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IMHO, the height of Internet forum rudeness is to reply to a post only to tell the OP they’ve asked the wrong question, but that’s what I’m about to do. Sort of.

If you were happy with Win10, re-install with Windows 10 Ameliorated (images available free on the Wayback Machine). I’ve been running Win10AME for more than that long but this is the image I used to reinstall five years ago:
https://archive.org/details/windows-ame-2004

Win10AME has had the most offensive bits of Win10Pro removed, to include Cortana, all the bloatware, and the automated updates function. MS CANNOT forcibly update your PC because the entire updates circuit has been removed. If you want to apply updates, you either have to do them individually or use a 3rd party app like WSUS Offline (freeware).

I have found User Access Control (UAC) to be horribly offensive ever since it first reared its ugly head in Win7, And Win10AME will allow you to completely disable it.

Win10AME does have its hitches, like the administrator’s account is disabled by default, but I can coach you through fixing that. And enabling auto-login at boot.

Well, I don't consider your reply rude at all, and I am quite aware that very often, "the problem" is in asking the wrong question. (I have an engineering background, so, you can imagine... And... The company I worked for until 2008 failed largely because the owner didn't ask the right questions.) :-(

Anyway, I wanted to have at least one fast (by my standards!) Win 11 Pro desktop going anyway, and I already bought the machine (some time ago), so, right now it's mostly just a matter of finishing up the tweaks and additions to it. I'm also just beginning to delve into Linux to hopefully avoid a lot of the Microsoft headaches, in the long run. Linus (even just installing it) does have a learning curve, and as I'd mentioned, I'm not as sharp as when I was 20 y/o. My time - who knows how much I have left? I like tech challenges, but, a few more camping, hiking and fishing outings would be nice too, while I still can!

In any event, it would be nice to get the old WIN 10 Pro desktop, a good quick machine, normally, going nicely (as in being able to browse the web with it): Perhaps Win10AME is a quick answer. It also might be the best bet for my wife's machine, and she doesn't like tech challenges"!

Other readers may benefit from your post, too. :-)

Thanks!