Nerd Tips: Windows Update

[Rev.FrankSmith]

Noted

[Rev.Cambeul]

Windows 11 Lite Official From Microsoft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrM3xzzgawQ

Never Download the Evaluation Version from MS!
Download the Full Version From
https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links
Other Windows Versions https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media

IoT LTSC Key: CGK42-GYN6Y-VD22B-BX98W-J8JXD

Features
TPM / Secure boot / UEFI / 4GB RAM   Not Required 🎉
Automatic Device Encryption   Disabled
Update Support   10 Years
Reserved Storage Feature Disabled
Digital License (HWID)   Supported

Activation
https://massgrave.dev
https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts


Reasons to use LTSC
You don't like annual Windows feature upgrades.
You don't like preinstalled Store (UWP) apps as well.
You want longer security update support for Windows 11.

Reasons to avoid using LTSC
Games might not work out of the box and you will manually need to install store and Xbox apps.
New hardware might not be fully supported by a 2-3 year-old LTSC build (A new version of LTSC is released every 3 years).

Common misconceptions
LTSC is Fast
It's not fast, although there might be a bit more RAM available because of no store apps running in the background, and you can achieve the same result in standard editions by turning off background apps and startup apps.

[Rev.Cambeul]

I installed Windows 11 LTSC on my main system last night along with an LTSC version of MS Office (LTSC Professional Plus 2021 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ltsc/2021/overview).

I used RUFUS https://rufus.ie/en/ to put it onto a thumbdrive and installed it from there.

I had been running the same system with upgrades since 2015 from Windows 8.1 to Windows 11. So ten years on the same system.

I also switched my BIOS from MBR over to UEFI - which is more modern, has more security, and is reputedly a little faster. It's the same computer hardware and BIOS. The change is made in the BIOS.

When I'm satisfied with my complete installation, I'll clone it over to a second computer I have plugged into the lounge room TV I use as a MEDIASERVER. That's what I did ten years ago when I first built and set up the two computers.

@Cailen.

[Rev.Cambeul]

I installed Windows 11 LTSC on my main system last night along with an LTSC version of MS Office (LTSC Professional Plus 2021 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ltsc/2021/overview).

Update: I've been using Windows 11 LTSC regularly for a few days now.

* It's running fast on hardware from 2014 that Microsoft explicitly rejects for Win11.

* Every other version of Windows I've ever had was filled with endless Windows Updates forcing reboots and eventually slowing it down. Not LTSC. The updates are few and ended quickly with no visible speed impact.

Latest Update
Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB2538243)

2025-01 Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 24H2 for x64 (KB5050577)

2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053598)

2025-01 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 24H2 for x64 (KB5049622)

2025-01 Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5050575

2024-11 Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5048779)
First Update

Today is Wednesday. I installed Windows 11 LTSC at about 9pm on Saturday, made sure it was working, then went to bed. The updates were completed on Sunday ... and that was it. There were no problems installing any programs/apps that I wanted. I've been using the same software for decades. I know what I want. I either get updates for my old software, or use it as is.

If you want anything that requires Windows Store, you'll have to install Windows Store yourself. Otherwise do as I do and use something else or don't bother. (I shut off Windows Store some years ago.)

My final program install will be parts of a relatively recent version of Nero Burning ROM.
Version Year - 2021 https://thepiratebay.org/description.php?id=36845703

Bonus: Without Windows Store, Microsoft are unable to force a lot of their newer versions of their software upon the user. That means that older, tested and familiar versions of Microsoft software is included with the LTSC version of Windows. With a debloated standard Windows 11 (Home or Pro), you would have to find a way to replace even innocuous but useful programs like Calculator. LTSC uses the old version of Calculator that appears unchanged since the days of Windows 3.1/Windows NT prior to Windows 95.

Next Job: Clone a copy of this computer, MAINSERVER, over to the one plugged into my TV and rename it MEDIASERVER. There's nothing wrong with the current MEDIASERVER, but this is a definite improvement. And after renaming the clone and replacing a few settings with their backups, it should only take minutes to set up once the cloning is complete.

Also, the benefit of having two almost identical computers - hardware, software, and running programs - means I always have an extra and current backup if other backups fail. (And BTW, for cloning, I use Paragon software. There are free versions available. Mine is patched.)

Do I recommend Windows 11 LTSC Enterprise? Yes.

Microsoft should be taken to court and severely fined for the bloatware that it forces on the rest of you.

@Cailen.