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If you must run Windows 10... #

Heaven help you:

Barring divine intervention, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 (formerly LTSB) may be the least bad option:

However, be aware that LTSC requires a volume license (VL) agreement, making onerous audits potentially more probable:

(despite Microsoft's own apparent need for a thorough inspection:

While five licenses are required to enter into a new VL agreement, they need not all be for LTSC. According to a rep I spoke with at a Microsoft Partner, this combination would work as an upgrade from a Windows OEM license (i.e., it would allow a user who bought a PC with Windows 10 preinstalled to run Windows 10 LTSC instead):

1x Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 Single Upgrade Open Business (KW4-00190)

4x Microsoft Identity Manager - 1 User CAL - Open Business (NK7-00031)

Here are links and prices from three well-known Microsoft Partners, though you should definitely confirm details with a rep before purchasing:

For those hapless souls stuck on Windows 10 Home or Pro, see:

Optimize-Offline, a Windows Image (WIM) optimization script which aims for "the removal of unnecessary bloat, privacy and security enhancements, cleaner aesthetics, increased performance and a significantly better user experience."

O&O ShutUp10, a portable app for tweaking Windows 10 security, privacy, and many other settings.

Further reading:

/windows | Nov 30, 2018

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