward 'decrapifying' script in powershell to remove pretty much all of the bloat and its easy enough swapping out the explorer for a better file manager from the store.

I have to go through this process on macOS but it's through Settings. I had to start doing this in Sequoia and I assume that I'll have to do it with Tahoe too give the performance complaints that I'm seeing with users that upgrade to it.

 

[maflynn]

you can just run a straightforward 'decrapifying' script in powershell to remove pretty much all of the bloat and its easy enough swapping out the explorer for a better file manager from the store.

Its sad that you have to debloat it, but even then any updates from MS will re-add the bloat, or worse, the debloating process can make the system unstable

 

[pshufd]

Its sad that you have to debloat it, but even then any updates from MS will re-add the bloat, or worse, the debloating process can make the system unstable

I'd love the OEMs to turn it all off as a feature. All of the OEMs seem to add a layer of software to control BIOS and other settings. With Lenovo, it's Vantage. I've heard a lot of people complain about it but I really love it as I don't have to play with the BIOS anymore. Asus' version is Armoury Crate which I really hate. I just change the BIOS settings on Asus systems. I really like the idea as it is far more user-friendly but OEMs can do a good or bad job at implementation.

I'm sure that Microsoft would be really upset if the OEMs offered an option to remove the annoying Microsoft stuff. I could see a debloat screen where it gave you options to remove Windows crapware with an option to Remove All.

 

[LeeW]

I don't know anyone that uses copilot for anything, at all, and I work at all Microsoft company.

All I can say is that working at an all Microsoft company with over 100,000 people, it's used a lot. You say you don't know anyone, but I also said, whether they admit it or not. A lot of people are in the space of using it, not wanting to say they do.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

All I can say is that working at an all Microsoft company with over 100,000 people, it's used a lot. You say you don't know anyone, but I also said, whether they admit it or not. A lot of people are in the space of using it, not wanting to say they do.

Well, I checked and it's disabled site-wide, even if the buttons are there.

We have a no AI policy here. Hospital.

 

[LeeW]

Well, I checked and it's disabled site-wide,

Ok, well, it being disabled for everyone can't be an indication of who does or doesnt use it.. 😂

 

[AustinIllini]

It’s not just copilot.

Microsoft user hostile behaviour
monthly garbage patches
changes to apps nobody asked for
explorer has gotten WAY worse in terms of performance since windows 10
ads everywhere
taskbar can’i be moved


basically microsoft is user hostile. you can either fight the OS continuallly…. or just leave for something better.

Add to all of that, Microsoft execs are talking about replacing 50% of skilled workers in 18 months.

Why the hell would I give them another dollar? They're evil.