Windows recommendation for new computer

Lappo · Unread post by **Lappo** » 10 Jul 2025, 18:15

So im getting a new ryzen 5700g based pc and while i intend to run artix linux on it, im probably gonna need a runnable windows just in case
what kind of ripping bloat/spy ware out of windows 10 things would you recommend, or would you not recommend windows 10?

main idea would be running linux on a daily with proton for games, but ynever know if you may want to try something on windows

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 10 Jul 2025, 18:59

My newest/fastest laptop is a Ryzen 5 (8640HS).
The Ryzen 7 (5700G) is older but much faster.

I am running Win11 (tweaked heavily!).
I could not find adequate drivers for Win10 (my preferred OS, *when tweaked!*).

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The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 16 Jul 2025, 00:05

Lappo wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 18:15 So im getting a new ryzen 5700g based pc and while i intend to run artix linux on it, im probably gonna need a runnable windows just in case
what kind of ripping bloat/spy ware out of windows 10 things would you recommend, or would you not recommend windows 10?

main idea would be running linux on a daily with proton for games, but ynever know if you may want to try something on windows

Any status update?
I'd be interested in knowing where you landed with Win10 driver support.

teknixstuff · Unread post by **teknixstuff** » 16 Jul 2025, 07:33

Lappo wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 18:15 So im getting a new ryzen 5700g based pc and while i intend to run artix linux on it, im probably gonna need a runnable windows just in case
what kind of ripping bloat/spy ware out of windows 10 things would you recommend, or would you not recommend windows 10?

main idea would be running linux on a daily with proton for games, but ynever know if you may want to try something on windows

I'd suggest just getting W10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. It has almost all the bloatware removed by default!

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 16 Jul 2025, 08:34

teknixstuff wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 07:33 I'd suggest just getting W10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. It has almost all the bloatware removed by default!

I tried that route on a Ryzen 5 but was basically forced to upgrade to Win11 Enterprise LTSC 24H2 for sake of driver availability.

ie, if OP is successful, I would like for the Win10 drivers to be posted here.

teknixstuff · Unread post by **teknixstuff** » 16 Jul 2025, 08:55

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 08:34
teknixstuff wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 07:33 I'd suggest just getting W10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. It has almost all the bloatware removed by default!
I tried that route on a Ryzen 5 but was basically forced to upgrade to Win11 Enterprise LTSC 24H2 for sake of driver availability.

ie, if OP is successful, I would like for the Win10 drivers to be posted here.

All W11 drivers should work fine on W10. Generally the only compatibility restrictions are from the driver setup tools, and you can avoid that by just backing up your drivers from W11 and restoring them on W10.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 16 Jul 2025, 09:23

teknixstuff wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 08:55 ...and you can avoid that by just backing up your drivers from W11 and restoring them on W10.

I may try that one of these days.
I used to have something called "DriverGrabber" and I assume it will grab the Win11 drivers for Win10 migration.
Though it does not cite Win10 or Win11 as supported OS -- https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/drivergrabber.html

teknixstuff · Unread post by **teknixstuff** » 16 Jul 2025, 10:41

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 09:23
teknixstuff wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 08:55 ...and you can avoid that by just backing up your drivers from W11 and restoring them on W10.
I may try that one of these days.
I used to have something called "DriverGrabber" and I assume it will grab the Win11 drivers for Win10 migration.
Though it does not cite Win10 or Win11 as supported OS -- https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/drivergrabber.html

You can do it entirely just from command prompt.
To backup drivers: pnputil /export-driver * c:\backup
To restore drivers: pnputil /add-driver c:\backup\*.inf /subdirs /install

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 16 Jul 2025, 11:14

teknixstuff wrote: ↑16 Jul 2025, 10:41 You can do it entirely just from command prompt.
To backup drivers: pnputil /export-driver * c:\backup
To restore drivers: pnputil /add-driver c:\backup\*.inf /subdirs /install

Awesome! Much appreciated!

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 16 Jul 2025, 11:31

Here's my after-launch "before" / current setup (Win11 tweaked via WinReducerEX and other post-install tweaks).
The default OEM installation had over 140 processes and I managed to cut that basically in half.

It may be the weekend before I can revert this laptop to Win10 and see if this resolves driver issues I had when I last attempted Win10 on this laptop.

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The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 18 Jul 2025, 18:13

"before" pnputil /add-driver restore on Win10 LTSB 2016 from drivers exported from Win11 Enterprise LTSC 24H2

Win10 LTSB 2016 misses these drivers -
1) Human Interface Devices - HID Button over Interrupt Driver
2) Other devices - BT_FUNCTION
3) Other devices - Multimedia Controller
4 and 5) Other devices - PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller
6 and 7) Other devices - PCI Device
8) Other devices - PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller
9) Other devices - SM Bus Controller
10 thru 18) Other devices - Unknown device
19) System devices - ACPI Wake Alarm
20) System devices - PCI Express Root Port
21) Universal Serial Bus controllers - UCSI USB Connector Manager

Task Manager = 28 processes, 328 threads, 10552 handles (after 49 minutes of Up Time due to a lunch break)

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 18 Jul 2025, 18:37

Still missing FOURTEEN drivers.
I think I'll just keep the Ryzen 5 laptop on Win11.
I tried to track down drivers in the past and it was a dead end then, I suspect it to still be a dead end now.

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