Microsoft keeps reinstalling Copilot, so I found a way to rip it out for good(www.howtogeek.com)
40 pointsby rolph24 days ago4 comments
  • chrisandchris24 days ago
    > Sometimes, uninstalling Copilot doesn't take it off the list of startup apps, so when you reboot your computer, it may come back.

    It is not yours anymore if you can't uninstall stuff. You may own hardware, but you do not own anything on it.

    • einsteinx224 days ago
      > It is not yours anymore if you can't uninstall stuff.

      But the article is literally instructions on how to uninstall it…also you can just uninstall Windows entirely.

      Like I get where you’re coming from, but let’s not pretend that Windows PCs are iPhones now just because of Microsoft’s annoying dark patterns (patterns they’ve been following for years before Copilot came out).

      • 63stack24 days ago
        There is really no need to split hairs here, Windows is definitely to be compared to iphones when it comes to how much you are in control.

        The instructions described in the article will stop working with the next Windows update, as copilot usage is tied to middle manager #78's KPIs at Microsoft.

        • tom_24 days ago
          Suppose you don't use Windows though. What's Microsoft going to do then?
          • BizarroLand24 days ago
            I think they would do the same thing that Apple does when you buy an android phone, to continue the metaphor
      • chrisandchris23 days ago
        It _does_, but I guess (and it would not be the first time) Microsoft will find a way to even undo that and reinstall Copilot with the next update.
  • tracker124 days ago
    Of you can do what 3% of Deskop/Laptop users in the US did last year and switch to Linux instead.
    • elheffe8024 days ago
      This is what I am strongly considering doing. In my list of games I regularly play only one or two don't fully support linux. I have 10, and ran never 11 so I dont get pestered, but the time is rapidly approaching for my semi-annual windows refresh. I am trying to find reasons to upgrade to 11 and so far the list is empty.
      • MattDaEskimo24 days ago
        PopOS is a great middle ground. It's an Ubuntu derivative (although they also recently released their own OS) that manages Nvidia drivers on your behalf.

        Gaming on Steam is extremely simple now, doesn't matter if it natively supports Linux. Valve has put a lot of effort into decoupling from Windows.

        Admittedly, there are still some issues, but 95% of the time it's fully functional. I'm mostly messing around with settings, not drivers.

    • simooooo24 days ago
      Where is that figure from?
  • pcthrowaway24 days ago
    Can you just add some settings to /etc/hosts to prevent microsoft's copilot servers from being reached?
    • tonyedgecombe23 days ago
      Windows bypasses the hosts file for Microsoft addresses.
    • wiredpancake24 days ago
      Probably breaks some other very important things in Windows.

      Not a foolproof solution though, you don't want to be constantly updating your hosts file every time Microsoft changes an endpoint to rename their product offering for the 3rd time this year.

      Of course this is where PiHole or some other DNS solution comes in, but ultimately a full uninstall would be preferable.

  • bfrog23 days ago
    Install Linux, never look at microspyware again.