News Door slammed on last remaining easy Windows 11 local account setup workaround

[Admin]

Microsoft blocks the last easy way to bypass an online account requirement when setting up a new Windows 11 PC.

Door slammed on last remaining easy Windows 11 local account setup workaround : Read more

 

[NeoMorpheus]

I honestly dont understand why they are pushing for these online accounts so hard.

Something is amiss.

 

[ezst036]

This requirement is another step where software companies are transitioning their products to software-as-a-service subscriptions

It seems pretty clear to me that this will never happen.

Microsoft had two choices and they have already chosen. They could be an OS that people subscribe to monthly, even if it was only as little as $1 per month. Or Microsoft could make Windows a vector that serves up advertisements to its users, thus turning Windows users into products.

Microsoft has already chosen as reported by Tom's Hardware itself as well as sister websites. Microsoft has made all of you the product. This is not a prediction, it is already here and currently exists.

It is said by some that Microsoft could never make Windows a subscription without losing a significant chunk of its user base, well Microsoft would really lose big if they both made Windows a subscription while STILL cramming advertisements down your throat. To do both would be like setting out to be insulting with "fat mamma" jokes too.

If Microsoft ever starts backing out on the product placement advertisements all of a sudden, that's when SAAS is coming. But for now, transforming its own users into the product following the Google model is by far the safer option. Market research has proven that users are numb to having their data stolen and ad delivery.

Look, if I were the leader of Microsoft and I were staring down SAAS and/or advertisements, I would chose ads too. It's way safer.

Microsoft had nothing to lose by embedding adware. It has much to lose with SAAS.

The only way SAAS and advertisements live concurrently in Windows would be "We'll happily shut off these ads that you are bombarded with. $4.99 per month." So they could then charge people monthly, but make it look like they aren't charging for Windows itself. It's just a charge to shut off all the ads, that's all. There would be some wisdom in this considering that market research proves people are willing to pay to put an end to advertisements.

 

[ezst036]

I honestly dont understand why they are pushing for these online accounts so hard.

Something is amiss.

Pushing for online accounts makes perfect sense. Doesn't knowing the target of the delivered ads make the ads themselves more valuable?

I think it does make them more valuable, way more valuable.

Think about two different sets of advertisement results.

1) Some random Amazon ads or Newegg or somebody. So 6 million generic people have clicked on this link here for a flower pot, i don't know what product. Ok, it's a good ad people click on it. Now what?

2) Same ads. So 6 million specific people have clicked on this link here for a flower pot. We have their names, their addresses, their past click history for other ads. Did you know that last month 40% of these users clicked on and purchased an iWatch? Did you know that 10% of these users also purchased a certain kind of seeds together with those flower pots? Would you like to know who those users are? We can sell you the list for so and so thousand dollars.

#2 is way more valuable. It's the advertisements, it's all about the money. Follow the money. By knowing who receives the ads, Microsoft can attempt to extract more money from Amazon or whoever and then turn around and sell user lists too. Even if they don't upcharge the per-ads themselves. User lists can be sold, and your name is on that list.

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/windows-11-is-getting-more-ads-in-the-latest-preview

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I have been using that bypass workaround but as the article mentions, Windows is now a service more than a retail product.

 

[AtrociKitty]

Microsoft had two choices and they have already chosen. They could be an OS that people subscribe to monthly, even if it was only as little as $1 per month. Or Microsoft could make Windows a vector that serves up advertisements to its users, thus turning Windows users into products.

Why do either of these choices need to exist when I already pay for my Windows license/key?

 

[punkncat]

TBH, the aspect of this that bothers me the most is when trying to build a PC for someone other than yourself. You have to then ask them what they want their sign in to be OR you have to give them a PC that hasn't been properly set up. I would say that 90% of the custom builds I do, and even refurbs of older systems are going to have a driver or two that don't install and so forth.

It has come to a point now where I have personally been considering having on hand some cheap USB and loading on it the drivers and so forth to give to the new owner.

 

[CelicaGT]

Why do either of these choices need to exist when I already pay for my Windows license/key?

Line must go up, that's why. It today's market constant (sustainable or not) growth is the expectation. You will pay, you will have your usage habits dissected and sold to advertisers, and you will like it.

As for myself I'm considering a dual boot with some Linux variant that uses Proton. I'm no Linux savant so I'd have some learning to do.

 

[parkerthon]

It seems pretty clear to me that this will never happen.

Microsoft had two choices and they have already chosen. They could be an OS that people subscribe to monthly, even if it was only as little as $1 per month. Or Microsoft could make Windows a vector that serves up advertisements to its users, thus turning Windows users into products.

Microsoft has already chosen as reported by Tom's Hardware itself as well as sister websites. Microsoft has made all of you the product. This is not a prediction, it is already here and currently exists.

It is said by some that Microsoft could never make Windows a subscription without losing a significant chunk of its user base, well Microsoft would really lose big if they both made Windows a subscription while STILL cramming advertisements down your throat. To do both would be like setting out to be insulting with "fat mamma" jokes too.

If Microsoft ever starts backing out on the product placement advertisements all of a sudden, that's when SAAS is coming. But for now, transforming its own users into the product following the Google model is by far the safer option. Market research has proven that users are numb to having their data stolen and ad delivery.

Look, if I were the leader of Microsoft and I were staring down SAAS and/or advertisements, I would chose ads too. It's way safer.

Microsoft had nothing to lose by embedding adware. It has much to lose with SAAS.

The only way SAAS and advertisements live concurrently in Windows would be "We'll happily shut off these ads that you are bombarded with. $4.99 per month." So they could then charge people monthly, but make it look like they aren't charging for Windows itself. It's just a charge to shut off all the ads, that's all. There would be some wisdom in this considering that market research proves people are willing to pay to put an end to advertisements.

They have different versions of Windows for business vs pro vs home. I understand this. They are attempting to monetize Windows the same way ChromeOS is monetized for your home use consumers that will buy the cheapest device they can get their hands on.

People think Linux is the answer, but forget that about 95 % of users out there are completely non-technical. They need easy to use and some level of support. Neither of those are free features. MacOS is a beautiful counter example of OS development trapped in Apple’s expensive and limited walled garden. There’s no easy alternatives here for most people.

 

[Giroro]

I wonder what the next step is for Windows to abuse its customers?
I think likely routes are they either start forcing you to install an app on your phone, or they start forcing you to enable location tracking. The justification they would give for either one is "AI".

 

[CmdrShepard]

TBH, the aspect of this that bothers me the most is when trying to build a PC for someone other than yourself. You have to then ask them what they want their sign in to be OR you have to give them a PC that hasn't been properly set up. I would say that 90% of the custom builds I do, and even refurbs of older systems are going to have a driver or two that don't install and so forth.

Anyone doing stuff like that should already know how to skip OOBE during setup, enter Audit mode and finish setup using full administrator account, then use sysprep to reseal to OOBE again. If they don't, sucks to be them.

 

[targetdrone]

I honestly dont understand why they are pushing for these online accounts so hard.

Something is amiss.

It's easy to figure out.

Express any form of Wrong Think on a Microsoft platform, including things like Skype or in an XBox game and they'll lock you out of your computer and office documents forever.

This has happened before.

 

[CmdrShepard]

It's easy to figure out.

Express any form of Wrong Think on a Microsoft platform, including things like Skype or in an XBox game and they'll lock you out of your computer and office documents forever.

This has happened before.

I am not sure about that, but on the other hand a friend of mine has lost their personal Microsoft account due to some supposedly "illegal" content they had in OneDrive (they didn't have any, and they were paying for storage and had personal photos backed up there too among other things).

Microsoft just blocked their account and didn't even want to tell them what supposedly "illegal" content triggered it. They didn't even allow them to login and download their content and there was no way to reach a human to lodge a dispute.

People think their data is safe in the cloud, but the truth is you are better with doing it yourself.

If it can happen to UniSuper, resulting in two weeks of outage for 647,000 users, then it can surely happen to you, except you won't be able to phone a Google Cloud CEO to fix it for you.

 

[punkncat]

Anyone doing stuff like that should already know how to skip OOBE during setup, enter Audit mode and finish setup using full administrator account, then use sysprep to reseal to OOBE again. If they don't, sucks to be them.

I was not aware that this was still a possibility with a current W11 install. IIRC the "I don't have internet" thing results in the installer telling you to find some to continue?
FYI, the newest date stamp I can see on anyone recommending this to be done is Feb of 2024. Prior to that (IIRC) the don't have option still showed. I will check this out next install I do.

Apparently, it has sucked to be me for a couple of months now. 😉

 

[abufrejoval]

I wonder what the next step is for Windows to abuse its customers?
I think likely routes are they either start forcing you to install an app on your phone, or they start forcing you to enable location tracking. The justification they would give for either one is "AI".

I believe location services are already enabled because it's required in order to give you the weather you didn't ask for, either. Ever notice how just everyone wants to give you your very personal weather these days and why it's so hard to turn off? After every update? And even after you've said no?

Just like they collect all that other data to give you the news they want you to want to buy things from.

And of course they need to run the AI on your new PC and your power budget, because they can't afford to do their job otherwise: billions in datacenter buildout need matching revenue before next year.

 

[sadsteve]

Line must go up, that's why. It today's market constant (sustainable or not) growth is the expectation. You will pay, you will have your usage habits dissected and sold to advertisers, and you will like it.

As for myself I'm considering a dual boot with some Linux variant that uses Proton. I'm no Linux savant so I'd have some learning to do.

I did that a few months after Windows 8.0 came out. The switch to Linux for me was actually fairly easy since I'd already been using applications that were available under Windows and Linux (Thunderbird, Libre Office, jEdit, g++, etc). Windows was pretty much only being used for gaming and the occasional photo editing session (I really dislike Gimp). I'm now at the point where I run Windows in a VM instead of dual booting. It's nice to be able to have both OSes running at the same time.

 

[CelicaGT]

I did that a few months after Windows 8.0 came out. The switch to Linux for me was actually fairly easy since I'd already been using applications that were available under Windows and Linux (Thunderbird, Libre Office, jEdit, g++, etc). Windows was pretty much only being used for gaming and the occasional photo editing session (I really dislike Gimp). I'm now at the point where I run Windows in a VM instead of dual booting. It's nice to be able to have both OSes running at the same time.

If my primary use case for my desktop wasn't gaming, I'd have switched already. I used an Inspiron 15 with Mint on it for years as my daily driver. It just....worked. For my basic computing needs I'm sure any Linux flavour would work (currently using an Intel Mac), but for gaming I'm going to have to do some learning, and likely dual boot until I'm ready with both feet. OTOH I have an Acer Nitro 15 laptop that I could try it on, unsure if it's more difficult or not considering how proprietary gaming laptops can be.

 

[CmdrShepard]

I was not aware that this was still a possibility with a current W11 install. IIRC the "I don't have internet" thing results in the installer telling you to find some to continue?

Entering Audit mode has nothing to do with "I don't have internet" button.

When the Windows boots to OOBE after installation (i.e. when it wants you to setup user account), just hit Ctrl+Shift+F3. It will reboot and enter Audit mode which automatically logs you in as a local Administrator.

From there onwards you need to know what you can and what you can't do -- for example you can install applications, configure system-wide settings, etc.

When you are done just launch sysprep, tell it to enter OOBE mode, tick the Generalize box (unless you installed some specific drivers), and select shutdown to turn off the PC after mode is switched so you can pack it and deliver it while leaving user account setup to the new owner.

You can even perfrom user-specific settings and then copy those settings to default user account if you know how to do that which will result in every new account created afterwards with same settings applied. You can also create new accounts, edit their group membership, set local administrator password and enable it, etc.

As for drivers, best thing is to add common drivers to your Windows install image using DISM tool so they will get installed during PNP phase of the setup.

Apparently, it has sucked to be me for a couple of months now. 😉

Everything I am talking about in this and previous post has been available since forever so... take from that what you want.

 

[punkncat]

Everything I am talking about in this and previous post has been available since forever so... take from that what you want.

First off, I am NOT a professional.

Second, prior to this account requirement you didn't NEED to know anything about that in order to provide a finished and working product on the desktop to the prospective individual who might rehome it. Still wouldn't need to know if MS didn't opt for this rubbish.

Another point I would make is that the installer takes care of most "common" drivers and unless you were building a clone of same hardware every time it would basically make adding those unknowns to your installer a bit more difficult, like impossible.

I do appreciate your telling me about this, if not the tone I interpreted so much. Have a great day!

 

[tjvaldez01]

Weird that nobody has mentioned the Elon Musk quote. Isn't he all about locking you into his systems? Twitter/X requires an email and tracks you; Tesla's are always on collecting info; so it's ok for him, but not another company? Seems hypocritical to me.

 

[genz]

This is it guys.

This is the last chance you have to make noise about the idea that your Desktop is private.

It's the last chance before they start scanning the contents of your hard drive to gain more ad revenue, not because they are about to do it, but because the TOS changes required to legalise it will be in this update.

It's the last time we will have to reject the nonsense that started with TPS 1.0, PRISM, and general surveillance state shenanigans.

MS in one single move made themselves worse than Apple. Time for me to get a Linux Box with Proton. Thanks, Steam!

 

[dalauder]

I wonder what the next step is for Windows to abuse its customers?
I think likely routes are they either start forcing you to install an app on your phone, or they start forcing you to enable location tracking. The justification they would give for either one is "AI".

I think they've been abusing customers for a while. They use us as guinea pigs instead of doing beta testing nowadays--so their pushed out updates often break devices.

All of these practices by Microsoft combine to where my two main machines now dual boot to Linux Mint and I'm working on finding out how to run everything I need from Windows in Linux. Most modern stuff has a Linux version, so it's mostly a matter of trying to get old games and emulators running smoothly in a VirtualBox.

 

[dalauder]

This is it guys.

This is the last chance you have to make noise about the idea that your Desktop is private.

It's the last chance before they start scanning the contents of your hard drive to gain more ad revenue, not because they are about to do it, but because the TOS changes required to legalise it will be in this update.

It's the last time we will have to reject the nonsense that started with TPS 1.0, PRISM, and general surveillance state shenanigans.

MS in one single move made themselves worse than Apple. Time for me to get a Linux Box with Proton. Thanks, Steam!

Try out Linux Mint dual boot. It's easy enough to get started.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

This is it guys.

This is the last chance you have to make noise about the idea that your Desktop is private.

The best way to make noise and send a message is to not use their product. I have several PC's and laptops. Both my gaming desktops are running Windows 10 in local account mode. One laptop is on Windows 11 running my productivity stuff and it's only because I am way too lazy to switch it out with something else.

All my other PC's are running some form of Linux and I have a few Macs.

 

[Julian___]

We might be looking to a point where we need to make a provision package to just automatically add an account if they remove the shift-f10 method