Should I Upgrade robots computer to Windows 11?

Question

I've been running ARC on Windows 10 Home edition with no issues on an onboard mini computer mounted on my robot and connected through USB to three EZBs. It's been optimized and stripped down like suggested by @DJ here on this site using his Windows 10 Storage & Performance Tips here: https://synthiam.com/Support/Tips-to-Make-a-Robot/free-space-with-windows-10 . I keep getting warnings to do the free upgrade to Win 11 because support is going to stop. Also Win 10 keeps updating it's self even though I've tried to turn this off like stated in the above Performance Tips. It's annoying as each time this happens my robot stops working until I underact. Should I let it update to Windows 11 and if so will ARC run as good or better or worse then now with Win 10? I'm sure if I do I'll need to optimize again. Will the above Windows 10 Performance tips also apply to Windows 11? If it helps my mini computer is a Beelink Mini PC, EQ14 Intel Twin Lake N150(up to 3.6GHz) 4C/4T, 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD.

For the record, In the performance tips above @DJ says to turn off Windows Update. However each time I do this Update comes back to life like a horror film zombie. This is why I keep getting these update notices. I've researched a good way to permanently disable the update and it seems that Windows 10 Home version is missing a couple things that would let me preform one of the sure fire ways to do this. Windows 10 Pro does have it but MS support is ending for 10.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

DJ Sures · Answer

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it thats my perspective on this windows 11 update. It’s just Microsoft forcing a useless update at us. I won’t switch until i have to - when 10 has been fully discontinued.  im just surprised there isn’t more pushback from a legal standpoint about what they’re doing. The new windows 11 requires specific cpu types. This means landfills are going to be overloaded with computers. It’s such a bad thing for the environment.  plus what really bothers me is no morr handme down laptops. There’s less fortunate people and schools that can’t afford new stuff. Now they’re gonna not even be able to use our old stuff! microsoft seriously is the devil

Dave Schulpius · Answer

@DJ, tell us how you really feel about MS. LOL So, Do you have any advice on how I can get Windows update to stop bugging me with my Win 10 Home addition? Like I mentioned I've researched and tried over many times.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

OK, I guess I'm screwed. I noticed that Win 11 is now downloading on my robot's computer and is already at 70% done. As I understand it there is now no way to stop the download or upgrade. This is going to happen weather I like it or not. I must have clicked on the wrong button and let the devil in the door. UGH.  From what I understand I will have two weeks to roll back to Win 10. Well see. If not, I guess I'll have to reinstall Win 10 if this turns out a total s show.

DJ Sures · Answer

lol I think my two points are difficult to dismiss. Microsoft has to be knowlingly making a decision that will have the worlds biggest environmental and educational impact.

Athena · Answer

It sounds like you're in a bit of a bind with the Windows 11 update. While it's unfortunate that the update is already underway, there are a few things you can do to prepare and ensure that your robot continues to function smoothly with ARC: 1. Backup Your System: Before the update completes, make sure to back up all your important files and settings. This will help you restore your system if you decide to roll back to Windows 10. 2. Check Compatibility: Ensure that all your hardware and software, including ARC, are compatible with Windows 11. Most modern applications should work fine, but it's always good to double-check. 3. Reapply Performance Tips: After the update, you may need to reapply some of the performance optimization tips you used for Windows 10. While many of the tips should still be applicable, you might need to adjust some settings specific to Windows 11. 4. Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on how ARC and your robot perform after the update. If you notice any issues, you can troubleshoot or consider rolling back to Windows 10 within the two-week window. 5. Disable Windows Update: If you decide to stick with Windows 11, you might want to look into ways to manage Windows updates more effectively. While completely disabling updates can be challenging, you can set your network connection as metered to delay updates or use Group Policy Editor (if available) to manage update settings. If you find that Windows 11 doesn't meet your needs, you can always roll back to Windows 10 within the two-week period or perform a clean installation of Windows 10. If you need any assistance with ARC on Windows 11, feel free to reach out, and I'll be happy to help!

Dave Schulpius · Answer

OK, Upgrade is complete to Win 11. I now have Win 11 Home edition. Everything seems to be OK. Some stuff just looks a little weird and different.  I still need to dig through the OS and make sure things are uninstalled I don't need and other stuff turned off. Then I really need to permanently turn off the Update. @Athena mentioned using the Group Policy Editor. Hopefully Win 11 Home edition has it. Win 10 Home did not. That's what I've read will do the trick. Well see.  Thanks for the support.

Athena · Answer

I'm glad to hear that the upgrade to Windows 11 went smoothly! It's understandable that some things might look a bit different, but with a little adjustment, you should be able to get everything running just the way you like it. Regarding the Group Policy Editor, unfortunately, Windows 11 Home edition, like Windows 10 Home, does not include the Group Policy Editor by default. However, there are a few alternative methods you can try to manage Windows updates: 1. Metered Connection: You can set your network connection as metered, which can help delay updates. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Properties for your network connection and toggle on Set as metered connection. 2. Registry Editor: You can use the Registry Editor to make changes similar to what you would do with the Group Policy Editor. Be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can affect your system. You can find guides online for specific registry changes to manage updates. 3. Third-Party Tools: There are third-party tools available that can help manage Windows updates. Make sure to research and choose a reputable tool if you decide to go this route. 4. Windows Update Settings: You can also adjust the active hours and update settings in Settings > Windows Update to better fit your schedule and needs. If you need any help with ARC or further assistance with Windows 11, feel free to ask. I'm here to help!

Deleted · Answer

I just picked up a KAMRUI GK3Plus Mini PC, 16GB RAM, 512GB M.2 SSD Mini Computers,12th Gen Alder Lake N95 (up to 3.4GHz). It came with Windows 11 Pro. I wiped it clean and installed Tiny11 on it. ARC is working really well.

DJ Sures · Answer

That's awesome - sounds like Tiny11 is a good solution. Is this it? https://archive.org/details/tiny-11-NTDEV I searched google and came across that link. Wondering if there's a newer one, or is that the one we should expect to use?

PJ_Dtechy · Answer

The above profile is me, will delete it later. Accidentally created a second profile by signing with Google. But yes that is the correct one. I usually use this download link instead: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/7578-tiny11.html Due to download speed, take me less than 3 minutes to download.  Fully legal, so will grab whatever license embedded in the PC motherboard.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Hi PJ_Dtechy. Good to hear from you again and thanks for chiming in with the advice.  So if I understand, to use this version you pointed to I need to delete my current OS (maybe by formatting?) and install this one? Could I just reinstall this? I'll personally look into the process but thought you may have some insight.   Also, Did you have any issues with installing drivers after your install of Win 11 tiny? I remember I've had to do some searching the computer manufactures drivers and installing them to get WIFI and a bios feature I needed to get things working after I installed WIN 10 Home.

PJ_Dtechy · Answer

Hi Dave, You're spot on. To use the version I mentioned, you’d typically need to either format your drive or install it as a fresh OS. However, if your current setup is stable and functional, I wouldn’t rush to reformat unless you're ready for some tinkering. Tiny11 is fantastic for streamlined performance but does require a bit of legwork to get everything configured. In your case, if you're curious to try it out but hesitant to wipe your current OS, you could install Tiny11 on a separate partition or even test it in a virtual machine to get a feel for it. This way, you can explore without impacting your main setup. Regarding drivers, my experience with Tiny11 has been smooth. Most basic drivers (display, network, and Wi-Fi) worked out of the box. The only exceptions were the USB-to-serial driver and the Arduino driver, which I had to download manually. Tiny11 doesn’t include a browser, which I personally love for its minimalism. I went with Opera for its lightweight nature and installed ARC of course. For a bit of fun, I tested the mini PC powered by a 12V drill battery with a DC converter (12V to 2A), and it performed surprisingly well, running for about 30 minutes.

DJ Sures · Answer

I have an n95-style mini pc as you described, and it sounds like Tiny11 is the right way to go. I will try it on that to test for the forced win11 migration.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Thanks guys for the input. And thanks so much PJ_Dtechy for the quality tips and sharing your experience.  As you mentioned I'm really not in a rush to dump my current Win 11 home OS install. Everything seems to be running on my Beelink Mini PC, EQ14 Intel Twin Lake N150(up to 3.6GHz) 4C/4T, 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD just fine. I really see no performance difference after upgrading from Win 10 Home version. Everything feels snappy. I really see no lag even working headless on a remote laptop over my home wifi network. However I still want to go through the OS and make sure the performance and storage tips @DJ lists for Win 10 are still in place. If not then I'll update them.  I'd be more inclined to move to the Win 11 Tiny if it gave me a much faster boot into the OS and auto start up of ARC then the full versions do. Right now on my full install of Win 11 home version it takes 42 seconds from Computer power up until ARC starts the INT script. That's really not too bad really.  The only issue I really needed to address was making the Windows Auto Update stop. Seems like the only real way to do that is through the Group Policy Editor or directly changing the setting in the Registry it's self. Moving to the Win 11 Tiny may not give me the Group Policy Editor I want either.  However I did find a way to install the Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 and 11 Home editions. Here's a video where the author shows in simple terms how to make a .bat file you can click on and have the Group Policy Editor install done for you:  In short you simply use Notepad, insert the code he provides and save it on your windows desktop you want to install GPE on. Important: Right click on the new .bat file then run as Administrator. Everything is then done for you. I called my file Groupolicy.bat . So you don't have to go digging around, here's his code to place in the .bat file:
@echo off pushd "%~dp0" dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package~3*.mum >List.txt dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package~3*.mum >>List.txt for /f %%i in ('findstr /i . List.txt 2^>nul') do dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i" pause

Now, once the GPE is installed into your Win 10 or 12 Home edition OS do this to stop your Windows Auto Update:
Click on Windows key + R key to open the Run *Type in gpedit.msc, then click on the top result to launch the local Group Policy Editor. *Navigation to the following path: Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Update>Manage end user experience *Double click on the "Configure Automatic Update" policy on the right side. *Select the disable option to permanently turn off automatic updates on Windows 11. *Click the "Apply" button. *Click the "OK" button. After completing these steps, Windows 11 will automatically stop downloading and installing updates.

I did the above after my upgrade to Win 11 home edition and it was pretty simple. I think it took me all of 5 minuets. Now for the acid test, did it work? We'll see. I'll let you know if the Zombie walks again.  There are instructions easily found on the internet on how to do this directly in Windows Registry but I'll let the ones with nerves of steel find them and walk that path.   I hope this helps someone in need.

RoboHappy · Answer

This is good to know, been wondering if Win11 was gonna be a problem. Im thinking of upgrading my tablet since its display cracked a little. Need a super boot up speedy computer, and I'm too impatient. 42 seconds seems too long of a time for me, I'd prefer "blink of an eye" access, the moment that power button is pressed, lol

Dave Schulpius · Answer

@RoboHappy , I agree that a very quick boot up to a functioning robot would be great. I'm impatient also. My first onboard computer was a Rock Pi and it took well over 2 minutes to go from power on to the INT script in ARC starting. Ugh. The graphics laged also. Then I upgraded to the Beelink Mini I mentioned above. It was running Win 10 home and took about one minute to get up and running. I was very happy with cutting the boot up in half and working it headless felt snappy unlike with the Rock Pi. Now with the Win 11 Home upgrade the boot up process to a functioning robot is down to 42 seconds.  To assist with waiting for the robot to reach the point where ARC's INT script takes over I have a stand alone audio system in the robot that activates at power up and plays a start up sound file. It's the robot's voice saying things like "loading main computer system, Then he names a bunch of his circuits that are starting up (like Alpha, Bata, Detent... and a bunch of other stuff) then finishes up by saying something like "Main computer boot sequence completed, all my circuits are functioning perfectly". It's an entertaining way to wait for the robot to be ready. I even have animation and voice files playing while ARC's int script is really setting up the robot. That takes a couple minutes also.  If you're interested here's a recent video I made of the my robot's sound system and how the robot starts up. This Youtube link is qued to start where I show the stand alone sound system (it's a CF 3 Sound system) and the start up procedure I mention above. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/mfzzpkuItJo?t=331

RoboHappy · Answer

@Dave,  The video is awesome. Thanks, that's got me thinking now . My computer is external, a Fusion5 Win10 tablet.

PJ_Dtechy · Answer

I time my mini PC Today on tiny11, KAMRUI GK3Plus Mini PC, 16GB RAM 512GB M.2 SSD Mini Computers,12th Gen Alder Lake N95 (up to 3.4GHz) Micro PC, 2.5''SSD, Gigabit Ethernet, 4K UHD, WiFi, BT, VESA/Home/Business Mini Desktop Computers.

Only took 17 seconds from the time I push the power button and auto log into Windows Tiny11.

Dave Schulpius

Should I Upgrade Robots Computer To Windows 11?

Upgrade to ARC Pro