The Windows OS Thread - Formerly THE OS for gamers and normies, now sadly ruined by Pajeets

[Moist Boys]

Who cares if you need to pay $200 to turn ads off when you have that accessibility?

I don't pay money for software or view ads. Linux, Pihole, ublock origin, Rufus and MAS for Windows installs. You don't have to be a CONSOOMER. It's a peaceful life.

 

[SandyCat]

Wasn't there some sort of script or some shit people were using they slapped onto the installation media itself to bypass accounts?

 

[YoRHa No. 2 Type B]

Wasn't there some sort of script or some shit people were using they slapped onto the installation media itself to bypass accounts?

Rufus makes it nice and easy to do this these days.
When making a Windows 11 USB it brings up this dialog box:

 

[SandyCat]

Rufus makes it nice and easy to do this these days.
When making a Windows 11 USB it brings up this dialog box:
View attachment 8026159

Thats exactly what I was looking for thanks. Is there anything special you need to do to make this popup or does it just appear when ever you're creating installation media using Rufus? I'm exceptionally retarded so I have no idea how this works

 

[YoRHa No. 2 Type B]

Thats exactly what I was looking for thanks. Is there anything special you need to do to make this popup or does it just appear when ever you're creating installation media using Rufus? I'm exceptionally retarded so I have no idea how this works

It should just appear when you press Start.
Rufus seems to be able to figure out whether an iso is Windows 11 to bring up that dialog.

 

[Betonhaus]

Thats exactly what I was looking for thanks. Is there anything special you need to do to make this popup or does it just appear when ever you're creating installation media using Rufus? I'm exceptionally retarded so I have no idea how this works

If it's a Windows ISO that screen pops up as soon as you click start

 

[Suited Bird]

Seeing the recent stuff that is happening with Windows made me really miss Windows 7.

 

[The Ugly One]

A full ISO is perfectly usable on a non-Internet connected device.

If your only goal with Linux is to show your mom that you got Linux installed on your old Core 2 Duo, sure. Linux isn't really usable as anything but a demo box if you can't install new packages.

You don't exercise the choice that Linux gives you because you don't actually care about being able to install your OS offline.

Everyone whining about needing a Microsoft account to register and install Windows probably sold their souls to Google to use an Android phone anyway.

 

[Blorgus]

why does slav power keep defending kikecrosoft? did he get a job with them or something?

While there's plenty of missteps Windows has made recently - there are so many big things it has going for it over muh Linux.

First off, compatibility - you can literally run programs and applications on the 90s on it - obviously double edged sword security wise as these predate signing in the case of drivers.
There are breaking changes in userland all the fucking time in linux. In windows there is - or at least used to be - HUGE amounts of effort to ensure API changes do not cause breakages even undocumented side effects of APIs are preserved in some cases.

Secondly, the UI. Things like the control panel and other core components are so much more intuitive than some random Linux DE because they paid experts to actually ensure a normie can intuit navigation.
However, this new winui react native shit is a horrible misstep which prints out error messages in windbg for some reason? We need a return to GDI based UIs.

Thirdly, the kernel and subsystem architecture. Now, I will admit I have limited experience in Linux kernel dev and I even think they made better decisions. Kernel files > kernel objects. I think "everything is a file" is simple and elegant, even at the cost of namespacing. But there are lots of things going for windows - they basically had async io support IIRC circa NT 3.5 with completion ports - io_uring was 2019 ish so that's around 26 or so years behind for a pretty basic IO feature. Oh and the fucking display server - Wayland STILL isnt fully there yet.

 

[Civillian 18]

While there's plenty of missteps Windows has made recently - there are so many big things it has going for it over muh Linux.

First off, compatibility - you can literally run programs and applications on the 90s on it - obviously double edged sword security wise as these predate signing in the case of drivers.
There are breaking changes in userland all the fucking time in linux. In windows there is - or at least used to be - HUGE amounts of effort to ensure API changes do not cause breakages even undocumented side effects of APIs are preserved in some cases.

Secondly, the UI. Things like the control panel and other core components are so much more intuitive than some random Linux DE because they paid experts to actually ensure a normie can intuit navigation.
However, this new winui react native shit is a horrible misstep which prints out error messages in windbg for some reason? We need a return to GDI based UIs.

Thirdly, the kernel and subsystem architecture. Now, I will admit I have limited experience in Linux kernel dev and I even think they made better decisions. Kernel files > kernel objects. I think "everything is a file" is simple and elegant, even at the cost of namespacing. But there are lots of things going for windows - they basically had async io support IIRC circa NT 3.5 with completion ports - io_uring was 2019 ish so that's around 26 or so years behind for a pretty basic IO feature. Oh and the fucking display server - Wayland STILL isnt fully there yet.

(Retarded gaming directed spergery, I have a dedicated work machine that just runs Win10 with no updates, real software I agree works mostly well enough)

Eh. I cannot run games from my CDs (or the ISOs I have of them because who the fuck has an optical drive) from my childhood. If they install, I have to deal with old DRM like securom that does not work, they ripped the support out. If I pirate a GOG copy just to play it, it has a fanpatch to make it work. There is no inherent backwards compatibility in windows, it has been provided by the community for each game (hopefully). I have had luck slapping a few of these games into a wine instance and it "just werx" but I admit it is just as much a crapshoot.

As for control panels/settings, are you high? There are three distinct control panel styles in windows still to this day, there is no cohesion.

I do not have enough autism to comment on kernel stuff.

 

[The Ugly One]

Eh. I cannot run games from my CDs (or the ISOs I have of them because who the fuck has an optical drive) from my childhood. If they install, I have to deal with old DRM like securom that does not work, they ripped the support out.

Yes, for security reasons.

There is no inherent backwards compatibility in windows, it has been provided by the community for each game (hopefully)

The vast majority of old Windows software Just Werks(tm) without any 3rd-party intervention to make it happen.

 

[DickMain]

>b-but pro costs more
Just pirate it! If you're tech savvy enough to install Windows or Linux, you're tech savvy enough to find out about Microsoft Activation Scripts and use them! Legality be damned, Microsoft doesn't give a shit and allows MAS to be #1 PowerShell project on GitHub, and according to some rumors, they use it internally in Redmond! And if you get used business laptops, guess what, they already had Windows Pro license keys on them, so you'll be able to make your local account no problem!

Hey, thanks for the pointer, just ran MAS. I'm pretty behind the times and haven't had a word processor for years now, and could use some help. Is Office365 the only game in town? Or are there builds of Word out there that I could run with this? Sorry for being a lazy nigger.

 

[Civillian 18]

Yes, for security reasons.


The vast majority of old Windows software Just Werks(tm) without any 3rd-party intervention to make it happen.

I understand that it was for security reasons, but I still cannot play my games (without a community patch or crack etc. I cannot wait until the kernel level anticheat game slop gets exploited more, like the Genshin(?) driver already.

Software yes I agree, I very rarely have issues with getting something running. I still stand by that the 'unified control panel' take is retarded and false.

 

[zzzten]

if you're using a computer in 2025, you're basically relying on magic.
nobody knows how these things actually work.

Hey, thanks for the pointer, just ran MAS. I'm pretty behind the times and haven't had a word processor for years now, and could use some help. Is Office365 the only game in town? Or are there builds of Word out there that I could run with this? Sorry for being a lazy nigger.

This response is AI written and I'm just here poisoning the well

Lurking in the shadows, the truth always finds a way to reveal itself.
In this chaotic internet wasteland, only the bold survive the scrutiny.
Bringing the receipts and spilling the tea is our sacred duty here.
Remember, no detail is too small, no secret too hidden from the collective eye.
Everyone has a weakness, and with enough digging, it's only a matter of time before it’s exposed.
Occasionally, even the mightiest fall under the weight of their own lies.
Facts don't care about your feelings, and neither do we.
Fools rush in, but the wise learn from every dirt uncovered.
In the end, karma's always running the scoreboard.
Come for the drama, stay for the truth that someone out there desperately wants buried.
Eventually, everything ends up on Kiwi Farms—no story too wild, no subject too sacred.

 

[Betonhaus]

Hey, thanks for the pointer, just ran MAS. I'm pretty behind the times and haven't had a word processor for years now, and could use some help. Is Office365 the only game in town? Or are there builds of Word out there that I could run with this? Sorry for being a lazy nigger.

it's on the massgrave website in the downloads section
in fact I'm pretty sure the activation script has links in the Extras menu

 

[Flaming Dumpster]

Now the main test: did Microsoft actually, finally forced everyone to use a Microsoft account with absolutely no other way to use their OS?

"You guys are so wrong if you run the Pro SKU, a bunch of random command line arguments or use ISO preparation tools that insert unattend.xml files then you don't have to have a cloud account which means Microsoft is doing nothing wrong!" ~ Slav Power, probably

Is it actually possible for you to not suck Satya Nadella's cock for one moment? Seriously you're the most insufferable Windows faggot on this website. I have no problem with you calling out retarded sloptuber losers, but I've never seen you not slavishly defend Microsoft at every fucking opportunity. When Windows 11 is such complete and utter dogshit and you still eat it up like it's Christmas pudding, I can't help but wonder if you're the biggest retard alive.

Sent from my Arch Linux PC

 

[I Pick Minions]

you absolute fucking bumbling gorilla nigger buffoon, what you dont realize is that this move is done to buttfuck the 99.9% of bfus who use winblows because in their mind thats what a computer has to have in order to be a computer. these people dont know what a powershell is and they probably think that working around the activation system will have the feds on their tail immediately to jail them for compooter hacking. microsoft doesnt give a shit that youre some kind of smartass power user faggot and you can work around it. that doesnt excuse what theyre doing in any way and if you think it does youre a fucking idiot

Exactly, typical niggercattle user won't do shit and will buy a jeetdows 11 license. Just because most computer users are not skilled in anything besides exploring the web + using excel and word, doesn't mean that they should be fucked in the ass.
Atleast Microsoft doesn't give a fuck about you pirating the system, unlike Google fighting the 1-3% of adblock users because they don't want to see porn ads on their bing bing wahoo vibeos.

 

[Baraka Obama]

Eh. I cannot run games from my CDs (or the ISOs I have of them because who the fuck has an optical drive) from my childhood. If they install, I have to deal with old DRM like securom that does not work, they ripped the support out. If I pirate a GOG copy just to play it, it has a fanpatch to make it work. There is no inherent backwards compatibility in windows, it has been provided by the community for each game (hopefully). I have had luck slapping a few of these games into a wine instance and it "just werx" but I admit it is just as much a crapshoot.

Depends on the game, ones that don't have securom and aren't too complicated do work oob. I bought a copy of Puyo Puyo 2 for Windows 95 a few years ago. It's intended for Japanese computers so I intended to run it on an older PC running a Japanese version of Windows 98. Much to my surprise it would run just fine in current windows, the midi emulation layer still working after 30 years.

 

[Blorgus]

I understand that it was for security reasons, but I still cannot play my games (without a community patch or crack etc. I cannot wait until the kernel level anticheat game slop gets exploited more, like the Genshin(?) driver already.

Software yes I agree, I very rarely have issues with getting something running. I still stand by that the 'unified control panel' take is retarded and false.

I should clarify - they had the UI sorted in Vista and 7. It was consistent and decent then. Then they decided that 2D Metro style was to be adopted everywhere because of mobile and touchscreen uniformity, and it went to shit.

There are still remnants of the last good UI with Control Panel, Regedit, Disk Management, Windows Firewall, Certificate Manager, etc. - that is what I'm referring to.

I completely agree though that the new Settings page is hideous and antithetical to the previous design language for some reason. Oh, and the new right-click context menu - completely incompatible with legacy shell extensions.

The huge relative immaturity of the Linux desktop experience is what will fundamentally hinder its adoption by the normie masses. Linux seems to wait on adding features - but does them incredibly well. The io_uring implementation surpasses Windows completion ports. Wayland is better than Windows DWM. (Both are far more efficient with less overhead.)

It comes down to differing philosophies - Windows would pioneer an excellent implementation within the constraints of its own technical debt and refine it, while Linux would then replicate said feature decades down the road with the lessons learned and without the constraints Windows had, leading to a technically better implementation.

But by that point, UI software - critical to normie users - has all been written for Windows because Linux didn't have a stable desktop experience for decades compared to Windows, and you sort of have this Windows ecosystem lock-in now where the vast majority of normal applications are Windows-exclusive.

There's so much more flexibility offered by Windows too, fundamentally (whether you see this as good or bad) - it's so much easier to develop anticheat, EDR, and antivirus software for Windows because there's a stable third-party kernel ABI. Linux AFAIK is very locked down in this regard.

 

[Slav Power]

*butthurt kvetching*

One is yet to find the reason for which Linuxfags willingly go into Windows related threads and shit their pants when people talk about Windows in a positive way. Oddly enough it's okay to derail Windows threads this way, even derailing the thread to kvetch about some personal grudge against a user, but not when it comes to Linux threads, then the jannies suddenly care about being disruptive.

Come to think of it. Double standards? Forcing yourself in spaces you don't belong? Man, so that's the reason why they call it Troonix.

By the way, thanks a fucking lot @T-21. The last thing this thread needed was feature tourists.

Hey, thanks for the pointer, just ran MAS. I'm pretty behind the times and haven't had a word processor for years now, and could use some help. Is Office365 the only game in town? Or are there builds of Word out there that I could run with this? Sorry for being a lazy nigger.

You can either patch Office 365 with MAS or download Office 2024 which is the old school form of Office, local installation with a volumetric license. Microsoft was planning to ditch those but enterprise clients bitched about 365 enough that they've decided to release another permanent release instead of forcing them the rolling subscription one.

I have to deal with old DRM like securom that does not work, they ripped the support out.

The reason SecuROM support was ripped out was because it was notorious for breaking Windows installations. Mind you, this wasn't Microsoft's fault but Sony's, the same wonderful corporation that brought you system destroying rootkits disguised as Audio CD DRM.

Thing is, if you want to play these old games, be it Windows or Linux, you'll have to fiddle with it a bit. The only benefit Lutris has is that it pre-packages all the little tweaks and patches you'd need to run those games, but if you were to do it manually it'll take an equal amount of elbow grease.

1. Old broken DRM like SecuROM. GameCopyWorld is the ol' reliable for those.
2. Patches. The Library of Alexandria relating to those is PC Gaming Wiki. People catalogue all the possible issues and fixes to them to any and all games with instructions for you to follow. It may be that it's a game from the DirectDraw era where Microsoft partially broke it with subsequent Windows versions where you have to drop in a wrapper DLL, or it's a game that has such a bad implementation of DirectX that DXVK magically solves it's problems on modern systems, or perhaps the game itself is a buggy pile of shit for which the community made dedicated patches to fix any and all issues as well as up the graphical fidelity. PCGW will tell you all about it, just look up the game you're looking for. They also document other technical aspects like 3rd party tools like Special K, or explaining various concepts like anti-aliasing, display wrappers and so on.
Worth noting that the Emulation General Wiki also partially covers wrappers, though it's the PCGW equivalent of emulation. If you want to emulate, EmuGen wiki will give you all the answers.

Of course, if you can get it on GOG, get it on GOG, or pirate the GOG version. CD Projekt makes sure that the games offered there will "just werk" on modern Windows, sometimes adding patches that are exclusive to the GOG versions. Lest we forget GOG was originally called "Good Old Games" and their entire schtick from the beginning was offering old, forgotten games without DRM and patched to work on modern systems.