Lightest Weight Windows 11 Release?

Discussion in 'Windows 11' started by hoak, Aug 22, 2025 at 22:57.

  1. hoak

    hoak MDL Senior Member

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    #1 hoak, Aug 22, 2025 at 22:57
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2025 at 23:10
    Would anyone know the official fully functional (build, channel, code name, version, true ISO name) MSDN Windows 11 that has: the least default trash as a starting point, and will still be supported after October with updates -- that hopefully does NOT include an 'AI Enhanced' version of File Explorer?

    So far my best guess would be:

    "en-us_windows_11_iot_enterprise_ltsc_2024_x64_dvd_f6b14814.iso"

    Or...

    "en-us_windows_11_iot_enterprise_version_24h2_x64_dvd_3a99b72b.iso"
     
  2. wvv000

    wvv000 MDL Addicted

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  3. Muffin Top

    Muffin Top MDL Junior Member

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    Uh oh. Does that mean it's too late to get from MS without "AI enhancement" ?
     
  4. pm67310

    pm67310 MDL Guru

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    Use @freddie-o telemetry script to cut ai ( windows 10 section )
     
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  5. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    #5 Enthousiast, Aug 23, 2025 at 05:02
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2025 at 19:37
    The LTSC version lacks the store and pre-installed store apps and has 10 years of support.

    Till MSFT releases their new 2027 LTSC it is fine to run the IoT Enterprise 2024 LTSC version, after that their focus will move and running the older LTSC versions can become an adventure keeping all running.

    When people are adding the store then they should simply just run regular Enterprise (IoT Enterprise for when you need to run it on older no longer supported < 8th gen intel hardware, or just use a fixed regular Enterprise).

    I currently still am on IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC and for now it is fine but already missing out on some simple but handy feature like, "copy as path" txt file grouping and black background in notepad (i know about notepad++ but still) from 24H2.

    Set telemetry to "0" and be done.

    It all depends on personal needs and preferences.

    Info and downloads:

    [DISCUSSION] Windows 11 Enterprise/IoT Enterprise (N) LTSC 2024 (24H2 / 26100.x)

    [DISCUSSION] Windows 11 Build 26100 (PC) [24H2 Retail- GE-release]

    Also worth checking:

    [DISCUSSION] Windows 10 Enterprise/IoT Enterprise (N) LTSC 2021
     
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  6. hoak

    hoak MDL Senior Member

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    Thank you Enthousiast that's exactly the answer I was looking for. ❤ Thank you as well wvv000 that is a very cool resource!

    Muffin Top I don't think we're there yet... But the future is looking pretty creepy...
     
  7. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    you can try serverrdsh also
     
  8. hoak

    hoak MDL Senior Member

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    pp03 serverrdsh? What's this? Windows Server As A Workstation is pretty nice, but does not like AMD video drivers (won't let you install them)... Is "serverdsh" some kind of project here on MDL?
     
  9. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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  10. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    #10 pp03, Aug 23, 2025 at 11:12
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2025 at 11:21
    Enterprise multi-session. it is both client and server. i have no problems with any drivers

    you can make it with create_virtual_editions script (in uup > iso) from professional for example
     
  11. hoak

    hoak MDL Senior Member

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    Am familiar with UUP, but does this really get you a substantially lighter weight build of Windows 11, with less crap, without sacrificing any functionality?
     
  12. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    exactly
     
  13. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    Are you really after "lite" windows because you know how it works or running after some advise based on unfounded info?
     
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  14. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    #14 pp03, Aug 23, 2025 at 12:02
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2025 at 12:10
    missing things in serverrdsh: reset this pc, phone and gaming sections in 1904x settings
     
  15. hoak

    hoak MDL Senior Member

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    #15 hoak, Aug 23, 2025 at 12:12
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2025 at 12:33
    (OP)
    Nothing I would miss at all... The thread is a bit old, broken and obtuse as far as how to actually get this install/SKU..

    Both, need to minimize installed size, and running minimal Windows processes & services has helped reduce DPC latency -- this is for a remote DAW on a laptop where that's hard to accomplish anyway. It's been a lot of trial and error with Windows 11 but a brute force approach to just removing any and everything not needed appears to be the easiest way to reduce DPC latency -- where even small amounts can help cumulatively and enormously.

    So while I wouldn't say 'unfounded info' I would offer my approach probably is simplistic, employing a lot of brute force trial and error -- as a lot of things that don't seem like they should have any effect on audio post production and latency, do, and really aren't needed on a DAW anyway... But empirical results are all I really care about here, I don't like using Windows 11 as an OS and burning hours to the ground cleaning up tons of crap that has as far as I can tell, has nothing to do with what an operating is or (in my mind) should be, is an even more epic waste of time...
     
  16. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    #16 Enthousiast, Aug 23, 2025 at 12:25
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2025 at 12:40
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  17. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    or leave create_virtual_editions and bin folder only
     
  18. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    I actually use the tool:)

    The convertconfig.ini can be set for automated virtual editions too, but .bak and use the GUI is faster for a onetime user.
     
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  19. pp03

    pp03 MDL Addicted

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    me too ;)
     
  20. Muffin Top

    Muffin Top MDL Junior Member

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    Thanks guys. I can see I still have a few things to learn about virtualization. Windows 10 Ent LTSC worked right out of the VirtualBox without any tweaks. Win 11 Latte hung at the first installation start-up icon without any interface. This is in VirtualBox 6.1.22 on a Win 7 host.

    I wonder if my difficulty with the Win 11 Latte comes from having selected only one core in the VirtualBox settings? Microsoft's website says Win 11 requires 2 cores (and does not specify such a requirement for Win 10).


    To ask for another perspective on your observation, my rationale for "lite" windows is attributable to my experience with Win 10 system restore being unreliable. For the past 15 years, I've relied on system restore as my quick-and-easy security protocol. It's reliable in Win 7, but not in 10. I've read that system restore is also unreliable in 11.

    Whenever I've read about cause of system restore failure in Win 10, it seemed to reference one of the entertainment features of Win 10, such as gamebar (aka "bloatware").


    In a nutshell, that's why I'm hoping lite versions of Win 10 or 11 will have a more reliable system restore than do the bloated versions of 10 & 11. If not, at least virtualization seems to allow for quick-and-easy snapshots, to go back in time without system restore.


    I'm a bit surprised to see gamebar in 10 Ent LTSC. Hopefully keeping it turned off will prevent that from causing a system restore failure.