Windows 81 And Windows Server 2012 R2 Privacy Statement For Installation Features Key Link May 2026

The privacy statement for these operating systems explicitly covers five core installation-time and post-installation features. When you click the key link above, you will find sections dedicated to:

During Windows 8.1 clean installation or first boot, you are presented with Express Settings or Customize. Express Settings enables the following data-sharing features by default: The privacy statement for these operating systems explicitly

Privacy note: Choosing “Customize” allows you to disable each of these individually before the OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) completes. Privacy note: Choosing “Customize” allows you to disable

This method respects the privacy statement’s opt-out guidance. The privacy statement for these operating systems explicitly

Published: October 2023 (Updated for Extended Support Context) Audience: IT Professionals, System Administrators, Compliance Managers

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 represented a pivotal shift for Microsoft. They moved the operating system from being a purely standalone product to a "service" connected to the cloud.