Unattended Windows, are they worth it?

Apr 18, 2022 · 7 min read

Unattended Windows are popular among people with low-resource computers.

With each new version of Windows, low-resource computers become obsolete. Since 2020, Windows 7 stopped having official support from Microsoft and it was a system that went quite well with limited computers.

However, because of this, people with limited equipment found it necessary to turn to other options. For some, Linux operating systems with KDE, LXDE or XFCE desktops were the alternative.

However, if you play video games on your computer, they may not be fully compatible. That is why many resort to unattended or "light" versions of Windows to be able to continue using their computers. But it is important to mention that these are unsupported versions of Windows.

This time we are going to talk a little more about what these unattended Windows are and if they are really worth using or if they are the worst decision you can make.

What is an unattended version?

An unattended version is a version modified by third parties.

An unattended version of an operating system is simply a version that has been hacked or modified by independent developers. That is, these versions have their source code modified to “customize” or “optimize” them.

In this sense, we have that these versions are not official from the company that develops them. These versions lack security updates and features that the original versions do.

Independent developers usually remove certain “unnecessary” features or programs, in order to make the system lighter and less resource intensive.

What are the most popular unattended Windows?

Today there are several versions of Windows neglected and more and more are appearing.

However, there are some that have been on the market for some time and have a good reputation. Next, we will talk about some of the most popular unattended versions of Windows.

MiniOS

Windows MiniOs is one of the most popular unattended versions today.

Windows MiniOS is a light version of Windows, which is very well optimized for use on low-resource computers. This is one of the most popular versions today and one of the most used.

In this version you can find the versions of Windows 7, 10 and 11. In addition to being a more optimized version, it also has some extra features that make it an interesting option.

You can download the OS ISO from the project website. Additionally, it has a paid version, which is a version that is much more optimized. However, the free version is stable enough to use without any issues.

Windows Lite

Windows Lite is a project that offers a version of Windows with very low resources.

Windows Lite is another alternative which stands out for being an extremely light version. However, for this, a large number of functions and features that the original system has are sacrificed. Despite this, it is a version that works quite well and should not cause any problems.

This version of Windows uses Windows 10 as a base, so it is not as updated as MiniOs. But don't be fooled, it's a fairly mature and efficient version of the system.

Among some of the things that are sacrificed to offer this version we have the app store, Windows Defender, Cortana, Telemetry, Metro and a few other things.

Unattended version issues

Unattended versions have a lot of disadvantages.

As we have already mentioned, although these unattended versions can be quite good, they can also lead to other problems.

Next, we will tell you what are the main disadvantages or the main problems that these unattended versions of Windows have.

Lack of support and updates

Unlike the original versions of Windows, these are not supported or updated. That is, once you install it, it will stay that way forever. Even when you are going to update to a newer version of the unattended system you will have to install the operating system again.

This is quite a serious issue as Microsoft releases security updates from time to time to help keep your computer safe. By not having these updates, you will be vulnerable to any security flaw that exists in the system.

May contain malicious software

Although the most popular versions of unattended systems are now well tested and “reliable”, there are others that are not. Many hackers take advantage of people's need to offer lightweight systems that include malicious software.

There are too many things that can be added to such a system. But the most popular ones are spyware such as keyloggers, ransomware or credential theft software.

That is why it is not recommended to install any version you find on the net before making sure it is safe.

May lack features that may be important

These types of versions of Windows lack features that developers consider to be “unnecessary”. However, just because it isn't useful to them doesn't mean it isn't useful to you.

For example, one of the features that is often removed is Cortana (the Windows personal assistant). But there are many people who use it in their day to day and find it a necessary feature.

Light does not mean stable

You may think that having a Windows that weighs less is going to be more stable and fluid. But this is not always the case and in this market, anyone with a minimum of knowledge can make their own modified version.

This means that the network is full of light versions with a performance that leaves much to be desired, they can even be worse than the original version. This is because many times things that are really important are removed, causing conflict with other components.

Is it worth installing these operating systems?

There are some options that are much better than having to resort to unattended versions.

While unattended versions of Windows (or any other operating system) can be an option for those with low-end computers, they're not always recommended.

These should only be installed if your computer is not capable of running any other version. Also, preferably a computer that is not going to be connected to the internet or in a virtual machine for testing.

Better options are available before you're done resorting to an unattended version of Windows.

What other alternatives are there?

In the event that you have a computer with limited resources, you should know that there are some better ones that you should consider before installing an unattended version. Among the best options that you can choose we have the following:

Windows LTSC

This is a business version of Windows which is much lighter and more stable.

This is the enterprise version of Windows and it has extended support. The main advantage of this version is that it does not include some of the features that the traditional version has.

This is because it only has the necessary characteristics to be used in the business sector. That is why this version is lighter than a traditional version of Windows and offers you better performance.

But not only that, but since it is an original version, it includes support from Microsoft, so you will maintain an updated and secure operating system.

Linux

Linux is another quite interesting option that you should take into account.

Another option you have is to use Linux, unless you use your computer to play, this is a very good option. There are many Linux distributions that are very low-resource, even some you will be able to use them perfectly with 1 GB of RAM.

In addition, it is a fairly stable operating system and it will surely not give you any major problems.