News Microsoft eliminates workaround that circumvents Microsoft account requirement during Windows 11 installation

[Admin]

Microsoft pushes harder to ‘ensure that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.’

Microsoft eliminates workaround that circumvents Microsoft account requirement during Windows 11 installation : Read more

 

[ejolson]

I don't see how registering an account during a fresh install could be more secure than working offline. Is there a mechanism to apply security updates before connecting the computer to the Internet? Do the updates at least get applied before needing to create the personal account?

 

[TheyStoppedit]

Every time they patch it, someone else will provide a work around. In other words: no no microsoft, we don't want you using all our personal information to sync all our photos/emails/blah blah blah to a device while spamming our contacts with ads based on what we like. No, we don't want to be pummeled with notifications and have our usage collected to shove more garbage in our face we dont want. We dont want to be forced to use a microsoft account. What happens when I have a laptop that I want to sell? And its tied to my microsoft account? Didn't think about that one, did ya? I'm keeping an ISO on hand that I know will always work and has a work around to the problem. Maybe.... just maybe.... microsoft should take the hint.... that maybe people keep finding work around because maybe they just dont want to use a microsoft account? No? Get a clue: A work around shouldn't be necessary. There should be an already existing "Continue without a microsoft account" button.... oh .... but then we can't sync everything to the device and blah blah blah..... THATS THE POINT!!!!! We don't want that!!!. Get a clue!!! Good grief

 

[USAFRet]

And nothing prevents you from creating Local Standard and Admin accounts, and never using that "Microsoft account" again.

 

[salgado18]

What I don't get is why doesn't Microsoft just remove the local account functionality altogether. Why fight so much over a feature they don't want us to use?

 

[USAFRet]

What I don't get is why doesn't Microsoft just remove the local account functionality altogether. Why fight so much over a feature they don't want us to use?

Local account is VERY useful.

All my Win 10/11 systems use Local Standard as the daily driver.
Local Admin when I need to install something.
MS account in the exceedingly rare instance when I need to interact with the MS store.

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

As I was typing my response to this I thought of what is probably the actual reason: Virtual machines.

 

[ejolson]

While lack of self control might encourage some users to log into the Microsoft-linked account, the difficulty as I see it is the possibility of someone else using that account.

Since software vendors function as business partners, I don't understand why the terms are so one sided. Are the alternatives that bad? Do people not understand the significance of having an unreliable partner?

 

[USAFRet]

What I don't get is why doesn't Microsoft just remove the local account functionality altogether. Why fight so much over a feature they don't want us to use?

Multiple users on one PC.
Kids, especially.

 

[Notton]

One thing Microsoft never mentions, until you've hit it, is the limitation of computers you can link to your personal account.
AFAIK, it's 5 PCs on a consumer account.
Sure, you can unlink old/unused PCs from your account, but why is there a limit in the first place?

In fact, why should I have to login to my account when I just want to test out the laptop to see if I really like it or not?

 

[stonecarver]

There should be an already existing "Continue without a microsoft account" button.... oh .... but then we can't sync everything to the device and blah blah blah..... THATS THE POINT!!!!! We don't want that!!!. Get a clue!!! Good grief

It's bad enough I have to log into google to activate my cell phone and keep google activated or my phone will not function.

Adding a Microsoft tied account to my life is a no go for me.

I was sitting on my computer and I took a picture on phone. I get pop up on computer from google do I want to relive my memories on this exact day of the pictures I took two years ago. ????? Wait what !

I have every upload to the cloud turned off on my phone I have EVERYTHING blocked but still I get this popup if I want to see two years ago memories off my computer.

I had no clue anything was uploaded to the cloud. It's all blocked !

I deleted everything in the cloud that day. Dumped anything on my phone and have not used that phone to take another picture since.

Two years later I get the same, do you want to see your memories from the past. They were all back on the cloud.

So no I will not consent to Microsoft digging into my life the way having to sign into chrome that is only looking out for my best interest. Not!!!!!!!!

If I need to keep people off my computer that's what passwords are for.

Other users in the house have there own computers.

 

[King_V]

We dont want to be forced to use a microsoft account. What happens when I have a laptop that I want to sell? And its tied to my microsoft account? Didn't think about that one, did ya?

I think they DID think about it, and they're fine with the fact that instead of selling it, it becomes e-waste, so, both you AND that potential buyer of your old laptop both have to buy new machines.

Ergo, two more licenses that Microsoft got paid for.

 

[USAFRet]

What happens when I have a laptop that I want to sell?

Remove that laptop from your MS account.
You do a new fresh install, and STOP when it get to the part about your MS account.
Give it to the new owner.

Remove a device from your Microsoft account

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...nt-selling-gifting-windows-10-device-xbox-one

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...10-on-it/cce23fed-bc37-46bb-9b8c-5da9efe7cb65

 

[palladin9479]

Yeah they just want to link your computer activity to an account they can track and sell. This is 100% about data mining and turning every user into sellable data.

 

[Firestone]

I don't understand how this is feasible at all. As per standard security best practices, all of my online account passwords are minimum 64 character random strings generated from a password generator and stored in a password manager. Including my Microsoft account where I have multiple legit licenses for various MS software purchased directly from MS.

It's literally impossible for me to log into this account during Windows setup. Because my password is a secure lengthy random collection of characters that I don't even know myself.

So Microsoft is instead pushing that users should give their critical MS account and easy-to-hack password that is type-able at the login screen? It sounds like they're violating their own security best practice with this and putting every user at risk.

 

[hotaru251]

I don't see how registering an account during a fresh install could be more secure than working offline.

actually imho more of a risk as if your email is hacked they can find out other device info that uses same acct.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yeah they just want to link your computer activity to an account they can track and sell. This is 100% about data mining and turning every user into sellable data.

Exactly!

 

[snemarch]

And nothing prevents you from creating Local Standard and Admin accounts, and never using that "Microsoft account" again.

Except that, unless you do unattended setup files and whatnot, you'll have to do the initial configuration with a Microsoft account. Sure, you can nuke that after setting up your local account(s), but it really shouldn't have to be this way.

And while the registry key-adding still works for now, even if the oobe script is removed, how long until Microsoft removes that functionality?

This corporate sociopathy can only be stopped one way: make CEOs afraid again.

 

[USAFRet]

Except that, unless you do unattended setup files and whatnot, you'll have to do the initial configuration with a Microsoft account. Sure, you can nuke that after setting up your local account(s), but it really shouldn't have to be this way.

And while the registry key-adding still works for now, even if the oobe script is removed, how long until Microsoft removes that functionality?

This corporate sociopathy can only be stopped one way: make CEOs afraid again.

Well, yes.
If you're doing mass unattended setups, that is a whole different thing.

 

[ezst036]

I don't see how registering an account during a fresh install could be more secure than working offline. Is there a mechanism to apply security updates before connecting the computer to the Internet?

From what I understand Microsoft intends a fully password-less future. Some forms of MFA, using MS Authenticator or other such things.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-authenticator/id983156458

But security is to some extent a side gimmick when it comes to this elimination of workarounds. Microsoft wants to push advertisements to you. That's their real goal. Follow the money. When you initiate a workaround, you're costing Microsoft millions of dollars.

 

[ezst036]

Yeah they just want to link your computer activity to an account they can track and sell. This is 100% about data mining and turning every user into sellable data.

That's exactly right Palladin.

This is all about the ad revenue. To some extent, any advice about local accounts creates a Pyrrhic victory. As long as Microsoft has people's online accounts registered, then the ad revenue can be enabled with the siphoned data. The way to boil a frog is to click the heat up in 20 steps, not all at once.

And nothing prevents you from creating Local Standard and Admin accounts, and never using that "Microsoft account" again.

In the mean time how much ad revenue does Microsoft make off of your data? You still registered using the online account in the beginning so the data they need will flow.

What I don't get is why doesn't Microsoft just remove the local account functionality altogether. Why fight so much over a feature they don't want us to use?

They will get there. They are caught in the whirlwind of ad revenue now. Palladin is exactly right.

Follow the money. The money will always tell you the answer and right now the money is shouting the word advertisements at the top of its lungs.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I have a previous Windows 11 build via media creation tool. I'll be sure to hang onto that. The bypassnro cmd should still work.

 

[USAFRet]

In the mean time how much ad revenue does Microsoft make off of your data? You still registered using the online account in the beginning so the data they need will flow.

In the mean time....
10 minutes before creating and using Local accounts.

Or, you can blow off Microsoft completely.
Linux or Apple.

 

[snemarch]

Well, yes.
If you're doing mass unattended setups, that is a whole different thing.

Even for one-off installs now and then, I find it extremely annoying – ranging from "I shouldn't be forced to create an online account to set up an operating system" principal standpoint, to the practical "Oh ffs, I have to drag a network cable across the living room to the table where I'm assembling the system".

 

[USAFRet]

Even for one-off installs now and then, I find it extremely annoying – ranging from "I shouldn't be forced to create an online account to set up an operating system" principal standpoint, to the practical "Oh ffs, I have to drag a network cable across the living room to the table where I'm assembling the system".

You do know that ANY email account works.
You do not have to create some foo@microsoft.com thing, right?

My "ms account" is a rarely used gmail login.
me@gmail.com, and a pwd. Done.
Seriously.