What to back up before switching to Windows 11?

[4K_240hz_MLED]

I was thinking installation executables of software, personal configurations/settings, and basic files (documents, photos, music, saves, etc). No don't tell me to just reinstall 10 and no I'm not installing Linux for my current PC because it has proprietary features and I have Nvidia GPU.

[Meladoom]

Your personal, one-of-a-kind files. Such as photos, "home video", game saves, work stuff, etc. That's it.

Everything else that you can easily* download again should be downloaded again.

*if you spent months looking for "that one underground videogame/book/movie/etc." and found it on some site that might be wiped by now, there's no problems backing it up (and making it easier for others to get it using various means)

[4K_240hz_MLED]

omfg why didn't Steam notify me i got 2 new replies?

yeah i just went with personal files as well as software installation executables and some other miscellaneous crap.

the downloading took under half an hour, but installing 11 took me like 2.5hrs.

[Meladoom]

"Subscribe to discussion" isn't on by default for OP, it seems.
lol

[Meladoom]

Highly recommend using Portable .exe's tho
Makes windows reinstall mandatory every 13 months instead of 12

[4K_240hz_MLED]

Originally posted by Meladoom2:

Highly recommend using Portable .exe's tho
Makes windows reinstall mandatory every 13 months instead of 12

Why would I reinstall Windows every year

[Elucidator]

BitLocker recovery keys
People often forget that

[4K_240hz_MLED]

Originally posted by Elucidator:

BitLocker recovery keys
People often forget that

my free trial of BitLocker ended years ago for Windows 10

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by Internalized Bigotry:

my free trial of BitLocker ended years ago for Windows 10

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/

BitLocker is part of Windows; its a free tool. There is no free trial.
It is enabled by default on newer systems, including windows home edition versions.
In fact, with the latest Windows 11 update they forcefully encrypt the boot drive and make you backup the rec key somewhere, which is a point of controversy.

Once you loose the bitlocker rec key, the drive cannot be accessed.

[4K_240hz_MLED]

Uh oh that's not good

[WraithTargundaMajarie]

Originally posted by NvidiaRadeonArc-69420_SuperXTi:

I was thinking installation executables of software, personal configurations/settings, and basic files (documents, photos, music, saves, etc). No don't tell me to just reinstall 10 and no I'm not installing Linux for my current PC because it has proprietary features and I have Nvidia GPU.

Your Life Support, lOl...