Unofficial Windows 11 requirements bypass tool allows disabling all AI features

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Bypass tool and installation workarounds

  • The linked tool (Flyby11 on GitHub) bypasses Windows 11 hardware checks and now disables AI features; commenters note similar long‑standing tools (e.g. Rufus) can also strip TPM/online‑account requirements by tweaking installer flags.
  • Some wonder why Microsoft tolerates such tools on GitHub; others argue Microsoft likely prefers people stay on Windows (even pirated/unsupported) rather than move to Linux.

Hardware requirements, support windows, and legality

  • Many are angry that relatively recent CPUs (e.g. Threadripper 2000, Kaby Lake) are excluded, viewing it as forced upgrades and e‑waste.
  • Others counter that:
    • No law requires new OS versions to support old hardware.
    • Windows 10 + LTSC + ESU already give ~9–11+ years of updates, better than many OSes and phones.
    • Some “unsupported” CPUs actually run Windows 11 fine if you bypass checks.
  • Several predict Microsoft will quietly extend Windows 10 security updates despite formal EOL, because the install base is huge and “unsupported” may mostly matter to auditors.

Telemetry, AI, and “enshittification”

  • Strong sentiment that modern Windows is hostile: ads, telemetry, bundling (OneDrive, Teams, Copilot), dark patterns, forced online accounts, and feature updates that re‑enable removed bloat.
  • Users resent needing third‑party tools to disable unwanted features and fear Microsoft can undo tweaks via updates.
  • Some describe elaborate setups (metered connections, LTSC, shell replacements, tweak frameworks) just to make Windows tolerable.

Alternative Windows SKUs and stripped builds

  • Many advocate Enterprise/IoT LTSC as the “secret good Windows”: minimal bloat, no feature updates, far less telemetry, and good stability, including for gaming.
  • Others mention unofficial “modded” Windows builds that strip components, while warning about breakage risk and licensing gray zones.
  • A proposed “Windows OPTIMAL” SKU (no telemetry/ads, max performance) is seen as unlikely because it would expose how anti‑consumer the default editions are.

Linux (and BSD) as escape hatches

  • A sizable group has switched or is preparing to switch to Linux (often Mint, Fedora, KDE, Arch) citing: better control, improving gaming via Proton/Wine, and disgust with Windows 11.
  • Enthusiasts claim most everyday tasks and many games “just work,” and suggest gradual migration (VMs, dual‑boot, cross‑platform tools).
  • Others push back:
    • Desktop Linux still has “sharp edges” (driver issues, suspend/monitor quirks, configuration via terminal).
    • Hardware support is uneven; success often depends on specific laptops or peripherals.
    • They would not recommend Linux desktops to non‑technical users yet.
  • Some propose Macs for people who don’t want to tinker, with Linux better suited for those willing to understand their system.
  • BSD and illumos are briefly mentioned as alternatives for those avoiding “Linux monoculture.”

Gaming, creative tools, and lock‑in

  • Linux gaming support is praised but gaps remain, especially for popular multiplayer titles with invasive anti‑cheat and for certain audio/MIDI hardware.
  • Professional dependence on Adobe and niche music tools (e.g. Maschine, Native Instruments gear) keeps many tied to Windows.
  • Workarounds like GPU/USB passthrough to Windows VMs on a Linux host are discussed but are niche and hardware‑dependent.

Windows technical merits vs user experience

  • Several note Windows is technically interesting and has a strong, stable ABI for desktop apps; it remains the main platform for commercial desktop software.
  • WSL1 is seen as an ambitious syscall‑compat layer that ran into Windows I/O limitations; WSL2 is “just a VM,” undermining the original vision.
  • Some muse about a hypothetical Linux‑based future Windows, but others argue Microsoft would never surrender the control needed for ads/telemetry.