: Choosing "Customize" instead of "Use express settings" allows you to toggle features like location services, browser protection, and error reporting. Post-Installation : Most settings can be adjusted in the section of PC Settings or via Group Policy for enterprise environments. Official Documents
: Configure appropriate Group Policy Objects to disable telemetry, control Windows Update behavior, and manage other privacy-sensitive features. : Choosing "Customize" instead of "Use express settings"
For modern users looking back, Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 represent the "Goldilocks" zone of privacy. They were advanced enough to support modern hardware and encryption, but they still retained the "offline sovereignty" of the past. The product key opened the door, but unlike today, the operating system didn't immediately start cataloging who walked through it. For modern users looking back, Windows 8
For Windows 8.1 (especially post-April 2023), Microsoft made extended security updates (ESU) conditional on installing the “Update for Customer Experience and Diagnostic Telemetry” (KB 2976978). This update—often silently included in the installation features key’s default package set—upgrades telemetry to “Full” level, sending detailed installation logs, registry keys related to features, and application usage data. For Windows 8