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### Use Rufus to Make a Special ISORufus is a widely used tool for crafting bootable USB drives for Windows or Linux installations. Fortunately, its developers have added a helpful feature: the ability to force a Windows 11 installation using only a local account. When creating your bootable USB with Rufus, you’ll come across this screen:
Check the boxes for “Create a local account with username” and “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account.”
I also enable options to bypass most hardware checks and disable data collection prompts. Since I never know where I’ll deploy this installer, it’s smart to keep all options open.
You Need To Learn Two Settings Menus
Microsoft continues its shift away from the traditional Control Panel in Windows 11. While in Windows 10 I rarely used the Settings app, in Windows 11 it’s unavoidable—many essential features exist only there.
That said, numerous familiar and vital settings still reside in the classic Control Panel.
To effectively troubleshoot Windows 11, you’ll need to navigate both interfaces with ease.
You'll Probably Want to Fix the Right-Click Menu
One of the most controversial changes in Windows 11 is the redesigned right-click context menu.
The detailed, full-featured menu from earlier versions has been replaced with a streamlined, modern version that shows fewer options. Not only are many choices hidden, but actions like copy, cut, paste, and rename now appear as square buttons, awkwardly positioned at the top or bottom depending on where you click.
You can access the classic menu by Shift-Right-Clicking, but that’s a hassle. For a permanent fix, consider applying a registry tweak to restore the legacy context menu by default.
The Start Menu Is a Big Waste of Space and Has Ads
The Windows 11 Start Menu is one of the most debated redesigns. It replaces the traditional app list—present in some form since Windows 95—with a large grid of icons that eats up screen real estate.
Even worse, the “Recommended” section includes ads cleverly disguised as app shortcuts.
Unless you’re open to third-party tools, you’re stuck with it. I personally use Start11 from Stardock, but there are also free and open-source alternatives available.
Related ##### I Use This App to Redesign the Windows 11 Start Menu
It's time for a Start Menu makeover.
5 Windows 11 Has Strict Hardware Requirements ---------------------------------------------It’s a common gripe, but worth repeating: Windows 11’s hardware requirements are overly rigid.
If you upgrade via Microsoft’s Update Assistant, you’ll be blocked early if your PC isn’t compatible. But if you go the manual route with a bootable ISO, you might waste time setting up an installation that ultimately fails.
The main culprits are usually the CPU and TPM—both tough to upgrade without replacing major components.
You can use Rufus to create a modified Windows 11 USB installer that bypasses these hardware checks. However, doing so comes with risks—Microsoft might stop supporting such systems in the future, and you could face stability or update issues.
Windows 11 Looks Better and Is Easier To Use
It’s not all criticism. Despite some questionable UI changes, Windows 11 improves on Windows 10 in nearly every visual and functional aspect.
The Settings app, which has been slowly absorbing features from the Control Panel, has undergone a full overhaul and is now far more intuitive.
File Explorer received a major facelift, introducing browser-like features such as tabs, making file management more efficient.
I upgraded from Windows 7 directly to Windows 10 after a short, painful experience with Windows 8. The sharp, flat design of Windows 10 always felt off compared to the softer, rounded look of Windows 7. In contrast, Windows 11 feels like the design evolution we should have had.
Windows 11 also includes promising features that haven’t fully taken off yet. DirectStorage, which could revolutionize gaming performance, is still not widely supported. And as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life, Windows 11 will be the only OS receiving ongoing updates and new features.
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The above is the detailed content of 6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Switching to Windows 11. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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