24H2: I took the plunge

Topic

[TJ]

When I wrote this topic a few weeks back I was deliberating whether to upgrade my Windows 10 Pro 22H2 pc to Windows 11 Pro 23H2. I downloaded a few iso’s but they didn’t install properly (I got several errors/warnings that I can’t recall exactly. Sorry I didn’t answer your last question @Paul-T), so I ditched the effort.
I also said I would wait for Susan to give a go for Windows 11 24H2, and the past weeks I kept debating if I should upgrade to Windows 11 at all. I have a dual boot with LMDE and like it, but some things just don’t work -or not the way I want to and am used to- in Linux. But given the end of support for Windows 10 the coming year….

Also, alarm bells were and are still ringing regarding update problems for Windows 11 23H2. Seems it has to do with 23H2 being installed by downloaded iso’s or the media creation tool, so that version is not sounding very attractive at the moment. Microsoft states it is caused by faulty October and November updates, which should be solved in version 24H2 which only has the December’s cumulative update.
So I roamed around the web to see if I could find users who were bold enough to upgrade their Windows 10 to Windows 11 24H2, because that’s the version which MS now employs. I found a few and noticed that none of them encountered any problems, so I decided to take the plunge.

After backing up my Windows 10, and noting or copying ALL my settings (including those from gpedit, which has a handy export function) I downloaded the Windows 11 Installation Assistant to perform the upgrade.
I was not sure whether Win11 would respect my local admin and user accounts, so I kept “OOBE\BYPASSNRO” on stand-by. It did however honour my account settings and within the hour 24H2 was ready to finetune.

WUmgr surprisingly came up with September’s cumulative update KB5043080, which I installed.

I think 98% of all my settings were kept during the upgrade (even the gpedit ones), but what immediatly struck me was the visual mess Windows 11 is compared to Windows 10, and the lack of customisation for most items.
The worst to me however is the fixed taskbar at the bottom. In both Windows 10 and Mint I have positioned my taskbar on the right side of the screen. That leaves maximum space to play with on my 1920×1200 monitor, and it allows for a much more natural arm/shoulder/wrist movement than having to point to the bottom of the screen 1000x a day.
Having read about a few tweaking programs I chose and purchased Start11, but it turns out that (at least on 24H2) that program only gives the choice for the taskbar to be on the top or bottom of the screen – not the left or right. (I am now trying to get a refund for it).
I also read about a few registry tweaks that are supposed to force the taskbar to any side you want, but those no longer work in 24H2. So for now, I’m stuck with an OSX-like taskbar :-/
Another, minor annoyance is the time font on the taskbar. MS seems to have changed it in the past version updates to its present, ugly, non-OS default font. Why, Microsoft? Why!!??
And one big annoyance: taskbar icons can only be set to hide labels while combining icons. Hiding labels and never combining is not possible.

Another annoyance is the start menu. Whether Start11 or Windhawk, they could not adjust the start menu the way I want it to behave.
And although I disabled the Recommended List in gpedit, it is still there. Empty, but still present. Seems that tweak only works on the Windows 11 Education and SE editions. Again: Why, Microsoft? Why!?

Despite having disabled the on-screen keyboard in every account and setting possible, it can still be activated on the lock screen! That is a mayor flaw. For security reasons, the one place the on-screen keyboard should be disabled is the lock screen. Oh, Microsoft!

Some things that were changed, or behave differently now:
My vpn does not start by itself when I change from one account to the other. Could be due to my specific vpn software, but still….

My Vivaldi browser’s default download location was changed from my user download folder to the admin download folder. Very strange.
I also notice more advertising on web pages. Does 24H2 block some of UBO’s filters?

I will go on trying out Windows 11 in the coming days and maybe revert back to Windows 10….

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

• This topic was modified 3 months, 3 weeks ago by TJ. Reason: Typos

3 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, ClearThunder, Cybertooth

Replies

TJ wrote:

Start11, but it turns out that (at least on 24H2) that program only gives the choice for the taskbar to be on the top or bottom of the screen – not the left or right. (I am now trying to get a refund for it).

Taskbar choices for left and right are available in the beta. You can download the beta within your Start11 account.

2 users thanked author for this post.

ClearThunder, TJ

I’ll have a peek at that beta.

@PL1 I answered your question below already 3 or 4 times, but my answers don’t show up in the topic. So I try it this way.

I disabled the Recommended in all settings in both accounts.

Moderator’s Note: Retrieved from the spam bucket, also removed extraneous HTML.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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PL1

TJ wrote:

And although I disabled the Recommended List in gpedit, it is still there. Empty, but still present. Seems that tweak only works on the Windows 11 Education and SE editions. Again: Why, Microsoft? Why!?

Have you tried shutting off recommendations here?

Yep

Moderator’s Note: Post retrieved from the spam bucket.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

1 user thanked author for this post.

PL1

Thanks @moderators and sorry for the mess my vpn caused. I sent them the report you mailed to me.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

PL1 wrote:

TJ wrote:

Start11, but it turns out that (at least on 24H2) that program only gives the choice for the taskbar to be on the top or bottom of the screen – not the left or right. (I am now trying to get a refund for it).

Taskbar choices for left and right are available in the beta. You can download the beta within your Start11 account.

You were/are right @PL1

It was not immediately clear where and how to get the Beta, but once I created an account on Stardock I was indeed able to download and install it.

I now have my preferred right side taskbar and square window corners. Thanks a lot

Hopefully this Beta gets developed into a stable version and that a future Windows update doesn’t mess it up

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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PL1

TJ wrote:

Hopefully this Beta gets developed into a stable version and that a future Windows update doesn’t mess it up

I’m sure it will. I was reading the beta forum and they already have a release version number, v2.5.

Win11 has been known for messing up the Start menu in the past, but it is usually an easy fix, by just re-installing the 3rd party Start Menu. AND, since this is a paid version, there is incentive for the company to adapt.

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TJ

TJ wrote:

Another, minor annoyance is the time font on the taskbar. MS seems to have changed it in the past version updates to its present, ugly, non-OS default font. Why, Microsoft? Why!!??

I don’t think Microsoft did that. Are you sure you’re not running some third-party clock app?

No third party clock app. I read several complaints about it online.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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b

I hadn’t realized you were talking about such a subtle difference.

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TJ

I took the plunge a few weeks ago myself, TJ.  Dove head-first into 24H2 pro when I bought a new rig.  Like all O/S upgrades, there were (seemingly) minor things that were changed, causing one to bang their desk in angst.  The Start menu was now a two-step viewing process, Wordpad was gone (but retrieved from my other desktop),  intermittent problems losing internet during boot-up, and a laundry list of various irritants.  I spent at least 30-minutes just configuring my firewall to block copilot telemetry (it can’t talk to Redmond anymore) and every other app that wanted internet access but didn’t merit it.  I’m still finding little quirks with the O/S, but I figure everyone else is wrestling with 24H2, so I’m probably not alone. Like you, I too have to ask in animated exasperation “Why, Microsoft?  Why?”

I just don’t get it; why does each new version of Windows change the GUI?  Why can’t developers just leave it alone?   Obviously, nobody at MS has ever heard the old saying “familiarity breeds contentment.”  Nor have they remembered the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Anyway, I see you are a user of Stardock software. They’re good people. I tried Start11, but my preference for desktop organization was their ‘Fences’ product.  There’s a small yearly fee for it, but it’s worth it for me who thrives on an organized desktop where I can group all my programs, much like the old Program Manager in Win3.11.  I took a screenshot of how I use Fences, but only the top portion of the desktop screen. It actually wraps three sides. Anyone who liked using the old Program Manager (I think it was ditched after Win95) will love Fences and it’s wide range of color and size options.    [The preview looks compressed in the preview — hope it’s just on my end. I’ll try to edit it if I have to]

 

 

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. And I say let us give them all they want" ----- William T. Sherman

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Elly

ClearThunder wrote:

I just don’t get it; why does each new version of Windows change the GUI?  Why can’t developers just leave it alone?   Obviously, nobody at MS has ever heard the old saying “familiarity breeds contentment.”  Nor have they remembered the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

By you Microsoft had still to stay on Windows XP.

I’d be delighted if Windows had stayed on the Vista UI, or even 7 which is a plainer version of Vista.

And then there’s my all-time favorite Windows UI. Love those Minimize and Restore buttons, they give a visual indication of what the button does. Never did understand why MS didn’t stick with them.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

I just noticed that the upgrade changed my local (former Win10-)daily user account into a “WDAGUtilityAccount”, which is no longer determined as a “User” but as a “Guest”.

 

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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Elly

TJ wrote:

I just noticed that the upgrade changed my local (former Win10-)daily user account into a “WDAGUtilityAccount”, which is no longer determined as a “User” but as a “Guest”.

 

I think you’re misreading the result of that net user command.

It lists six separate accounts in three columns, without comments.

WDAGUtilityAccount and Guest are unrelated to your local user account.

What Is Wdagutilityaccount on Windows and How Is It Used?

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Elly, TJ, mledman

You are totally right! I’m not familiar with the net user outcome, so that’s why I misinterpreted it.

Thanks too for the link with explanation.
I checked in Computer Management and the WDAGUtilityAccount is disabled.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

1 user thanked author for this post.

b

TJ wrote:

I just noticed that the upgrade changed my local (former Win10-)daily user account into a “WDAGUtilityAccount”, which is no longer determined as a “User” but as a “Guest”.

Do you have a Microsoft account?

Can you change local account designation?

Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter

No, both are local accounts. I ditched all my ms accounts a while back.

I don’t know if I can change the designation and don’t know if I want to, because this WDAGUtilityAccount (Windows Defender Application Guard account) seems to give extra protection by browser isolation and other. Till now I haven’t encountered any restrictions because of it.

It is whacky however that WDAG turned itself on during the update. It was off in Windows 10.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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Elly

RESOLVED because I got fed up with Windows 11 and meanwhile switched to Linux/LMDE for my daily driver.

LMDE is my daily driver now. Old friend Win10 keeps spinning in the background

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Cybertooth