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Not sure if its a major advantage, but you get Onedrive cloud with an MS account.  And even then I’d only call it an advantage if you understand that most of your files then come under <user>/onedrive rather than <user>

Expecting to be told off for responding to the off topic post, easiest way I’ve found to use a local only account with latest W11 is 1. create a MS account 2. create a local only admin account 3. logon to the local only admin account and delete the MS account.

“It looks like Microsoft replaced the “Mail & Calendar” app with a Microsoft Store app titled “Outlook”,

Well spotted!  Having previously avoided the Mail app like the plague, that’s another trip hazard to avoid.

As a home user, this lot of Backup changes doesn’t really concern me.   FileHistory and Cloud are fine for the important stuff – your data files – and since reinstalling Windows these days is so straight forward that just leaves the apps -sorry programs- to sort out.  Fortunately these days I don’t too much complicated stuff but I’m probably in a minority there.

I’m using AnyDesk (in the UK).   I find it works reliably and suits my limited remoting desking requirements, especially for the price. (I’m using their Lite/Essentials license).

I do hope that no Windows10 laptops are currently being built with 32GB emmc.  It should be a criminal offence.  However, I have enjoyed myself during COVID upgrading various 32GB machines to include M.2 or SATA SSDs.   Not all laptops make this upgrade easy but best candidates are Acer Aspire ES-132 and variations (the ones with a very convenient service hatch on the back) and Lenovo 11IBR.   BUT always check hardware specs first – easy with Lenovo – not so easy with Acer.   The advantage with the Lenovo  models is that, subject to build spec, they take an M.2 card.  The Acers need a HDD cable which can be difficult to source for a reasonable price (PS. I bought up most of the EU supply at cost price

A Windows10 boot USB makes reinstalling the OS a doddle, especially now that MS has simplified licensing.

The other problem is memory.  4GB is fine for these low spec laptops.  But many come with only 2GB.  Is that enough to run an office-lite machine?  Again, Acer make upgrading nice and easy – there’s an empty RAM slot under that service hatch.  Well done Acer! (and I don’t often say that about Acer)

MrJimPhelps wrote:

I suggest doing a complete backup of your hard drive, then installing the ISO file for 2004. In this way, if certificates are lost when you install the ISO file, you can always restore the backup.

I think you have probably done your upgrade by now…but a “belt and braces” approach would be to go 1 step further than the complete backup above.  Image your Samsung to a spare disk; check the spare disk works!  Then upgrade the Samsung.