Remove Windows AI

Unread post by **Duke** » 09 Dec 2025, 23:15

A script which claims to remove all of Windows 11 AI features:

https://github.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI/

Unread post by **Duke** » 02 Feb 2026, 18:05

Microsoft is walking back Windows 11’s AI overload:
https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-is-reevaluating-its-ai-efforts-on-windows-11-plans-to-reduce-copilot-integrations-and-evolve-recall

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 02 Feb 2026, 18:12

Unread post by **Duke** » 02 Feb 2026, 23:14

I know what you mean but maybe they got scared by that:
https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-refugees-flock-to-linux-in-what-devs-call-their-biggest-launch-ever/

And I'm quoting this from another thread:

sunryze wrote: ↑01 Feb 2026, 18:44 Windows is no longer an operating system, its a platform for MS to deliver their other services. Right now that is primarily Copilot in the stupid AI bubble that will never seem to pop.

I know more and more people think the same and I'm one of them.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 00:29

I personally have no clue what Copilot and MS's AI even looks like!
I don't have to "install it" just to know I don't want it.
I don't have to "install it" just to know its overload effect on the OS.
et cetera...

I've been in a "rebuilding year", so to speak.
My newest laptop was purchased April 2025 (great deal, Pawn Shop) and my newest desktop was purchased December 2025 (Christmas sale).
Prior to that, it's been THIRTY YEARS since I've purchased any computers.
Just used FREEBIES spanning those entire thirty years! Basically always running stuff between 8 and 20 years old.

These new computers should last me a DECADE.
They did both "come with" Win11.
Neither one of them were even 'fired up' with that Win11.
Reformatted both of them without any schred of curiosity of running 11.

Mainly because of having access to ENTERPRISE editions of Win10 through my employer.
I'm *VERY* happy with Win10.

But we-the-consumer should think of it slightly differently.
Hardware processing power and performance is taking LEAPS AND BOUNDS because they are being expected to run Copilot/AI.
And disabling that CRAP is NOT that difficult. I personally (and strongly) suggest removing BEFORE install, not via scripts AFTER install.
Just think of how AWESOME your OS "is" because it was expected to run all that overhead and you disabled it for the performance gain.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 00:45

re: the "flock to Linux" article...
I actually spent a very large chunk of today reading up on things like this - https://github.com/NOTNlCE/Latitude-E5470-OpenCore

You may recall from other threads that a laptop of mine is used for background-noise streaming of news and sitcoms.
And that it's not handling recent upgrades in video codecs.

I know that just changing drivers or changing OS isn't a Miracle Fix, the bottleneck is the Intel HD 520 graphics card.

It's a Dell Latitude E5470 and apparently these older Dell laptops are very popular amongst the "hackintosh" crowd.
I can't help but be curious to see if this TEN YEAR OLD laptop will perform better on alternate OS's.

I'm open for Linux suggestions. I fear the "hackintosh" route would be a cool "project", but not a legit "daily driver".

Unread post by **Duke** » 03 Feb 2026, 15:05

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026, 00:45 I'm open for Linux suggestions.

AFAIK most people coming from Windows are using Linux Mint or Zorin OS:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Mint

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorin_OS

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 15:33

I've ran Mint in the past - did not like it, hardware issues galore, but that was on an even older desktop, not this laptop.

I actually TRIED to install Zorin this morning.
It didn't install and so I tried Q4OS - which gave me the same exact boot error.
It was then that I noticed some BIOS settings that needed changed.

My Q4OS "welcome screen" *literally* popped up just moments ago.
I'll run this for a little (hours or days, not yet known) then try Zorin again.

: IMG_20260203_103004-medium.png (495.01 KiB) Viewed 238 times

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 15:43

Also, I'm not technically a fan of "X-Lite" (I find it to be a lazy approach compared to building my own), but this has been added to my To Try List also:

: 2026-02-03_10-39-46.png (172.8 KiB) Viewed 229 times

Unread post by **Duke** » 03 Feb 2026, 21:34

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026, 15:43 added to my To Try List also:
HEVC

https://www.free-codecs.com/guides/how_to_download_hevc_video_extension_for_free.htm
or
https://github.com/Fox8284/Microsoft-HEVC-Video-Extension

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 21:48

I'll read the links later (when I have time to focus on their content).

But one question I have (which may be answered when I read the links) is whether the OS even "needs" the HEVC codec?
Um, because it seems to me that the BROWSER (Chrome v144 in my case) is already performing that function.

Q4OS is a resounding "H#ll No".
I may reinstall and do more testing in a VM, but my first install on real hardware has the OS by itself eating up 6.5 GB of only 8 GB RAM!
SIX POINT FIVE !!!
Granted, I did not do the "Trinity" desktop on this first install and it appears I should have.
I did the KDE Plasma (already uninstalled, I think that's what it was called).

Currently testing X-Lite 10 *Classic*.
I WANT TO THROW A SHOE THROUGH THE WINDOW !!!

It isn't "classic" at all.
It has StartIsBack POLLUTION pre-installed.
Makes my blood boil when I see PRE-INSTALLED "bundled" software !!!

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 23:05

X-Lite 10 "Classic" runs identical as my normal tweaked install as far as DirecTV streaming.
ie, 60 to 85% on the CPU and 45% on the GPU.
I don't technically know what the "installed HEVC codec" *DOES*.

But, and yeah, it's biased on my part, but BECAUSE of the StartIsBack "bundle", that alone makes me NOT TRUST IT!
ie, what else was ADDED, all I was looking for was a DEBLOAT, I was not looking for a DEBLOAT *AND ADD WHAT WE THINK YOU NEED*.
That's my line in the sand, DON'T ADD STUFF, that contradicts the philosophy of "debloat", in my shout-from-the-rooftop "opinion".

"To each their own", of course

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 03 Feb 2026, 23:07

ps - overall, yeah, X-Lite makes a GREAT PRODUCT, it just doesn't meet MY expectations

Unread post by **Duke** » 03 Feb 2026, 23:46

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026, 23:05 I don't technically know what the "installed HEVC codec" *DOES*.

Decoding HEVC, with hardware acceleration support if your graphics card can handle it, in WMP and some other players and also in browsers.
In R3dfox/Firefox/LibreWolf/etc check about:support#media

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 04 Feb 2026, 00:11

Chrome/Chromium has decoded HEVC since v104 [if hardware is capable] (enabled by default in v105 and higher).
v104 was released August 2022.

My (short-lived) run of X-Lite with the "installed HEVC codec" tells me that nothing was gained for my usage, just let Chrome/Chromium offload the decode to the GPU instead of offloading to the OS which then offloads to the GPU.

It would be different if my HEVC needs were EXTERNAL to Chrome/Chromium.

I do use PotPlayer (*hate* that name, sounds like something a hippy from the 60s came up with), and I thought I've played h.265 content from within it, will have to verify over the next day or so.

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