Tips for Windows 11 Pro Setup?

I'm just getting started with Blue Iris. I haven't installed anything yet, but I'm ordering a refurb i7-8700 off eBay.

I'm also a Mac and LInux guy and I don't know much about Windows.

What tips do you all have for me on setting up my Windows machine? Things like should I do automatic updates or not? Are there any unnecessary processes that run by default that I should remove? Things like that.

Thanks everyone!

You don't want to use the manufacturer version of windows so the first course of action is to got Microsoft website and download the media creation tool from their website to a USB drive and format the drive with that. This will eliminate all the manufacturer bloatware and most of the uncessary processes not needed.

Let it do the updates and then turn off automatic updates.

First, I'd suggest a PC that meets these minimum requirements ==>> Choosing Hardware for Blue Iris

As stated by wittaj above, using the Windows Media Creation Tool and a 16GB USB flash drive, perform a fresh install of Windows on the server. ==>> Create installation media for Windows

When installing Windows on the BI server, set up Local Account, not a Microsoft Account, as ==>> here.

Put Windows, the BI program and BI's "db" folder on a quality name brand SSD (I prefer Samsung) of at least 240GB size.

Send all BI video clips to a 3.5" surveillance-rated, spinning HDD such as a WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk.

Then, optimize BI's performance as here ==>> Optimizing Blue Iris' CPU Usage

Don't forget to set up sub streams also ==>> Sub Stream Guide

Follow these recommendations for BI's video clip storage allocations ==>> @SouthernYankee 's Standard Allocation Post

Consider a dual NIC schema on the BI server to keep the cams off the Internet ==>> Dual NIC setup on your Blue Iris Machine
See example schema at bottom.

Set up a VPN on a qualifying router ==>> OpenVPN on a Asus router

FYI, I've been relying heavily on the wiki for choosing hardware and the network setup you suggested is exactly what I'm setting up. And I'll be adding a surveillance-type spinning drive for storage.

I'm open for recommendations on a good NIC card to add, or even what chipset to look for.

Intel NIC. Personally installed BI (to test) on Windows Server 2016. I am more of a Linux person than Windows here.

The machine I'm looking at is a HP EliteDesk PC 800 G4 i7-8700. It has Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. Seller says I won't be provided with a key, though.

I'm not exactly sure how Windows licensing works. Is it tied to the motherboard and I can wipe and re-install and still be licensed?

hennends said:

The machine I'm looking at is a HP EliteDesk PC 800 G4 i7-8700. It has Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. Seller says I won't be provided with a key, though.

I'm not exactly sure how Windows licensing works. Is it tied to the motherboard and I can wipe and re-install and still be licensed?

Click to expand...

The Windows license is burned in the BIOS, so yes you can wipe it and reinstall with the media creation tool and will have a licensed copy. I just did that recently on the same model you are looking at.