Re-install Adventures - a Teeny Rant

First I had an unknown website all over my network and PC:


Then I got a virus that MSert, MalwareBytes, SuperAntiSpyware, and Windows Defender either wouldn't detect or wouldn't touch. So I did what any other enterprising young woman would do and I bought a new hard drive and re-installed a clean install of Windows 11 Pro.

That's where the fun begins. The installer has changed a little. I was not given the opportunity to opt out of OneDrive when I installed, or it was hidden so well that I missed ticking the box that said "No! I don't want this $%#&-ing garbage!", and now I can't get rid of OneDrive, though it is now uninstalled but everything I do is funneled to the OneDrive folder. Every time I log on, my icons are in a different place or scattered all over the screen. They also alternate between being close together or far apart. Microsoft keeps replacing my drivers with their own -> GPU and CPU drivers to start, despite loading the Nvidia and AMD chipset drivers for said items several times, other drivers followed as well, and I can't remember how to turn this "feature" off. I tried a repair install too. No joy.

Some of my software will no longer install, though it ran on my previous Win 11 Pro install just last week. My VM installs and will let me install Ubuntu on it, but the VM will no longer allow Ubuntu to run with no explanation or error message. And yes, I have checked the VM settings in my machine and BIOS.

This has turned into a nightmare, and believe it or not, Ubuntu and Zorin are starting to look really good right about now. But I am going to give it one more try and clean install again. If that doesn't work, I will try to use the old hard drive and find a way to get rid of that pesky virus.

And if that doesn't work, I will give my computer to a demolition expert to practice blowing stuff up - with appropriate video of course.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Something went wrong with the installation. Most probably you created a Microsoft Account which you also have used at another computer and this syncs your settings with the other computer. This would explain why your icons change. You can go to Settings, Accounts and change that to a local account. If you have too many bugs, I would format once more and reinstall, but this time disconnected from the internet completely. When you reach the network connection screen, press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt window and execute the command oobe\bypassnro (no spaces and \ not / ). This will restart the computer and start the initial configuration (OOBE) again, but this time on the network connection screen there should be a blue text "I don't have an internet connection". Click on this text and then click on "Proceed with reduced functionality". This will prompt you to create a local account and skip using your Microsoft account. Once you complete OOBE and you are at the desktop you may reconnect to the internet.

Catnip said:

I was not given the opportunity to opt out of OneDrive when I installed, or it was hidden so well that I missed ticking the box that said "No! I don't want this $%#&-ing garbage!", and now I can't get rid of OneDrive, though it is now uninstalled but everything I do is funneled to the OneDrive folder.
This has turned into a nightmare, and believe it or not, Ubuntu and Zorin are starting to look really good right about now. But I am going to give it one more try and clean install again. If that doesn't work, I will try to use the old hard drive and find a way to get rid of that pesky virus.

And if that doesn't work, I will give my computer to a demolition expert to practice blowing stuff up - with appropriate video of course.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Click to expand...

I'm quite meticulous in following Windows installation instructions too. I'm quite confident I never seen the option to disable OneDrive during the installation process in Windows 11 Home. I believe it's called Only save files to this PC.

How did you make out with all this?

I would clean install again. I prefer using a Microsoft account personally but different options here. Keep an eye out for this tiny option along the way,

As for GPU drivers- I find that installing GeForce Experience keeps the drivers updated and WU doesn't doesn't offer Nvidia updates any more.

As for AMD GPU drivers it's a bit of a joke. Having tried all this, How to disable automatic driver install on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech ,
and even pausing WU, Windows still 'updates' the AMD GPU drivers regardless. I don't use third party apps to do it.
My workaround is this. Let WU update the AMD drivers then open Device Manager and make a note of the installed driver. Close Device Manager. Go to this site and auto detect drivers.


Install what chipset drivers needed then install the GPU drivers and software. Will usually clean older driver in the process. Check Device Manager what the new driver is and make a note.
WU will once again install what it thinks is the AMD driver and possibly the Adrenalin software won't work any more (wrong edition blah blah)

Now go back to Device Manager select the 'proper' driver you made a note of and reinstall it via Device Manager. Usual route, Browse my comp for drivers, Let me pick from a list of available drivers..... , select driver and install and reboot. Leave the WU driver still showing in Device Manager ie. don't uninstall it via something like Rapr.
You should be left alone from WU now.
This works for me but maybe others have a better solution?

First .... I would like to know what virus did you get that prompted you to purchase an entire new hard drive ? You probably didn't have to.

Second .... I am a full believer that MS has already started injecting AI into Windows 11, the install for it is nothing like 10 and getting rid of rubbish on it is getting to be a lot harder. I am staying on 10 , most likely past it's support phase if I can , it will either be my last OS or it will be onto Linux. Windows 12 is gonna be even worse.

Just like this site ..... AI took it upon itself to replace the word sh!t with the word "rubbish". Not only has society started controlling what you can and cannot say , but now we are controlling the written word also. ...... smfh

In AMD systems I download the B350 (or whatever) chipset driver, install this first, restart and then install latest graphics drivers. If you update the graphics drivers as soon as there is a new version out, Windows Update should not try to replace it because you would already have the latest. Not sure though, I only install the drivers for my customers. I never owned an AMD system, I am an Intel fan.

Dark Knight said:

First .... I would like to know what virus did you get that prompted you to purchase an entire new hard drive ? You probably didn't have to.

Second .... I am a full believer that MS has already started injecting AI into Windows 11, the install for it is nothing like 10 and getting rid of rubbish on it is getting to be a lot harder. I am staying on 10 , most likely past it's support phase if I can , it will either be my last OS or it will be onto Linux. Windows 12 is gonna be even worse.

Just like this site ..... AI took it upon itself to replace the word sh!t with the word "rubbish". Not only has society started controlling what you can and cannot say , but now we are controlling the written word also. ...... smfh

Click to expand...

I never found out just what the virus was. Microsoft Defender would not even let me look at it, saying that my IT department had limited portions of the app for me, oh so helpfully. The reason I bought a new drive was two fold: I wanted a very clean install, and I wanted a Gen 4 drive for my boot drive anyway. This killed two birds with one stone. I got rid of the virus, and I have a Nvme drive that is now twice as fast as the one before it. Win-win.

Fabler2 said:

As for GPU drivers- I find that installing GeForce Experience keeps the drivers updated and WU doesn't doesn't offer Nvidia updates any more.

Click to expand...

I found GeForce Experience not only to be "bloatware" it caused some issues too. I have uninstalled it completely. Lenovo lets me check for updates but my next PC won't be a "spec" PC, it will actually be a Desktop PC with custom selected components. I'm not sure how things will be at that point if NVIDIA doesn't have an update link for it's drivers. I won't be buying an AMD GPU. I'm just not happy with them.

Additionally, I used to have a disposable account with NVIDIA then they got hacked. I never bothered to go on their website again. Besides, Lenovo doesn't want me to install any drivers that aren't listed on their website for my particular laptop.

Sammy888 said:

I found GeForce Experience not only to be "bloatware" it caused some issues too. I have uninstalled it completely. Lenovo lets me check for updates but my next PC won't be a "spec" PC, it will actually be a Desktop PC with custom selected components. I'm not sure how things will be at that point if NVIDIA doesn't have an update link for it's drivers. I won't be buying an AMD GPU. I'm just not happy with them.

Additionally, I used to have a disposable account with NVIDIA then they got hacked. I never bothered to go on their website again. Besides, Lenovo doesn't want me to install any drivers that aren't listed on their website for my particular laptop.

Click to expand...

Nice that you're going for a Desktop this time. I believe that WU is much more aggressive on mobiles (laptops, notebooks etc.) than on desktops. @Brinks tutorial never worked for me on laptops hence my way of using GPU drivers was the only way I could keep the drivers I wanted. GeForce Experience, bloatware or not, also works well with no issues and keeps GPU updated before WU interferes.

I used to be an Intel user but now solely AMD. Each to their own as they say and I hope you enjoy your new Desktop.

Fabler2 said:

I would clean install again. I prefer using a Microsoft account personally but different options here. Keep an eye out for this tiny option along the way,

View attachment 58048

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

Fabler2 said:

Nice that you're going for a Desktop this time. I believe that WU is much more aggressive on mobiles (laptops, notebooks etc.) than on desktops. @Brinks tutorial never worked for me on laptops hence my way of using GPU drivers was the only way I could keep the drivers I wanted. GeForce Experience, bloatware or not, also works well with no issues and keeps GPU updated before WU interferes.

I used to be an Intel user but now solely AMD. Each to their own as they say and I hope you enjoy your new Desktop.

Click to expand...

You're so right about WU being aggressive on laptops. I have optional updates disabled and it still grabs some Lenovo updates. One time I looked into the optional updates and decided to install the laptop's firmware. The installation failed despite having previously installed firmware updates from Lenovo's website.

I've had AMD/ATI graphic cards in the past. I've always heard of complaints AMD CPUs run hotter than Intel. I've been waiting 20 years to be convinced AMD is right for me.

Just subscribe to this thread to be notified when a new nVidia driver is out: Latest NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Drivers for Windows 11

spapakons said:

Just subscribe to this thread to be notified when a new nVidia driver is out: Latest NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Drivers for Windows 11

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. If only this was an automated process where you don't need to search for your GPU. You'd think NVIDIA would have an app for that.

Sammy888 said:

Thanks for the link. If only this was an automated process where you don't need to search for your GPU. You'd think NVIDIA would have an app for that.

Click to expand...

It has. GeForce Experience notifies me of an update

Fabler2 said:

It has. GeForce Experience notifies me of an update

Click to expand...

Yes. But many who don't game or had issues with it have chosen to uninstall it.

If you want to see the model go to nVidia Control Panel and see the Information section. You can also click and search for updates from there.

Fabler2 said:

As for GPU drivers- I find that installing GeForce Experience keeps the drivers updated and WU doesn't doesn't offer Nvidia updates any more.

As for AMD GPU drivers it's a bit of a joke. Having tried all this, How to disable automatic driver install on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech ,
and even pausing WU, Windows still 'updates' the AMD GPU drivers regardless. I don't use third party apps to do it.
My workaround is this. Let WU update the AMD drivers then open Device Manager and make a note of the installed driver. Close Device Manager. Go to this site and auto detect drivers.

https://www.amd.com/en/support

Install what chipset drivers needed then install the GPU drivers and software. Will usually clean older driver in the process. Check Device Manager what the new driver is and make a note.
WU will once again install what it thinks is the AMD driver and possibly the Adrenalin software won't work any more (wrong edition blah blah)

Now go back to Device Manager select the 'proper' driver you made a note of and reinstall it via Device Manager. Usual route, Browse my comp for drivers, Let me pick from a list of available drivers..... , select driver and install and reboot. Leave the WU driver still showing in Device Manager ie. don't uninstall it via something like Rapr.
You should be left alone from WU now.
This works for me but maybe others have a better solution?

Click to expand...

I agree that Windows update doesn't always have the latest AMD and Nvidia drivers.

If you have a laptop with either an AMD or Nvidia GPU or an AMD chipset you have a dilemma. If you ask AMD or NVIDIA about drivers they say to stick to drivers from the OEMs website. They say the OEMs may modify their drivers it is best to stick with their drivers. The problem is that most OEMs stop providing driver updates after a year or two after the laptops release. I confirmed that position by asking support representatives myself. Laptop owners have to decide whether to play it safe or try driver updates from the AMD and Nvidia websites.

I have decided that both AMD and Nvidia may just be doing this for legal reasons so they will deny any fault if a laptop owner ignores their advice and downloads drivers anyways from the. I have decided that I will update drivers from AMD and Nvidia for my laptop. If there is a problem I will accept the consequences. I figure that is what backups are for.

MisterEd said:

I agree that Windows update doesn't always have the latest AMD and Nvidia drivers.

If you have a laptop with either an AMD or Nvidia GPU or an AMD chipset you have a dilemma. If you ask AMD or NVIDIA about drivers they say to stick to drivers from the OEMs website. They say the OEMs may modify their drivers it is best to stick with their drivers. The problem is that most OEMs stop providing driver updates after a year or two after the laptops release. I confirmed that position by asking support representatives myself. Laptop owners have to decide whether to play it safe or try driver updates from the AMD and Nvidia websites.

I have decided that both AMD and Nvidia may just be doing this for legal reasons so they will deny any fault if a laptop owner ignores their advice and downloads drivers anyways from the. I have decided that I will update drivers from AMD and Nvidia for my laptop. If there is a problem I will accept the consequences. I figure that is what backups are for.

Click to expand...

Exactly what I do. Pity that WU drivers offered would all be optional. It would save me all this faff of keeping the drivers I want.

I always ignore the OEM drivers warning and use latest drivers directly from AMD or nVidia. Only one or two models may not accept these drivers or have issues which are resolved by installing the OEM drivers. All other laptops never complained, never had any issue with using the official drivers. In some cases there may be a message that there is no compatible driver for device X in the latest package. If you extract the files in a folder and manually update the driver from Device Manager by choosing any model X from the list it works without any issue. This was the case for rather old AMD models.