I have lost hope in Windows 11

Unread post by **Duke** » 10 Jul 2026, 22:02

I've found this:
https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/

And that:
https://korben.info/en/gdid-windows-cut-tracker-vpn.html
https://github.com/Korben00/no-gdid

Unread post by **Duke** » 10 Jul 2026, 22:42

Duke wrote: ↑10 Jul 2026, 19:45 It's not clear if this GDID also exists in older versions of Windows.
I'm quite sure Windows 10 has it but what about previous versions ?

The HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\ExtendedProperties key does not exist on my Windows 8.1 on which I'm using a local account, the ExtendedProperties bit.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 10 Jul 2026, 22:57

Duke wrote: ↑10 Jul 2026, 22:42 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\ExtendedProperties

The \IdentityCRL\ portion does not exist in CURRENT_USER on my Win10 LTSB 2016.
It does exist in LOCAL_MACHINE but the ExtendedProperties portion does not.

So no, this issue does not exist in "all versions" of Win10.
I'll have to check LTSC 2019 and LTSC 2021 tomorrow, those computers are sleeping for the night.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 10 Jul 2026, 23:04

I guess I shouldn't expect to find that GDID on my computers.
I have *NEVER* installed any version of Windows using whatever the heck a "Microsoft Account" is.
*NEVER*. No clue why anybody WOULD, for that matter.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 10 Jul 2026, 23:15

Duke wrote: ↑10 Jul 2026, 22:02 I've found this:
https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/

To quote that article directly -- " The system worked as intended here."
ie, I have nothing against that GDID catching such a CRIMINAL.
but yeah, I totally understand the privacy rights perspective (ie, again, I've never installed using a Microsoft Account but all of my computers have **LEGAL** installations).

Unread post by **Duke** » 11 Jul 2026, 12:43

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑10 Jul 2026, 22:57 The \IdentityCRL\ portion does not exist in CURRENT_USER on my Win10 LTSB 2016.
It does exist in LOCAL_MACHINE but the ExtendedProperties portion does not.

So no, this issue does not exist in "all versions" of Win10.
I'll have to check LTSC 2019 and LTSC 2021 tomorrow, those computers are sleeping for the night.

I've found these, for what it's worth:

https://www.theregister.com/cyber-crime/2026/07/07/windows-is-watching-anti-piracy-tool-fingers-scattered-spider-suspect/5267953

The Windows GDID, or at least the infrastructure for it, is said to date back to the release of Windows 10 in 2015. The GDID itself doesn't show up much in online documentation until 2021 or thereabouts.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/managed-desktop/developer/mmd-api-list-devices

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48811081

the fact that the global ID exists is not a secret. This format of device ID has been in Windows since the initial release of Windows 10 in 2015, when it was introduced as part of Windows' current telemetry subsystem. To see your device's global ID, open Windows Feedback Hub, then go to Feedback Hub Settings and look under Device Information.

https://buynowkey.com/microsoft/windows-gdid-telemetry-tracking-audit/

Windows 10 vs Windows 11: Does Telemetry Differ?

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 implement the same two-tier diagnostic data model, and both use GDID-style persistent device identifiers in their telemetry pipelines. Windows 11 introduced some additional telemetry categories around Copilot AI interactions and the new Start menu and widgets feed, which can send usage signals back to Microsoft. In practice, Windows 11’s deeper integration of Microsoft account sign-in and the Microsoft Store means more data surfaces are active by default compared to a minimally configured Windows 10 installation.

That said, the controls available are broadly equivalent between the two versions — the same Settings paths, the same Group Policy keys, and the same service-disabling commands apply to both.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 11 Jul 2026, 12:57

All of those indicate that the GDID is only present *IF* (and only if!) you install via a Microsoft Account.
This does not apply to me (technically, I should say this does not apply to the CORPORATE INSTALLATION of my Win10 machines).

Even beyond that, and totally unknown to me, is how ACTIVATION affects and/or creates that GDID.
My CORPORATE INSTALLATION does not activate through Microsoft's servers "directly", they activate via COMPANY VPN through company servers.
How that all ties together is totally UNKNOWN to me - let the company lawyers sort all that our, I install and activate by company directions.

I have ZERO doubt that it all ties together "somehow" (ie, it SHOULD in my opinion).
All I can report is what I see directly.
That GDID registry key does NOT exist "on" any of my 2016, 2019, or 2021 "long-term" ENTERPRISE editions of Win10.

But - that does NOT mean that it does not exist "on" any Microsoft servers.
I'd have to ask the company IT Dept on that. But I'm not going to, just the mere "questioning" of things like that would put me on an "IT List", lol.

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 11 Jul 2026, 13:04

The "Miscrosoft Store" does not exist in any of my Win10 installations.
I have to assume this is a company policy.
Which I myself would implement even if not a company installation.
I hate (hate, hate, HATE!) anything/everything "UWP".

Unread post by **Duke** » 12 Jul 2026, 11:19

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑11 Jul 2026, 12:57 That GDID registry key does NOT exist "on" any of my 2016, 2019, or 2021 "long-term" ENTERPRISE editions of Win10.

Check this registry key: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\Immersive\production\Token\{GUID}\DeviceId

According to this page the GDID may also be used in Windows 10:
https://github.com/someguy0110/gdid-privacy/blob/main/README.md

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 12 Jul 2026, 12:46

Duke wrote: ↑12 Jul 2026, 11:19 Check this registry key: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\Immersive\production\Token\{GUID}\DeviceId

Nope, not on my LTSC 2021. Did not check 2016 and 2019.
The \Immersive\ and everything after doesn't even exist.

Could be a difference between ENTERPRISE editions of Win10 versus HOME (and/or Pro?) editions of Win10.
I *only* use enterprise editions that have "expired" for use at work but my department has access to them from IT (lab benches and hybrid techs that work from home).

Or it could be something removed via WinReducer EX-100
I'd have to install a HOME edition VM and a non-WinRed as-is VM to really know for sure.
Can't say as I'm really "that" concerned, to be honest.

Sure, thankful that I cannot find any of these GDIDs.
But these are work computers where everything is tracked and logged way more than anything Microsoft does but only for legal court hearings.
Which I actually *support*. There is "privacy conscientous" and there is "unlawful aiding and abetting".

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 12 Jul 2026, 13:23

I guess what I *am* more curious of at this point is whether the various WINDOWS X-LITE releases have this GDID.
Will report back... Out of curiosity...

The-10-Pen · Unread post by **The-10-Pen** » 12 Jul 2026, 13:54

Kinda can't help but ROTFLMAO.
The X-LITE releases not only HAVE the GDID, but have it even BEFORE being activated and have it on a LOCAL ACCOUNT (ie, not a Microsoft Account).
Maybe we can use this to "scare" people into using WINREDUCER EX over "pre-made" lite versions that folks place "blind trust" towards?

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