March 24, 2026
Windows 11: now with extra gaslighting
Microsoft's "Fix" for Windows 11: Flowers After the Beating
Users compare Windows 11 ‘fix’ to getting flowers from a toxic ex
TLDR: Microsoft is trying to rehab Windows 11’s image with a “we’re fixing it” plan after years of forced cloud accounts, ads, and pushy AI tools. Commenters aren’t buying it, comparing it to a toxic ex bringing flowers and arguing over whether that “abuse” metaphor goes too far.
Microsoft just announced a 7‑step “we’ve changed, baby” plan to fix Windows 11… and the comment section instantly turned into group therapy for traumatized PC users. One top comment sums up the mood: these “flowers” from Microsoft “smell like shit,” followed by the obvious question — why are you still not on Linux or Mac?
Readers are furious that the so‑called fix doesn’t touch the creepiest stuff: forced online accounts, ads stuffed into a paid operating system, and a history of quietly tracking users. People mocked Copilot, Microsoft’s chat bot, for being jammed into every corner of Windows like glitter you can’t vacuum out, only for Microsoft to now ask for applause for “taking it out of your pocket.”
But the drama really kicks off when the article compares Windows to an abusive relationship. One commenter slams the metaphor as unfair to real abuse survivors, while others argue that the manipulation and “you have no choice” tactics feel emotionally similar. Meanwhile, another user drops a meme‑ready line: “Heartbreaking: The worst company you know just made a great point.” Add in complaints about distracting “slop” animations on the page itself, and you’ve got peak tech‑culture chaos: people mad at Microsoft, mad at the article, and mad at each other—yet all agreeing Windows 11 went way too far.
Key Points
- •Microsoft announced a 7‑point plan to address Windows 11 issues; Windows president Pavan Davuluri said in Jan 2026 the OS had “gone off track” and that engineers would “swarm” fixes.
- •Since Sep 26, 2023, Copilot icons and buttons were added across Windows 11 (taskbar, apps, menus), with the fix plan pledging to remove these injected entry points.
- •Update KB5036980 (Apr 24, 2024) introduced “Promoted” items in Start menu and other ad surfaces (lock screen, Settings, File Explorer, notifications); the plan promises “fewer ads.”
- •By Oct 2025, Microsoft had removed known workarounds for creating local accounts during setup; the article also claims telemetry is forced on Home/Pro, with full disablement only on Enterprise.
- •The article alleges OneDrive auto‑enables and affects local files, periodic screen captures were initially stored in plaintext, Windows 11 hardware requirements obsoleted ~20% of PCs, and Windows 10 ESU costs $30/year (consumer) and $61–$244/year (enterprise).