For modern users looking back, Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 represent the "Goldilocks" zone of privacy. They were advanced enough to support modern hardware and encryption, but they still retained the "offline sovereignty" of the past. The product key opened the door, but unlike today, the operating system didn't immediately start cataloging who walked through it.
covers how Microsoft handles data during installation and setup. It highlights specific features where you can control data collection before the operating system is fully operational. Key Installation Features & Privacy Controls
can be configured during the initial "Express Settings" phase or later within the browser. Accessing the Full Statement