# Please recommend Software for Windows backup **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981 "2026-01-24T15:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/61 "2026-02-02T22:28:11Z")
I’ll consider it. The Ebay lapto has Win 11 installed. There’s no backup media with it. I’d probably have to purchase a hard drive and OEM version of Windows from New Egg. Maybe the home version would save me $$. btw, you can google a processor for the date Intel Core i7-1165G7 was released on September 2, 2020 It’s 5 years old. 6 this coming Sept But much better than the i5 laptop that I first linked. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/62 "2026-02-02T22:37:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m learning Python and programming. > I don’t want to be restricted by a home version of Windows. It probably wouldn’t matter for Python programming. Pro doesn’t add any programming-specific features, just a bunch of IT controls, group policy editor, some virtualization, etc.: [Windows 11 Pro vs Home: What's the difference? | Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/windows-11-home-vs-windows-11-pro#section-windows-11-home-vs-pro-virtualization) You can also just pay to upgrade Home to Pro later on if you ever need to. Don’t let that alone drive a laptop purchasing decision. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Here’s an Dell Latitude with i7 processor. > Extra $100 compared to an i5 It seems fine? It’s a fair price for a used machine with fair specs. But I don’t really know what you’re looking for overall. Like, that’s not a bad machine by any means, but it’s also not a particularly outstanding deal. I don’t know if you have a particular budget or timeline in mind, or are just window shopping. This is one of those situations where undoubtedly there is a better deal out there _somewhere_ if you care to dig for it or wait for a sale, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed by decision fatigue. > [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve always bought these cast off Corporate computers. I’ve never bought a new Dell for my own use. I get that, and it’s a great way to get a good computer for less money. I’ve bought and sold many used/refurbished laptops. But in your case, this whole thing just kinda quickly snowballed from an initial discussion about backups and hard drives, so I’m not too sure what you’re looking for, at what budget and timeline 😅 > [@aceplace57](#): > > The Ebay lapto has Win 11 installed. > There’s no backup media with it. It’s fine; no need to go out and buy another license. The activation is probably tied to the hardware anyway. If you need backup media, just make one yourself. But Windows Reset can redownload & reinstall Windows from the internet anyway, and it should just automatically reactivate. Laptops with Home are typically a tiny bit cheaper — not by much. Windows is a lot cheaper to OEMs than it is for you at retail. But if you’re shopping used small-business laptops like Latitudes, they would probably have Pro included anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/63 "2026-02-02T22:38:03Z")
So to save money, you plan to purchase a used ex-corporate Windows 11 notebook computer. But then you plan to buy a hard drive and OEM version of Windows. Why? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/64 "2026-02-02T22:42:50Z")
I really need 1 TB storage. I don’t want to find myself running out of space again in 2 years. All the refurbished Dells that I found listed were 512 GB drives. That seems to be standard. I wouldn’t buy Windows unless forced too. I’m not sure what will happen if I clone the smaller drive with Win 11 and move it to a 1 TB. It might trigger the license validation? A few years ago, it was required to buy a hard drive and the OEM Windows. That satisfied Microsoft requirements to install OEM Windows on New Hardware. Is that still true? The retail version of Windows is high $ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/65 "2026-02-02T22:47:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve always bought these cast off Corporate computers. I’ve never bought a new Dell for my own use. You might consider looking at the Dell used computer listings. I don’t know what it is in the US but in Canada it’s part of Dell Financial, and they list lots of nice stuff that is coming off corporate leases. My current Dell Optiplex desktop is a former corporate lease and is the best, most solid computer I’ve ever owned. I’ve bought one desktop and two laptops from their off-lease program, and all have been fine, but be aware that when I bought them – and probably still today – they come with generic vanilla operating systems that are **not** configured for the specific machine, so you have to identify and download the right drivers to get full functionality, and in many cases you have to install the drivers in a specified order. So it definitely wasn’t a case of “just turn it on, and everything works”. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/66 "2026-02-02T22:52:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wouldn’t buy Windows unless forced too. I’m not sure what will happen if I clone the Win 11 and move it to a 1 TB. > > It might trigger the license validation? Why don’t you try it first? It’ll probably be fine, and if not, you can always try reactivating it: [Reactivating Windows after a hardware change - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665). Apparently it helps if you associate the license to your Microsoft account first (as in booting up the computer and logging in, before cloning it to a new drive). Buying a whole Windows license just to upgrade a drive should be a last resort, not the first option… > [@aceplace57](#): > > A few years ago, it was required to buy a hard drive and the OEM Windows. Two different things. That’s a loophole that some sellers use in order to _sell_ you a new OEM copy of Windows without a whole computer. For activation/reactivation purposes, though, Windows has some sort of magical internal “how much hardware has changed” threshold that it uses to calculate whether a reactivation is required. Changing a drive alone shouldn’t be enough to trigger it; usually it takes at least a motherboard change. Also, if data storage is your main concern here, have you thought about just getting an external SSD? That way your computer processing needs (how fast it is) isn’t tied to how much space you need (your accumulation of files). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/67 "2026-02-02T22:59:06Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > But in your case, this whole thing just kinda quickly snowballed from an initial discussion about backups and hard drives, so I’m not too sure what you’re looking for, at what budget and timeline 😅 This came as a surprise to me too. I thought my storage was adequate two months ago. Since then I installed Python IDE, and some other software. I think the cumulative Jan 2026 Win 10 update ate a lot of space. I was not happy to see only 30 gb remaining on my 128 gb drive. My next thought was that it’s time to buy a bigger drive. But, why spend over $200 on an old Win 10 box that can’t be upgraded to Win 11? That then leads to a buying another used laptop. @Reply warned me against an obsolete i5 processor. The Dell’s with i5 are $250 and i7 $350. It’s worth the extra $ to get a more recent processor. I want to be certain this time that I have enough storage space for the next 3 years. 1 TB drive then. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/68 "2026-02-02T23:10:14Z")
Man, that Reply guy, always unnecessarily complicating things… 😆 Anyway, I wouldn’t say the difference between an i5 and i7 is necessarily worth it, but a difference between several _generations_ might be — the i7 you mentioned _happens to be_ 3 generations newer. But there are also i5s of that generation, e.g. [this one from the same seller](https://www.ebay.com/itm/286601719329) can be configured with an i5th 10th or 11th gen, a 1 TB SSD, 16 GB RAM, and either Windows 11 Home or Pro. Might save you some hassle. But I’d also reiterate that if you frequently like to upgrade with used components, a desktop might be a better long-term option here. Get a good-enough desktop, add a big SSD, then someday you can splurge on a nice monitor + speakers, etc., and keep those even if you upgrade the drives, CPU, motherboard, etc. piecemeal. With a laptop, half the money you spend on it ends up buying a crappy screen, crappy keyboard, etc. all over again. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/69 "2026-02-02T23:17:54Z")
I appreciate all the advice @Reply The water gets deep fast with hardware upgrades. There’s lots to consider and learn. I liked my current laptop and would have upgraded the HD. But, the new Windows 10 support expiration at the end of 2026 will get here quickly. I don’t want my exposed butt on the Internet in 2027 without any Windows updates. Hackers will quickly exploit every weakness in Win 10. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/70 "2026-02-02T23:30:53Z")
Yeah, it’s a lot, isn’t it? It can totally be a rabbit hole… If I were in your shoes, knowing what (little) I know based on what you’ve said so far (you like music, need more space, want to learn Python, prefer to buy used, don’t really need an upgrade right now but would consider it)… what about this: - Get an external drive for now, like a [2GB SSD for $180](https://www.bestbuy.com/product/crucial-x9-pro-2tb-external-usb-c-ssd-space-gray/JX8PSKCJY7). Move your big files onto it (music and pictures or whatever). - Just ride out Windows 10 as long as you can. - When it nears its end of support, you can take your time to carefully think about what you want to do next, whether it’s just paying for a Windows 11 upgrade (cheapest & easiest) or upgrading hardware. - At that time, you can ask for advice here again, or check YouTube, etc. - You won’t need to move your biggest files because they’re still just on your external drive. Connect it to the new computer and you’re done! There’s no particular rush to do any of this; no need to preemptively complicate your life, no matter what that guy Reply says 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/71 "2026-02-02T23:46:02Z")
Ok. btw, to clarify. I need to look at the ix processor number and the generation? Google gives a exact version date For Intel Core i7-1165G7 as Release date Q3/2020 Link [https://cpu-benchmark.org/cpu/intel-core-i7-1165g7/?\_\_cf\_chl\_tk=y0aOzqIyLEFWvHePx9iarEWinqcJCrzGTNKSHbvzU.I-1770075415-1.0.1.1-dd4y8EWCZSGlYVIOEzcQHJEYxEoZnOg80W9EzVMBCWg](https://cpu-benchmark.org/cpu/intel-core-i7-1165g7/?__cf_chl_tk=y0aOzqIyLEFWvHePx9iarEWinqcJCrzGTNKSHbvzU.I-1770075415-1.0.1.1-dd4y8EWCZSGlYVIOEzcQHJEYxEoZnOg80W9EzVMBCWg) That’s helpful to know. Dell will give a build date from the serial number. I built and sold pc’s until 2012. I bought the motherboards, cpu,memory and tower cases from Newegg. The power supply was my breaking point. They kept changing the damn things. I carefully spec’d a motherboard and power supply for my last client. The motherboard had one required power tap that my $100 power supply didn’t support. I had to return it to Newegg and buy a power supply with all the correct octopus power leads. I was burned out trying to keep up with cpu changes and the type of memory that was required for compatibility. I built pc’s for clients from 1993 to 2012 and had seen every new CPU and type of memory as it came out.My first build used a Intel 486 and then I built a bunch of Pentiums. You remember the first 486? It was really a 386 pretending. There was an extra coprocessor chip that was required to give it the balls of a real 486. The power supply changes were the last straw for me. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/72 "2026-02-02T23:48:46Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > The first digit or two after the i5 tells you the generation, eg an i5-4300U is 4th gen, that laptop’s i5-8365U is 8th gen. We’re up to 13 or 14 now Just like 1980 isn’t 20 years, ago, we’re way past that… The i3/5/7/9 series went up to the 14th generation, and Intel just released the third generation of their new line that is the successor to the i3/5/7/9 CPUs. My main laptop is still a 10th generation i7, and it’s fine. I don’t really have plans to upgrade, particularly with component prices being what they are. For the right price, a used 10th generation (or newer) Intel would be a good computer. The main thing necessary when buying used computers is to do some sanity checking into what the same budget could get you new. An off lease office computer from Dell is likely to be better than an equivalently priced bargain basement new computer. As to the whole CPU line versus generation thing, it can get complicated. My laptop’s i7-10th gen CPU was faster at _CPU things_ than an i3-11th gen desktop I was using for awhile. For the builtin graphics, the 11th gen chip was faster, though. None of the integrated graphics are as fast as the Nvidia discrete GPU in my laptop. That mobile Nvidia GPU is not quite as fast as a 10 year old desktop Nvidia GPU. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/73 "2026-02-02T23:57:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I need to look at the ix processor number and the generation? It’s complicated… and they recently changed it too (edit: and see echoreply’s post). See [here for an explanation](https://www.corsair.com/us/en/explorer/gamer/gaming-pcs/intels-new-naming-scheme-explained/), but basically it’s something like 3/5/7/9 for the “tier” within a generation, followed by the generation, and the last letter is its family (like U is for low-power laptop chips, H for desktop-grade but used in a laptop, K for overclock-friendly, etc.). That’s just Intel; AMD uses their own scheme. Personally I just skip all that and head to the benchmarks, like you did. Just type in “Intel blahblah vs Intel blahblah” and you’ll usually find a comparison somewhere, with benchmark numbers that are good enough to give you a rough idea of how much faster something is, or isn’t. It’s complicated because a desktop CPU will usually be quite a bit faster than a laptop CPU a few generations ahead (due to their different levels of electricity and heat allowed). Or within mobile CPUs, some generations the AMDs are faster, other generations the Intels are faster, and some generations are bigger leaps than others. All in all, if two CPUs are close, I wouldn’t even worry about it — probably not big enough of a difference to tell. It’s when you get into 2x to 3x performance differences (usually takes about a decade) where it might actually start to matter in everyday use. > [@aceplace57](#): > > I was burned out trying to keep up with cpu changes and the type of memory that was required for compatibility. Understood completely. Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass to keep up with. I stopped for 10-15 years too and just recently got back into it in order to try some PC games I’d missed out on. Ended up just buying a prebuilt from Costco because it was cheap and simple. BTW, if you’ve never considered Macs… their laptops are miles ahead of PC laptops right now. For the first time in my life, Microsoft is finally considering doing something about it with the Snapdragon ARM PC chips and Windows for Arm. That might be another reason to wait — to see if Arm on Windows actually takes off enough to supersede the current x86 machines. That change will be far bigger and more meaningful than the change from 10 to 11 (which is really just a money-grab). It took Apple Silicon to really get Intel and AMD off their asses, and Qualcomm interested in desktop computers again. Before that, there was like a decade of stagnation. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/74 "2026-02-03T00:26:06Z")
I remember now. The 286 and 386 had a socket for a math coprocessor chip aka fpu. The earliest 486sx had its fpu disabled (floating-point unit) The 486dx was 💪 Most builders didn’t include the Dx unless the client requested it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/75 "2026-02-03T00:35:23Z")
Personally, I would opt to buy a brand-new computer, with any modifications (like the one-terabyte drive) I want, rather than buying something several years old and then replacing the storage. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/76 "2026-02-03T00:43:17Z")
Coincidentally I know the perfect guy to call for a new PC. @Reply Nah, I’ve bugged this guy enough. He’s tapped out. Calling Link [https://youtu.be/oJxTHMygpDY?si=lyrG\_8zI0o3V2U4B](https://youtu.be/oJxTHMygpDY?si=lyrG_8zI0o3V2U4B) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/77 "2026-02-03T00:55:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I would opt to buy a brand-new computer, with any modifications (like the one-terabyte drive) I want, rather than buying something several years old and then replacing the storage. With laptops this can get very complicated when on a budget. A used $500 laptop might have a very good screen, a metal frame or body, and be generally well built, because when new it was $2000. A new $500 computer will be faster, possibly with more RAM and storage, but will be all plastic, have a lower quality screen, and will generally _feel_ like a cheap computer. Lots of people think their laptop that was $2000 five years ago is now worth $1500, so it requires knowing what you’re looking at if you want to enter the used market. > [@Reply](#): > > their laptops are miles ahead of PC laptops right now The Apple Silicon processors are really nice. Right now I’m using my “walking around laptop” which is a Mac Air M2. At full throttle the M2 benchmarks faster than my main laptop’s i7-10750H, and the M2 is much more power efficient. That isn’t the interesting part, though. If I run the M2 in low power mode, I get probably 80% of the performance of the i7 with 4-5 times the battery life. I can truly treat the M2 like my phone. I can use it unplugged “walking around” during the day, and then just plug it in at night. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/78 "2026-02-03T00:58:41Z")
Here’s an opportunity for me to give back. Sharing tech info should be a two-way street. I suggest bookmarking for when you need it. > **[How to bypass internet connection to install Windows 11 - Pureinfotech](https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-internet-connection-install-windows-11/)** > > To install Windows 11 without internet connection and using local account, in the OOBE using Shift + F10 and run the OOBEBYPASSNRO command. **Accessing bios from Windows is new too me.** > **[How to Enter BIOS (Windows 10 & 11) - GeeksforGeeks](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/techtips/how-to-enter-bios-windows-10-11/)** > > Your All-in-One Learning Portal: GeeksforGeeks is a comprehensive educational platform that empowers learners across domains-spanning computer science and programming, school education, upskilling, commerce, software tools, competitive exams, and... ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/79 "2026-02-03T09:40:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Take the time and expend the effort to name your stuff correctly the first time. I have tried a naming scheme (ironically suggested before AI, somewhere on the web about 20 years ago, but this is AI generated) like this: > [@](#): > > **`YYYY-MM-DD_ProjectName_Description_Version.ext`**. Use ISO 8601 dates (YYYY-MM-DD) for chronological sorting, avoid spaces (use underscores or hyphens), and keep names under 30–35 characters. The article I read all those years ago suggested adding `ProjectName_Description` to the subject of all emails related to the project, so finding related conversations could easily be found. I added source control reference as well, because it is always nice to have a easy to search electronic “paper-trail”… ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981/80 "2026-02-03T11:56:10Z")
> How to bypass internet connection to install Windows 11 Note that this is not just for an “install”, but also for initial setup of a new computer. It’s a useful option to know about, and I had it ready in case I had to use it, but as it turned out, it wasn’t necessary. When setting up my new Win11 laptop, WiFi wasn’t available because … reasons. The laptop didn’t have an Ethernet port, so I got a USB-Ethernet adapter but it would only work if Windows already had a built-in driver for it. As it turned out, it did, but otherwise I would have had to go the no-internet route for initial setup. The odd thing about this command is that it restarts the setup process and now presents the option “continue setup without an internet connection?”. Why the hell could that option not have been there in the first place? Apparently because Microsoft wants as much control of your computer as possible through the internet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-software-for-windows-backup/1026981.md?page=3)