Winlink-programs-group: Windows 11 Smart App Control

[David Tanks]

As the message below says: DON'T BUY A WINDOWS 11S MACHINE!!!

David AD4TJ

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: W4PHS <ph...@philsherrod.com>

To: Winlink Programs Group <winlink-pro...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 09:03:59 AM EST

Subject: Re: [winlink-programs-group] Windows 11 Smart App Control

Do not buy a computer with 11S.

Phil, W4PHS

On Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 6:10:31 PM UTC-6 Michael Barnes wrote:

Just discovered Windows 11S. I was shopping for a new computer. The one I was thinking of said it had Windows 11S. At first I thought it was a typo and ignored it. Something gnawed at me and I looked further. Apparently Windows11S has a security feature that you can only install apps obtained through the M$ store. Supposedly there is a long convoluted process to disable it, but unclear if there is some kind of fee involved. Glad I realized it before purchasing. Paid a little more and ordered a Windows 11 Pro.

I'm not sure what this Smart App Control is. I've not seen it mentioned outside of this thread. I did not see that associated with Windows 11S.

Michael WA7SKG

On Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 11:26 George Ghanem <ggha...@gmail.com> wrote:

We use Windows 11 in our radio rooms and have 4 Packet stations all configured with Winlink Express and no difficulty in installing the software.

Did not have to turn off any Win11 capabilities to install them either.

On Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 3:23 a.m. Dominic ›OE7DRT‹ <freef...@gmail.com> wrote:

On 31.01.26 03:02, Scott Currie wrote:
> Keep in mind, if you turn off SAC, it cannot be turned back on. You will
> have to reload Windows.

Thanks, I didn't know that (not that I ever intended to enable this again).

Just for the protocol, I assume everyone using Winlink Express on
Windows 11 has disabled this.

Might be interesting to know how many people (percent) are using Windows
11 then.

-dominic

--
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
- Oscar Wilde

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