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Posted on 10/07/2025 8:52:55 PM PDT by dayglored
Microsoft is closing a popular loophole that allowed users to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.
The change has appeared in recent Insider builds of Windows 11, indicating it is likely to be included in the production version soon.
Microsoft refers to these loopholes as "known mechanisms" and is talking about local commands in this instance. You can learn all about these in our piece for getting Windows 11 installed with a local account, but suffice to say start ms-cxh:localonly is no more.
"While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use," Microsoft said.
"Users will need to complete OOBE with internet and a Microsoft account, to ensure [the] device is set up correctly."
As far as Redmond is concerned, this is all for the user's own good. It is also important to note that managed devices are not directly affected, just hardware that users want to get running with Windows 11 without having to deal with a Microsoft Account during setup.
The change is part of Microsoft's ongoing game of Whac-A-Mole with users trying to find ways of avoiding its online services. In March, it removed the bypassnro.cmd script that allowed users to get through the Windows 11 setup without needing an internet connection. That time, Microsoft said the change was to "enhance security and user experience of Windows 11."
There remain a number of ways to avoid the Microsoft account requirement during setup, including setting up an unattended installation, but these are more complicated. It is also clear that Microsoft is determined to continue closing loopholes where it can.
It is getting increasingly difficult to use Windows 11 on an unmanaged device without a Microsoft account. Users who don't want to sign up should perhaps consider whether it's time to look at an alternative operating system instead. ®
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Send me a link to your best penquin. Please.
Sorry but just a couple of days ago, I brought my laptop out to the porch, fired it up, attached to my docking station.
It didn’t take my password. I have three laptops with the same password. For ten years. I couldn’t get in until LUCKILY I found my Micro$oft account setup and password.
Once in, I’m still stuck with the PW but they’ve encrypted my drive! No permissions, no notice, no choice, no nothing.
Now if they can do that then I can’t believe they can’t see everything on my drive. I’ve always been careful not EVER using the word ptnt - you’ll figure it out.
Now I figure whatever “security” they claim - my system is online. Not to mention that all the big guys have back doors to all the major systems. Sux.
Crp.
Google Linux Mint. Follow the instructions there. It is as close to a windows machine for look and feel I’ve found. The installation is simple and clear. There are 3 ways you can do it. Make a bootable USB drive and live boot. Install side by side with windows, go full Linux.
I use Verizon hot spot. It's on only if I'm on the web, which isn't pretty much constantly.
If you have a machine that is not W-11 capable there is no reason not to shift to just about any Linux flavor. Everything the basic user needs (web surfing, office tools, etc.) are available on Linux ... and most of them are FREE.
There are many choices of Linux OS. Some are what I consider heavy-weights (Ubuntu, OpenSuse, etc) that offer a gazillion options. Other choices are better suited to the person wanting to swich from Windoze to Linux (linux-mint, Cinnamon, etc.). I do not want this to devolve into a heated discussion about favorites so check out this article:
I recently put a spare Dell PC back in service and put Mint on.
Besides I have a pair of 34 inch monitors that have been sitting around for a long time.
What happens if I choose to do nothing? Will Windows 10 still operate? Can I continue using Windows 10? What happens if I don’t get any more updates?
I had a computer that I loaded with Unbutu Linyx. I just followed the instructions at the download website.
It worked well and was easy to use. I did this to extend the life of a desktop. There is a learning curve to it but nothing normally clever person can’t figure out.
I recommend Unbutu linyx
That is my same question.
My home computer is Windows 7 and it does everything I need just fine.
My work computer is Windows 10.
I do not have time to change or learn a new system.
It will still run, but you wont get security updates after this month unless you pay. Windows virus updates should continue to work.
I have a 10 year old W10 laptop that isn’t upgradable. Even if I could, I won’t upgrade to W11. I am done with MS. I only use the laptop when I travel and have no personal information on it.
I believe so - I have a MSN pin (part of the setup process when I first turned the box on) but almost never have to use it - sometimes I’m asked to ‘verify my machine” and that pin makes whoever happy.
Thank you for sharing this, I was going to post about it this morning. And support ends for Win 10 on the 14th...
It really is time for folks to actually get off their butts and switch to Linux before it is too late.
I made a Microsoft account. Problem solved. I could change to Linux, but I got Win 11 for free and it works. Apple requires an account as well. I can’t bring myself to get upset this.
“many popular linux distros plagued with influential Woke scum”
Now that is just ignorance. And MicroSoft and Apple are not woke? Every bit of “Tech” is woke, there is no way to get away from it. All we can do is try to find the lesser of all evils. And Linux is indeed the lesser of the evils.
Not once have I had any “woke” anything expose itself while using Linux the last ten years. Nothing that would even indicate it at all. It is simply an Operating System not a brainwashing political tool. It is just a shovel, how you use it is up to you.
System76 company has them i believe. But any computer can become a ,inux machine
And Microsoft wonders why the Win11 adoption rate is actually going DOWN, not up, as the Win10 EOL is imminent (one week from today).
~~~
I don’t really think they care.
Microsoft gonna microsoft
Microsoft could have took over the email world with Outlook, but instead of turning the email for business software into an email and organization tool for everyone and taken over the world, they decided they had to keep all their programs neatly in their own silos. Outlook can’t take sales away from office, or Dynamics, or Visio, etc. (Adobe shot themselves in the foot in a similar manner).
What do you think Steve Jobs said if their iPod division told him that you can’t basically add cellular phone capabilities to it?
Funny how Debian or Ubuntu don’t require you to create a Linux account to install them.
You just take a computer and install Linux.
“Mint Cinnamon” is the go to for a first time user. I have been using Linux for ten years now and have test driven just about all of the best major players.
1. First download and install a program called “Rufus”.
It is the top option: rufus-4.11.exe
2. Download the Mint Cinnamon .iso file from the Mint site. The “James Madison University” Mirror source is known to be a clean download.
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=322
3. Insert a USB stick that is empty or that you do not mind being wiped clean of current data.
4. Start Rufus and go select the Mint .iso from your downloads. It should autodetect the USB stick as the destination for the .iso to be installed. The default settings in Rufus are all fine. Just answer yes to any options it asks and then select create.
5. When done close Rufus and power your computer off.
Now here is where the only challenge can arise. You now have to make the computer boot from that external Linux stick. There should be no problems doing this. But on some computers Windows has locked out the ability to see that external Operation System and so it will not boot from it. So there is a process of elimination that has to be done sometimes. But 9 times out of 10 the following does indeed work...
6. With the Linux stick inserted power on your Computer, stay right there and be ready to hit the key that will give you your boot options for that computer make. When the Manufacturer’s logo comes up tap that key. Depending on make it might be the Esc key. F2 key, F9 key, or on a Dell it is the F12/Star key. Select the USB as the boot option.
7. Be patient because the screen may go Black a few times as the Linux boots up. And from a stick it is a bit slower to do this.
8. If it does not boot from the stick as it should then there will need to be some configuration in the bios that needs to be done. That can be addressed later as a separate issue. Just holler at me and we can walk through that if need be.
But it should Boot for you if you did everything above step by step. Now you will be in Linux and running from off the stick completely isolated from your internal drive and Windows. It should auto detect your internet connection and you will have to put in your password to access your internet source. Bottom right in the same place it is in Windows 7.
It will tell you when it makes the connection. Then you can use the Firefox browser to access the net if you like and check out all the stuff it comes with and what can be done with it. Basically you are in test drive mode. But nothing can be downloaded, installed, and while you can make temporary changes they will be forgotten and it will go back to default when you shut down.
Run it for awhile from off the stick when you have extra time and check it out, Go explore and discover what the apps are and what they do, go look at the System Settings and how they work. Then after you feel comfortable with it then you can install it if you like. There are two options, wipe the drive completely and install only the Linux, or you can install it “Along Side” (Dual Boot) the existing windows and have both. The installer will do all of the partitioning and disk work for you during the install. So no need to worry about complicated partitioning and disk preparation first, it does it all for you. Just take your time and read the options well as you step through it.
49 results for Linux OS - https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/search?text=linux&rows=20&sort=relevance&display_tab=Products&fq=%7B!ex%3D699%7Dlengs_US_OperatingSystem_facet_699%3ALinux
Most any Thinkpad will run Linux well but you can get it pre-installed on the 49 models above.
Nine Dell systems with Ubuntu Linux - https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/scr/desktops/appref=ubuntu-linux-os
Tell you what Pollard, I like this Thinkpad with Linux. For some reason it is FAST compared to a lot of boxes I have put Linux on... And the bios gave me no hassles at all about installing it. It welcomed it and likes Linux... :)
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