Solved Rufus Option: "Disable data collection (Skip privacy questions)" What does that do exactly?

I made a bootable flash drive for Windows 11 24H2 via Rufus. I selected the following options:



I then installed 24H2 but have no notion of what Rufus actually did over "Disable data collection (Skip privacy questions)". If during install you skip those questions what actually happens to Windows settings that would have been made if privacy questions had actually been answered? Does Rufus make things so that those questions are by default answered in such a way that maximum user privacy is preserved? Or does it mean the opposite — your Windows install is now a gapping hole for Microsoft and data collection?

It says no to all the privacy stuff. Blocks microsoft from collecting data with the questions it asks for like location etc. You can check it for yourself under settings under privacy. Signing in with a local account also limits data collection.


However, keep in mind most things microsoft collects is also what your web browser and internet service provider does. If your worried about privacy to that degree, you ultimately shouldn't use the internet. Your data is always getting collected from somewhere and something.

I don't use Rufus, but I would expect that it means automatically answering 'NO' to all the OOBE privacy questions.

You can see these questions in this tutorial, scroll down to step G):

G) Turn On (default) or Off the privacy settings you want, and click/tap on Accept when finished. (see screenshots below)

Click to expand...

What Rufus actually does is to skip the OOBE screen which asks you to update your Privacy Options, and disables Express settings.

Many IT folks will do the same thing as Rufus by inserting this code into autounattend.xml:

The next question is what are the Express settings? MS is deliberately vague on this topic, as I imagine the answer changes depending on which Windows (10 or 11) or edition you're on.
Just like the Privacy screen's questions change over the time. Basically it's "no" to them, and sets your Telemetry level to Basic.

If you're not using Enterprise, Windows will continue to send a "minimum" level of Telemetry back to MS. So a 3rd-party privacy tool is required if you absolutely want no data being sent.

Okay I'll take this query as being solved now. Thanks for the responses, appreciated.

Can you carry this Rufus 4.6 and the 24A2 26100.2605 from PC to PC or does the Flash Drive need to be a creation on the PC that's going to be updated?

I should work to install Windows on any PC. But do take into account that any selections you make, or don't make, while having Rufus create the bootable flash drive will be applied to all installations of Windows that you make on any PC.