It took me a month. Partly because I bought a new computer, and switching computers takes me a long time. But mostly because, as is my wont, I trundled through every single setting, many of which were opaque enough to require considerable Internet research. For instance: WTF is Recall & Snapshots? Click to Do? BitLocker? Dynamic Lock? "Communicate with unpaired devices?"
If you don't know what these mean, you probably want to disable all of the above, with the possible exception of BitLocker. And if you decide to keep BitLocker you MUST LOCATE THE DECRYPTION KEY and record it someplace that is NOT on your C Drive!
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I kept copious notes along the way and promised to send them to a friend who was adjusting to a new computer. So I thought I'd post them here in case anyone else is still in the middle of setting up that new or updated computer. Since Windows 10 support ends tomorrow, I suppose most people are done with this transition. But it's never too late to review your OS settings. And there is good reason to do so with this upgrade.
Microsoft has made their business plan refreshingly clear (no conspiracy theories necessary). They hope to suck all their users into a curated, monetized virtual universe where all data and computing resources are centralized in the cloud and your computer is reduced to what used to be called a "smart terminal." In return they offer convenience, security, and helpful suggestions based on what they think they know about you. Also ads.
If this sounds good to you, don't bother customizing the settings on your new Windows 11 computer. If you're not sure that's what you want, open the Settings app and take a close look at everything in the Privacy & Security section. Also System->Nearby Sharing. And Accounts->Signin options.
Then login to the Microsoft Account that you were strong-armed into opening in order to activate Windows and disable every setting that looks sussy, especially anything relating to "Apps" or "Accounts." If you have a LinkedIn account, be aware that Microsoft now owns LInked In and is mining it for information about you. If you would like them to use your contact list and activity on LinkedIn to "enhance your online experiences" [their words] be sure to leave those options enabled in both your Microsoft and Linked In account. Also, if you are tempted to use the built-in default browser (Edge), be aware that by default it not only filters your search results to protect you from bad images, it tracks everything you do and sends it to Microsoft in order to provide "personalized advertising and experiences for Bing, MS News, and other MS services." There are Edge settings to disable all that. Which I did, even though I do not intend to use Edge again now that I have downloaded other browsers.
CUSTOMIZATIONS- The first thing I always do with a new Windows is put the Computer icon (now called This PC) back on my desktop in the upper left corner. This setting is, as always, well hidden under Personalization -> Themes -> Desktop Icon Settings
- Then I download Chrome and Firefox and disable both Edge and Bing in every possible way. It gets harder with each Windows release to change the default browser setting, but Chrome and Firefox will give you hints on how to do it. Now you have to open Settings->Apps->Default apps, navigate to the browser you want to use, set the default, and then scroll down through every document extension to make sure that the parent setting propagated to all of them.
- PUT THE TASKBAR BACK WHERE IT BELONGS (left-aligned). Personalization->Taskbar->Taskbar Behaviors
- MODIFY SEARCH BOX to search local computer only, not Internet. This is complicated. I used the Group Policy Editor method.
- DISABLE SEARCH HIGHLIGHTS ("suggestion" popup on the side of the Search Box). Settings->Privacy->Search Permissions
- DISABLE constant nagging to link my phone to my Microsoft account. Windows Security -> Settings -> Manage Notifications -> Account protection notifications -> Uncheck "Problems with Dynamic Lock" [note: not in regular Settings app]
- Download PowerToys. I used it to restore the mangled context menu, and to remap the deprecated Apps/Menu key to something useful
- RESTORE WORDPAD (the RTF editor). Did you notice that it was gone? If you care (I DO), you can get it back
- Copy all my saved data files onto the 1 TB hard disk, including my ENTIRE GOOGLE PHOTO ARCHIVE
- Reinstall all my programs from DVD, including a newly purchased copy of Office 2021 (the last version that included Publisher)
GREAT NEW FEATURES IN WINDOWS 11
There are not a lot. Win11 is probably the most boring OS release in Microsoft history. Even Microsoft couldn't think of anything to brag about except their new centered taskbar with modern rounded corners (a feature that absolutely nobody asked for, and which I immediately disabled). But I did stumble across some obscure new features that I quite like.
- PrintScr key now opens snipping tool instead of capturing both my monitor screens (a feature I have never found useful).
- WIN-ALT-PrintScr New shortcut that snapshots and AUTOMATICALLY SAVES the active window! It's intended for gamers (Microsoft has acquired XBox) but incredibly handy. I remapped the key sequence to the useless Apps/Menu key with PowerToys and LOVE IT
- Bulk File rename Two different versions, simple and advanced! Hidden in the right-click context menu.
- Shortcut to Task Manager on the Taskbar (right-click) in empty space. I think this is just a reversion to Win7 functionality but still good.
- Taskbar can be configured to appear on both monitors, not just the "main" one.
- Microsoft news feed (confusingly renamed "Widgets") can now be edited to remove all the newsfeeds and leave just weather.
- File Explorer UI. Usually I do not appreciate pointless fiddling with the user interface, but I actually do like this better than Win10. I hated that giant ribbon (which I think was introduced in Win10, but is apparently out of fashion now). And clicking next to the truncated file path brings up the full path, highlighted in purple, which I love. I like to know where my files are.
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