Jay’s Zero‑Drift Windows 11 Install Method


This is mostly just gibberish, borderline hooey.

Drift, drift to me is what windows does when things like Windows Backup stops working or other apps

That’s just an app not working. Why assign a word like drift that has no relationship to an app breaking? Trying to coin a phrase and hope it catches on, like bloat or slop?

its when your identity clashes with system files

What? My identity never clashes with system files, mostly because that phrase doesn’t mean anything.

it stop windows from hydrating excess files
Again, what?
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]
OS
Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]
Its not about breaking apps, Its more where windows changes state without the user doing it. Where Microsoft servers make a decision for you based on device history. like Registry flags, maybe new services all without you touching anything. the Second one, same basic answer, and 3rd, Help me out a bit what are you asking exactly? Im just sharing a method i made up that produces a Default Windows install where being online doesnt matter in the slightest.
 

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Windows 11 25h2Ryzen 7200g32gbNvidia 2070 super
OS
Windows 11 25h2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
Ryzen 7200g
Motherboard
A320m S2h
Memory
32gb
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 2070 super
Screen Resolution
2880x1620
Hard Drives
Samsung 980 pro
Cooling
air
Mouse
Red Dragon M810
Internet Speed
1gb
Browser
Opera
Reading (and trying to understand) the OP took me longer than a standard Rufus clean install does .... o_O

EDIT

Re-reading makes me suspicious that it was maybe AI generated ..... :shawn:?
Smoke a bit if weed and it suddenly makes sense. Sort of.
 

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  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8973AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics16GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8973
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acemagic LX15PRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics
    Motherboard
    BIOS CT_BI_AMI_LX15PRO_AB8139_A-004
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    30 Mbps
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    Brave
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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506Atom N450 1.66GHz2GB
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
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    Webroot
  • Acer Swift SF114-34 laptop
    OS Windows 11 Pro 26200.8894
    CPU Pentium Silver N6000
    RAM 4GB
    BIOS v1.17
    SSD Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 2TB (an upgrade)
I'll just ask this, When your install is done how many telemetry tasks do you have going? After my install method and no debloating, i have none, and scheduled tasks? 3.. Total, right out the box no debloating again.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11 25h2Ryzen 7200g32gbNvidia 2070 super
OS
Windows 11 25h2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
Ryzen 7200g
Motherboard
A320m S2h
Memory
32gb
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 2070 super
Screen Resolution
2880x1620
Hard Drives
Samsung 980 pro
Cooling
air
Mouse
Red Dragon M810
Internet Speed
1gb
Browser
Opera
I'm still stuck on the term "hydration." Hydration is what I do so I don't become dehydrated, and maybe my blood pressure drops as a result. I didn't know that Windows has a heart. Apologies to all the cardiologists on this forum.
 

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Windows 11 2H25AMD 9900X64 GBAMD 9070 XT
OS
Windows 11 2H25
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
DIY
CPU
AMD 9900X
Motherboard
MSI X870E Carbon
Memory
64 GB
Graphics Card(s)
AMD 9070 XT
Sound Card
built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 24"
Hard Drives
Sabrent 1 TB NVMe, 4 x SSD (need to check models), 4 x 3.5" HDD, 8-16 TB, all WD
PSU
Seasonic 850
Case
Fractal Design North XL (which I likw)
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Corsair AIO for CPU, fans for case
Keyboard
Das Keyboard 4
Mouse
Corsair M65 (white)
Internet Speed
1 TB download
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Bitdefender
Other Info
Also have Lenovo T14S laptop (me) and Lenovo Slim 71 (wife)
When your install is done how many telemetry tasks do you have going?
Doesn't really matter, because I just put on an extra tin-foil hat
 

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    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)Intel i5-124008GBNVIDIA GeForce GT730
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    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
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    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
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    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
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    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
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    OOBE
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    OOBE
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    OOBE
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    BT
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    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
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    KIS
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever ...i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHzIntel Iris Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
As I awake, I must remember to open the windows, allowing the wind to drift in.

Feed the plants with a good dose of manure, debloat the pot, and lastly, always rehydrate
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel S1200 Core i3 1010532.0 GBMSI GT710 2GB PCIe Video Card
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Intel S1200 Core i3 10105
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte S1200 MicroATX B560M DS3H DDR4
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GT710 2GB PCIe Video Card
    Sound Card
    Realtek® Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Acer 24in
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial P1 M.2 PCIe SSD
    PSU
    500W
    Case
    Thermaltake ATX Versa H21 Case
    Cooling
    Internal fans by (3)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 850
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps / 20Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
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    Defender, Malwarebyte
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz12.0 GBIntegrated Video Card
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built Test-PC
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS S1150 MicroATX B85M-E
    Memory
    12.0 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Video Card
    Sound Card
    Integrated Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Chimei 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    120GB WD 2.5" Green SATA 6Gb/s SSD
    1TB WD 3.5" 7200rpm SATA 6Gb/s Caviar Blue
    PSU
    400W
    Case
    Cougar MicroATX MG100 Case Black
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    Deepcool 120mm Case Fan
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    Logitech Wireless keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps / 20Mbps
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    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Only running Win 11 on this PC for test purposes
This might just be easier.... :-)

Windows 2000.webp
 

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Windows XP (Stable, iconic) 7/8.1/10/ Tiny11 ...Intel i7 4790K32GB DDR3 1600 MHzATI Radeon HD 7770 2GB GDDR5
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Windows XP (Stable, iconic) 7/8.1/10/ Tiny11 25H2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware PC
CPU
Intel i7 4790K
Motherboard
ASROCK Z97 EXTREME4
Memory
32GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 7770 2GB GDDR5
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
SAMSUNG UE57 Series 28-Inch 4K UHD
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG 860 EVO 250 gigabyte SSD
PSU
EVGA 850 watt
Case
Alienware Area 51 Black Tower Case
Keyboard
HyperX - Alloy Elite 2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless
Internet Speed
1.2 GHz
Browser
Chrome..Edge..Firefox
I'm still stuck on the term "hydration." Hydration is what I do so I don't become dehydrated, and maybe my blood pressure drops as a result. I didn't know that Windows has a heart. Apologies to all the cardiologists on this forum.
I don't know what OP meant, but I can give my 2 cents...
I user Sync.com (a cloud provider) and it has cloud files just like OneDrive.
If I try do access a cloud only file and it fails to download automatically as it should, it will log a msg saying "file hydration failed"...

On Windows Explorer those files appear with the same small cloud icon used by OneDrive (and Proton Drive, also!), so I guess all three apps use the same backend provided by Windows 11 itself...

Tough, I don't know if this is the kind of 'hydration' the OP meant!
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Enterprisei7-970064 GBNvidia GTX 1060
    OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    i7-9700
    Memory
    64 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 1060
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Enterprisei9-1390064 GB
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    i9-13900
    Memory
    64 GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia RTX 4070
When I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself.......
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.8973)Intel® Core™ i9-13900KS 3.20GHz128GB DDR5-5200 Kingston Fury Beast RGBZotac Trinity NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4090 24GB ...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (26200.8973)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CLX Intel Battlebox Ultimate (RA)
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i9-13900KS 3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero WIFI - ATX
    Memory
    128GB DDR5-5200 Kingston Fury Beast RGB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Trinity NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X
    Sound Card
    Realtek USB Audio
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    Dell G3223Q 32" 4K Ultra HD
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 @144hz
    Hard Drives
    2TB x 2 Samsung 990 Pro 2280 NVMe M.2 SSD's
    2TB x 1 Samsung 980 Pro 2280 NVMe M.2 SSD
    4 TB x 1 My Passport Ultra External USB
    PSU
    1200W Corsair HX Ser HX1200 80+ Platinum
    Case
    Lian Li / Der Bauer 011DXL ROG
    Cooling
    Phanteks Glacier One 360 RGB AIO LC
    Keyboard
    Logitech K330 Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech M310 Wireless
    Internet Speed
    1GB Fiber : 945/57
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Defender - HitmanPro.Alert
    Other Info
    Macrium Reflect X
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    iPad Air
    Operating System
    iPad Air
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    Apple
When I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself.......
I don’t drink, “well not alcohol” but I certainly have considered starting to want to.
:-)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows XP (Stable, iconic) 7/8.1/10/ Tiny11 ...Intel i7 4790K32GB DDR3 1600 MHzATI Radeon HD 7770 2GB GDDR5
OS
Windows XP (Stable, iconic) 7/8.1/10/ Tiny11 25H2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Alienware PC
CPU
Intel i7 4790K
Motherboard
ASROCK Z97 EXTREME4
Memory
32GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 7770 2GB GDDR5
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
SAMSUNG UE57 Series 28-Inch 4K UHD
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG 860 EVO 250 gigabyte SSD
PSU
EVGA 850 watt
Case
Alienware Area 51 Black Tower Case
Keyboard
HyperX - Alloy Elite 2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless
Internet Speed
1.2 GHz
Browser
Chrome..Edge..Firefox

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