So frankly, I tried, but on Windows 11 there are soo many issues trying to do it right.
The alternative:
So here is a method I use, and while not straight forward please respect its an honest answer, and that I am an opinionated human being that sometimes tries to make a point.
I use MS Server Data Center 2022 and 2025 as my personal workstation. Valid licenses bought of various internet shops for $20
I configured server 2022 (as example) as workstation. moved to manual or disabled several services including all telemetry.
How to stop automatic updates or select when to specifically update:
In server 2022 (after all the optimizations in BIOS and OS):
DISABLE windows update as well as select “take no action” on all three restart services setting.
DISABLE delivery optimization as well as select “take no action” on all three restart services setting.
DISABLE MS Store as well as select “take no action” on all three restart services setting.
DISABLE Update Orchestrator Service as well as select “take no action” on all three restart services setting.
DISABLE Windows Medic update Service as well as select “take no action” on all three restart services setting.
Restart, updates no longer happen, when I want updates I can WSUS specific ones using a third party tool.
I made a .bat to change those services to active and a .bat to return them to disabled so it easier to implement.
I was using to use office 2019-2021 local as my suite including outlook, but found better functionality in Libre Office, no issues no compromises, as well as I wrote my dissertations in Libre office, APA 7.
I moved from outlook to Thunderbird, best most rock solid version is 11b. I have 270,000 emails I have kept since 1995 that are a good record. I use Pop3 whenever possible across many individual separate email accounts.
I use Vivaldi for my browser, locked down, adless, fast, no instance of edge anywhere in my build.
I don’t use ANY MS Store apps.
My workstation life is free of pop ups, 100% stable, and the OS works for me. The OS is NOT a way of life, its just an OS, there to make it possible for me to use the applications I install.
The OS is not supposed to pass along to third parties my likes and dislikes or my habits.
The OS is not supposed to relay any of my life to anyone.
for those interested I also have full privacy, there are several reliable things you can do to get there, including GP settings, browser settings, host file (my host file is 3 MB of blocks).
So…
… how deep do you want to go?
Bare in mind I do all my office stuff, CNN research, and gaming on this PC without the OS issues that plague others.
I also hold records with Gravitymark, and lots of game benchmarks where this PC is #1. I’m banned from 3dMark because I almost double the next highest score, and “someone” complained. Yet, I don’t overclock. I turn my PC on and Off as needed, and has a purpose other than benchmarks.
Kingpin can stick it. – All that cryogen, and just does not know how to set up a PC… At the end of the day my quiet air cooled rig does CNN, training databases, games, email and pivot tables ---- his PC, motherboard, or video card is dead and goes in the trash from all the hot cold expansion.
So I’m on DATA CENTER 2022 and 2025, and no automatic updates.
You may take my comments with any seasoning you want, but I firmly stand that the OS works for ME and not for Microsoft.
Respectfully
J