What is the best windows version for offline use?

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam Discussions > Topic Details

я 22 Aug @ 6:58am

I'm done with windows 11 telemetry, so i decided to just don't go online anymore, i don't even enjoy playing multiplayer games lately anyways. what is the best windows version i can install?
oh and "best" would mean compatible with most games, specially old games and emulators.

The author of this topic has marked a post as the answer to their question.
Click here to jump to that post.

Originally posted by ペンギン:

Comparison: Windows 11 Enterprise vs. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC

Windows 11 Enterprise

- Base: Windows 11 Pro
- Features: Full enterprise set (AppLocker, Credential Guard, DirectAccess, advanced Group Policies, Windows Autopilot)
- Update model: Regular feature updates (if it is blocked, no matter anyway)
- Target: Medium to large organizations needing up-to-date features
- Includes: Microsoft Store, UWP apps, Xbox integration, modern features
- Support: Typically 36 months per release

Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)

- Base: Windows 11 Enterprise
- Features: Same core enterprise features, but without Microsoft Store, Xbox integration, Cortana or most preinstalled apps
- Update model: Security and quality updates only, no feature upgrades during lifecycle
- Target: Stable, fixed environments
- Advantages: Slimmer, more stable, no feature changes, extended support (10 years: 5 mainstream + 5 extended)
- "Disadvantages": No new features, limited compatibility with e.g. ms appstore

Most emulation stuff can run on both systems. LTSC is more debloated, no consumer apps and therfore less group policy rules. Both versions Enterprise and LTSC give full administrative access to Group Policy.

A free alternative would be a firewall such as Tinywall or Simplewall, WFC, block everything, plus block all Windows services and also game services via hosts files/DNS.

Because just avoiding Windows telemetry and snooping services alone is not enough. Games or in general additional software must be considered separately.

As example for games that would be Unity Analytics, for Epic Games, their API requests and telemetry services, Bethesda has their own and even emulators make queries to the net, be it for multiplayer functionality, trackers or garbage.

Another consideration would be to run an airgap system in general. Then you don't have to care about the version.

< >

Showing 1-5 of 5 comments

The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.

ペンギン 22 hours ago

Last edited by ペンギン; 21 hours ago

Drackmore 21 hours ago

windows 10 will suffice for many more years. Its capable of running old games and any game available for win11 is playable on win10.

Lystent 20 hours ago

I've noticed a "drop-off" in out-of-the-box compatibility with older software when transitioning from Win XP to Win 7. the transition from Win 7 to Win 10 wasn't as bad as that, and was also better than the transition from Win 10 to Win 11 (concerning, by then, very old software). I haven't really used emulators, though, so IDK how many of those issues would be fixed by such.

Another issue that may be already fixed by emulators would be the absence of support for 16 bit software in the all of the 64 bit Windows I've used. I'm certainly aware of DOS Box, which seems solid enough, for what little software I've used it on. The original game of the Worms franchise is available on Steam, and is shipped with DOS Box to run pretty well on Win 10. (Runs as good through Proton, even.)

Sugram22 20 hours ago

win 11 home, home is more user friendly, pro is called pro cause it requires u do be pro, if ur not pro its higher chance u F something up in ur machine

also linux mint

Originally posted by Drackmore:
windows 10 will suffice for many more years. Its capable of running old games and any game available for win11 is playable on win10.

10 will soon loose support, reason i was forced to upgrade to 11

Last edited by Sugram22; 20 hours ago

я 13 hours ago

Originally posted by ペンギン:
Comparison: Windows 11 Enterprise vs. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC

Windows 11 Enterprise

- Base: Windows 11 Pro
- Features: Full enterprise set (AppLocker, Credential Guard, DirectAccess, advanced Group Policies, Windows Autopilot)
- Update model: Regular feature updates (if it is blocked, no matter anyway)
- Target: Medium to large organizations needing up-to-date features
- Includes: Microsoft Store, UWP apps, Xbox integration, modern features
- Support: Typically 36 months per release

Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)

- Base: Windows 11 Enterprise
- Features: Same core enterprise features, but without Microsoft Store, Xbox integration, Cortana or most preinstalled apps
- Update model: Security and quality updates only, no feature upgrades during lifecycle
- Target: Stable, fixed environments
- Advantages: Slimmer, more stable, no feature changes, extended support (10 years: 5 mainstream + 5 extended)
- "Disadvantages": No new features, limited compatibility with e.g. ms appstore

Most emulation stuff can run on both systems. LTSC is more debloated, no consumer apps and therfore less group policy rules. Both versions Enterprise and LTSC give full administrative access to Group Policy.

A free alternative would be a firewall such as Tinywall or Simplewall, WFC, block everything, plus block all Windows services and also game services via hosts files/DNS.

Because just avoiding Windows telemetry and snooping services alone is not enough. Games or in general additional software must be considered separately.

As example for games that would be Unity Analytics, for Epic Games, their API requests and telemetry services, Bethesda has their own and even emulators make queries to the net, be it for multiplayer functionality, trackers or garbage.

Another consideration would be to run an airgap system in general. Then you don't have to care about the version.