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I'll soon be assembling a new PC and I need to figure out which version of Win 11 to use. I've not been able to find a good discussion of using IoT or LTSC for a "daily driver" gaming and productivity PC.

I'll want to make use of a lot of Windows features like virtualization, the ability to run Android apps, and the Linux subsystem. I don't need all the new feature updates immediately, but I also don't want to be running an antique OS... Just a debloated one.

If you've navigated these waters I would love to hear about your experience.

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[-] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 minutes ago

I use windows 11 ltsc for gaming, massgrave scripts to activate.

I literally only use it for gaming, so I have success there.

For everything else I use my MBP

[-] liliumstar@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 hours ago

Previously I ran Win 10 IoT LTSC, with a bunch of scripts from https://privacy.sexy/

I believe most things will work about the same in Win 11. Be sure not to disable anything you might actually need as it can be hard to diagnose.

[-] Rogue@feddit.uk 2 points 19 hours ago

To run virtualization and and WSL in a debloated manner you may as well just dual boot Linux and Windows. It'll remove so much headache that WSL creates.

Dual booting is well documented and you get the best of both worlds. If you later find it's not for you then you just erase the Linux partitions and stick with windows

[-] ertai@programming.dev 2 points 20 hours ago

Wants to run a 'debloated OS' and asking about Windows 11 installation advice. Wut?? Litteraly no reason to be running Windows nowadays. You can game on GNU/Linux just fine and if you really need something Windows specific you can always run it through Wine (with Bottles for instance) or in a Windows VM (if you have a gaming PC then you 100% have a powerfull enough computer for virtualisation).

[-] zaknenou@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 19 hours ago

adobe users need windows, it is the obvious route. A debloated version of Windows is better than Unix-like system for that. If one wants to learn more about software and computer science, or wants more customization than Linux and BSD are miles better. also running a VM of Linux inside Windows is arguably a better idea than running VM of Windows is Linux.

It's like asking between Firefox and Chrome, I use Firefox but Chrome is still faster and more likely to run a site than firefox

[-] Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

I should have known I'd get my ass beat for asking a question on the internet, right? Haha.

[-] kbal@fedia.io 48 points 1 day ago

I also don't want to be running an antique OS... Just a debloated one.

This is not a Windows forum, so I feel justified in pointing out that in that case you should probably avoid Microsoft products entirely.

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 day ago

This isn't a one-size-fits-all solution though. OP has asked specifically for information regarding Windows and even specifically mentions Linux in the post so it's fair to say they're aware of it and choose to stay on Windows.

[-] Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 hours ago

Correct. I know plenty about Linux and other OSes, but for this system, I'm choosing to use Windows anyway.

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

LTSC is extremely feasible for gaming and productivity. As Codilingus already said, you can get the ISO and activation from MASSGRAVE's site.

Depending on your requirements, you'll probably quickly figure out you need MS Store for one thing or another (the inconvenience of having pretty much everything removed) so you'll need a tool like this to install the store and, you can use Chris Titus' Wintool to turn off the spyware. It also has a program downloader built in with a long list of useful software to help speed up your initial setup process.

[-] Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 hours ago

I had not considered that LTSC would eliminate the store, which is definitely useful at times. Thanks for that link!

[-] Clusterfck@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 19 hours ago

Bookmarked this for myself later. THANK YOU!

Nice to see someone not just shitting on Windows.

Nobody WANTS to use Windows, but I also don't want to fiddle with 17 different options and 12 builds of Wine to trick my one program I need to run on Linux.

[-] Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

That's a bingo.

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 1 points 16 hours ago

Glad I could help.

I have to agree, I can't say I like or want to use Windows but my experiences of random, unexplainable glitches, numerous hours of forum spelunking and the ever-present arrogant smarminess of a sizeable portion of the Linux userbase tell me which flavor of pain I prefer.

[-] Clusterfck@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 15 hours ago

It's the reason I dual boot, really. I periodically check to see if the programs I do want to use that work best on Windows work any better on Linux and it definitely gets better every time I check, but it's just not there 100 percent yet.

And blaming users for no reason than Microsoft is a terrible corporation and how dare anyone use it is an awful tactic to get people to switch.

I believe the Steam Deck has done more for running Windows programs on Linux than any other singular project (in terms of mainstream adoption, obviously Wine/Proton is the reason that even works) and they accomplished it by working WITH developers stuck on developing for Windows. Not by just telling those devs how awful they are and if they're looking for a half measure they can take to switch to Linux, they're on the wrong game store or whatever other response they've given.

[-] krolden@lemmy.ml 33 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Linux

Ive been enjoying https://universal-blue.org/ lately.

If you go windows you will have to use a version with the windows store to make it worth using.

https://massgrave.dev/

[-] land@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 day ago

+1 I went from windows 11 >>> Bazzite OS. Never looked back.

[-] unknown@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

+1 bazzite as well. It comes with waydroid for android apps, its Linux (so WSL covered), it does have a gaming focus, it has various Virtualization tools (toolbox, box-buddy) but you can get other options depending on what you actually want.

Don't like it you can rebase to one of the other ostree based images from uBlue or fedora with about one command and a reboot.

[-] jlow@beehaw.org 12 points 1 day ago

+1 for Bazzite 💖

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

MS Store can be installed on LTSC quite easily so it's very possible to still have the bloat-free version.

[-] Codilingus@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC is hands down the best! A nearly naked fresh Windows install. Just Defender and Edge. And even then, a lot of the performance impacting Defender options are unavailable due to the W11 version.

It's still my go to for gaming. Once it's all set up, it just stays out of the way, and runs as lean as modern Windows can.

I highly, highly recommend adding StartAllBack on top of it. Makes the bottom toolbar much, much better.

I always use a single copy/paste Winget command to install nearly everything in one go, without needing any interaction for each install. Also allows updating installed programs with a single command.

Massgrave.dev for ISO's and activation.

Edit: For some features, you have to be comfortable using Powershell as admin. I myself have to Powershell install 2 AppX packages before I can use Winget. If you go with this version feel free to message me for help.

[-] Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

Thank you kindly for the confirmation. I'll check out StartAllBack too.

[-] Garry@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

If you guys don’t want to use command lines, get uniget ui, it’s a really nice interface for winget

[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

most debian based distros are good...

[-] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I don't have any experience with win 11, but all I can tell you is that my dual booted win 10 iot ltsc 2021 edition just werks for me, same as any other windows, although I only use it for some VR games currently or some software that doesn't support Linux.

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago
[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 day ago

That's not what was asked.

[-] thisismyname@lemm.ee -3 points 19 hours ago

And yet, it's still the right answer

[-] gazter@aussie.zone 3 points 16 hours ago

Mint is not a version of windows.

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 2 points 16 hours ago
[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

I use CachyOS on my gaming rig and it has been outstanding. The only ting that doesn't work is the EA app.

[-] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 day ago

Check out Maxima as a replacement for the EA app.

[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Oh nice, I'll give this a shot! I tried installing the EA app through Lutris — it worked, but I can't install any games.

[-] radau@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

This looks great, I have EA via Bottles currently for BF3/4 would love to switch to this. Totally get why it doesn't support BF3, BF3 using a browser launcher for the PC version was insanely stupid

[-] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

I wouldn't bother with LTSC. Just install Enterprise/Education and disable feature updates.

this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
31 points (81.6% liked)

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