Windows 81 And Windows Server 2012 R2 Privacy Statement For Installation Features Key Link 〈2027〉

Windows 8.1 & Windows Server 2012 R2: Privacy Statements for Installation Features

Published: April 2026
Applies to: Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry

During the "Express Settings" phase of the installation wizard: Windows 8

Do not use Express Settings: Choose "Customize" instead.
This allows you to turn off:
- Sending browsing history to Microsoft (SmartScreen).
- Automatic updates for third-party apps.
- Location services usage by apps.

Obtain the installation media (ISO) for your specific edition.
Mount the ISO or extract the \sources\sxs folder.
Install the feature using DISM (Deployment Imaging and Service Management) with the local source parameter:
```
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /all /source:D:\sources\sxs /limitaccess
```
The /limitaccess switch prevents Windows Update from being contacted, thus triggering no telemetry.

This method respects the privacy statement’s opt-out guidance. Do not use Express Settings: Choose "Customize" instead

Work Folders: Allows users to sync work data to their personal devices (BYOD support).
Storage Tiering: Automatically moves frequently accessed data to faster storage (SSD) and less used data to slower storage (HDD).
PowerShell 4.0: Major improvements in automation and Desired State Configuration (DSC).
Hyper-V Generation 2 Virtual Machines: Improved boot times and hardware support for VMs.

Feature: During installation, Windows 8.1 strongly pushes the user to sign in with a Microsoft Account rather than a local offline account.
Privacy Implication: By doing this, the user consents to syncing personal data (settings, passwords, browser history) to Microsoft servers. The privacy statement grants Microsoft permission to aggregate this data to "improve services."
Review: Unlike Windows 7, where local accounts were the default, 8.1 makes it slightly hidden to create a local account. This is a significant privacy consideration for users seeking autonomy.

Start Screen → Settings → Change PC Settings → Privacy → Privacy Statement (online link only)
Offline location: Not installed as a local HTML file. Instead, the EULA (End User License Agreement) references the privacy statement. You can retrieve it pre-installation from the ISO under \sources\license\ folder in any language subfolder.

During clean install or upgrade, basic system information is sent to Microsoft: product key, computer make/model, language, region, and edition.
This data was used to activate Windows and provide the correct edition features.

Volume licensing and enterprise activation (KMS, MAK, Active Directory-based activation) use centralized activation workflows; license and activation data are managed per enterprise policies.
Enterprises can configure privacy/telemetry settings centrally via Group Policy or configuration management.
Server roles that contact external services (e.g., Windows Update, driver downloads) can be redirected to internal update infrastructures (WSUS) to reduce external data sharing.