Yes OneDrive and that "remote" BS in programs add remove they started adding, uninstall those.
I delete entire windows start menu and windows tools and add back only what I actually want through open shell. Simply can't stand bloated desktops or pointless icons.
Cleaner it is, less registry less process.
As for documents pictures and all that crap windows try to dictate how you use.
Documents is the only folder I keep for reasons you outline, all that is copied over.
Music, pictures, media are all on other partitions.
The only pics I copy over are lock screen and wallpaper.
Sniping I direct to another partition ( select the folder click properties click location and move )
I try to do the near perfect OS, absolutely nothing I don't use and fully setup all apps.
I then go into the fresh registry and export all changes, I then merge all those into one registry with winareo.
Fresh OS 1 click it does about 100 app settings would take hours manually.
Between winareo, explorer patcher and open shell exports/saves does the rest.
I then have 2 special folders for each tower.
1. Copy over anytime
2. Copy over once all installed
I then delete the entire MS start menu and drag and drop #2.
This replaces full start menu, desktop icons and pinned items.
Takes me a hour, 2 hours if I dawdle to do a fresh OS back to 101%
I will do those when I have major windows and drivers updates.
I see people in threads for days can't solve new issue.
In those circumstance a few hours I would be back to exact setup down to the icon placements.
Awesome tool for that is REICON
www.portablefreeware.com
So when you have desktop get muddled because of changing game resolutions or monitors one click fixes it. I make various profiles for various tower, monitor and res combos.
Explorer Patcher, Open Shell, Winareo are absolute must haves for me.
I would also disable log off , sleep and others.
You can then delete sleep storage and get back a heap of GB's depending how much memory you have.
My Windows 11 Pro is 23-24GB constantly looked after solely by AVG Tuneup, that leaves 70GB+ free
Malwarebytes Pro does the absolute best job blocking anything, stops 1,000s of hits per day.
Then I use through the router NordVPN
Nord Pass for passwords, never use a browser for passwords.
This system I do not get a single spam text email on any devices as they all connect to "through the router VPN" via wireless. I not kidding not a single thing on 2 towers, phone, 2 tablets or smart TV.
Always use Lan for your towers.
Also use advanced firewall to block heaps and export the profile to add to new OS.
You simply don't need to let every tool and app communicate, very few you need to.
As well overlooked are "standalone tools" most anything can be made that way.
No need to reinstall 90% of gear, these are just my main standalones.
All this is on a external Samsung 1TB SSD that can just be plugged into my other PC when
needed does exact same thing, universal.
This is type of folder I have for both towers makes setup so easy.
Here is my windows tools menu ........empty LOL
This is all I keep and some only because you can't delete them.
Winareo you can make right click context menu on desktop for all this crap.
But W11 won't let you hide all "windows tools" like it does in W10 for "admin tools" or there would be nothing.
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