Here's a guide on how to prevent this from happening: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/01/21/how-to-block-microsoft-edg...
> The workaround requires edits of the Registry. There is a global edit that applies to all Edge channels and edits for each individual version of the web browser.
> The workaround
is to uninstall Windows
A theoretically perfect but largely non-viable solution.
i used to do an enormous amount of Windows XP regedit tweaking and customization, using sysprep, rolling service packs into new ISOs, making use of https://ryanvm.net/forum/ scripts.
all of that has become practically impossible now. every update resets everything, regedits no longer work, and each update brings back the bloatware you've debloated using things like https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows.
the only recourse now is to disable TPM 2.0, which is a Win11+ requirement. or pirate that fabled LTSC windows edition because, you know, you can't actually buy it.
in 2020 after an unpreventable Win10 update fucked up my dual boot setup i finally called it quits and switched to EndevourOS (Arch) KDE/Plasma and haven't looked back; fuck Windows and its aggressive rent-seeking.