[Pollard]

Doesn't Windows setup disk give you the option to reinstall just the OS but leave your files(and maybe settings) alone these days?

I gave up windows 20+ years ago for these very types of issues. I've been running Linux/Ubuntu/Kubuntu since then.

Separating concerns isn't a bad idea. Below, John folder has docs, pics, downloads etc etc but also a bunch of config files. Linux sticks all your config files with setting etc in your Home folder. File System has Linux and installed programs. I have two hard drives in this laptop so during installation of Linux, I chose to use one for my home folder, John and the other drive for File System. I could wipe the system drive, reinstall Linux and any programs and it would be like nothing had changed. Same browser tabs would open with same browsing history. All programs would be set up the same and show recent files opened etc. Same desktop theme, layout, colors.

Linux updates generally don't require a reboot. If it does, it takes maybe 10-15 seconds longer than a regular reboot. No 20 minute bs. I use windows at work but the IT guys update them when no one's working.

[Paul R.]

If I do that, the machine will immediately demand to be updated, with the maximum pause being 7 days. In my case I just had a bootable USB flash drive, and it wouldn’t work. I made a new one (downloaded from Microsoft today), but it has the update that kills the computer (likely by breaking a driver.)

For more info., see the thread I linked to just above, in my comment just above. :-)