The primary resource for these specific installation features is the Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Privacy Statement
To review the complete official documentation, you can access or download the localized text file directly from the Microsoft Windows 8.1 Privacy Statement portal.
For IT administrators, managing privacy settings in is crucial. The Manage Privacy document on Microsoft Learn outlines: User Access Logging (UAL): How servers track user access.
While installation features set the baseline, your privacy settings can be fine-tuned at any time once you reach the Windows desktop. By navigating to (in Windows 8.1) or using the Server Manager features (in Windows Server 2012 R2), you can: While installation features set the baseline, your privacy
Uploads recovery keys and device identifier tokens securely to the user's cloud vault. Administrative Deployment: KMS and Privacy Control
informs users about data collection practices for features that can be configured during the initial installation and setup. Privacy Statement Summary
: This feature allows the setup process to check the internet for the latest installation files, including security updates and driver updates, to ensure a smoother installation. Privacy Statement Summary : This feature allows the
How usage data helps improve setup.
When you install and set up or Windows Server 2012 R2 , you are introduced to several features designed to improve system compatibility, security, and the overall user experience. Because these features inherently involve sending data over the internet to Microsoft, understanding exactly what information is collected, how it is used, and why it matters is a critical part of the setup process.
Earlier versions of Windows, including Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, remain subject to their own original privacy statements rather than the current Microsoft Privacy Statement. understanding exactly what information is collected
From a security and privacy standpoint, these operating systems should not be installed for daily use.
: This feature allows Windows to check for the latest installation files and driver updates during the setup process. To do this, it transmits information about your PC hardware to Microsoft to ensure compatibility.
A good post would likely cover these items from the Windows 8.1/2012 R2 privacy statement:
Several optional features active during installation have specific privacy impacts that users can control: