[SOLVED] No "Use Offline Account" available during Win10 install

[clutchc]

First time this happened to me. I've installed W10 on many of mine and other's machines, but never remember not being offered the option of using an offline account. At the start of the installation I chose "I don't have a product key" like I always do. Any idea how to get past this screen w/o using a MS account like I've always done in the past? (It always showed up on the bottom far left as one of the options)
Screenshot

What I used to see


Note: The reason I use 'I don't have a product key' is because I like to make sure the (sometimes old) boards I'm working with are fully functional with no issues before tying the board to the product key.

 

[Colif]

Don't suppose you have an installer of 1809 around? It seems they have removed that option, only recently as most guides still include it as an option.

Lately there's been no option to create a local account during installation. It's requiring a Microsoft account, or a phone number, and a PIN.

If I click on help, it describes how to delete the Microsoft account after setup and then create a local account.

link

 

[clutchc]

Ah, those dirty rascals. Thanks Colif. Yes, I have a Win10 DVD from before even the 1809 update. I'll try that.

You wouldn't know where I could still download a 1809 installer from, would you?

 

[Colif]

Microsoft don't host old ones so no sites I would trust have copies.

How old is your other installer? I don't have any ISO on here, my installer is still 1803 but its on USB.

we didn't know they changed that setting so glad you asked.

 

[Barty1884]

I noticed this when I last clean installed. If you're online (ethernet, Wifi) you're only presented with the option for a MS account. Anecdotal evidence of 1, of course.

If you run the installer whilst offline, you're still presented with the option to create an offline account.

Very sneaky on MS's part, but it's not "gone", exactly. Just not particularly obvious how you do so.

 

[Colif]

still sneaky

I use an MSA anyway but otherwise i would have to d/c cable and wifi.. that will catch so many people

 

[clutchc]

I noticed this when I last clean installed. If you're online (ethernet, Wifi) you're only presented with the option for a MS account. Anecdotal evidence of 1, of course.

If you run the installer whilst offline, you're still presented with the option to create an offline account.

Very sneaky on MS's part, but it's not "gone", exactly. Just not particularly obvious how you do so.

Thanks for that info. I will try that if/when this slow pre-1903 DVD install is done.

 

[clutchc]

Thanks. You guys are the best 👍

 

[USAFRet]

Just now, I tested this in a VirtualBox VM with native online access, with a newly minted v1903 ISO, both a Home and Pro install still gives the option of an Offline Account.

The only difference I made vs what a normal person would do is skipping entering the license key.

 

[Colif]

So why it didn't show is a good question, he wasn't the only one who has had this happen in the past few weeks or I wouldn't have found the other one.
Was this a new pc? You shouldn't have needed the code otherwise.