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No account? No Windows 11, Microsoft says as another loophole snaps shut
The Register ^ | Oct 7, 2025 | Richard Speed

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. ®


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: account; internet; microsoft; windows11; windowspinglist

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So you MUST sign up for a Microsoft online account. And you MUST have an internet connection that's online pretty much constantly.

It's enough to make a person desire a penguin.

1 posted on 10/07/2025 8:52:55 PM PDT by dayglored
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To: dayglored; Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; ..
Windows 11 ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

2 posted on 10/07/2025 8:55:22 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: dayglored

Is OOBE their replacement for BSOD? Because that occurred with or without an internet connection....


3 posted on 10/07/2025 8:57:57 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: dayglored

And Microsoft wonders why the Win11 adoption rate is actually going DOWN, not up, as the Win10 EOL is imminent (one week from today).


4 posted on 10/07/2025 8:58:57 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: dayglored

If you want to use the same OS for free forever, go Linux.


5 posted on 10/07/2025 9:00:58 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
> Is OOBE their replacement for BSOD? Because that occurred with or without an internet connection....

I believe "OOBE" is "Out Of Box Experience", in other words the initial unpacking, powering up, and configuration of the new machine.

Or perhaps it's "Out Of Body Experience" where your spirit floats above you and observes what your physical body is doing like a third person.

Or perhaps it's "Object Oriented Bullshit Extravaganza", the latest thing in "vibe coding".

And BTW, the venerable "BSOD" is still a "BSOD" but it's now black instead of blue. Really, no joke.

6 posted on 10/07/2025 9:03:35 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: Jeff Chandler; ShadowAce
> If you want to use the same OS for free forever, go Linux.

There are estimated to be around 400,000,000 fully functional, perfectly useful Windows 10 computers whose hardware is not "compatible with Win11" according to Microsoft, and so they're essentially dead-end, Windows-wise.

I have read that a considerable percentage of those machines will be wiped and loaded with Linux, rather than trashed. It may give the Linux Desktop a boost like it's never seen before.

7 posted on 10/07/2025 9:07:36 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Can you point to any quick and easy ways (your own advice, internet links, books, etc.) for a person completely unfamiliar with Linux, to get started with it, and learn how to get it, install it, and use it to access the web through one's internet service, etc.?

8 posted on 10/07/2025 9:11:37 PM PDT by Songcraft
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To: Songcraft

No.


9 posted on 10/07/2025 9:12:09 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: Songcraft
The easiest thing to do to get started is to run Linux from a USB flash drive. Once you have it booted and running you should be able to figure out how to run a browser and you are off. If you have a wired internet connection it just works. If you don't, you will have to configure the wifi to your router. Just right-click on the network icon in the lower right corner of the desktop. You should be able to figure it out from there.

run linux from usb without installing

10 posted on 10/07/2025 9:22:14 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Je suis Charlie Kirk.)
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To: dayglored

I have a Windows 11 that has only a local account.

It is very frustrating to pull the tricks needed, to do that.


11 posted on 10/07/2025 9:23:19 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: dayglored

My main business comp does not have the proper hardware to upgrade to W11. Fortunately, a couple years ago I bought Mrs. Chandler an very nice Dell all-in-one comp with W11 installed. Unfortunately, Mrs. Chandler passed away a year ago.

Since then I purchased Microsoft 365, which includes OneDrive cloud storage synchronization. So I synced my old comp’s storage to the cloud, and synced Mrs. Chandler’s Dell to the same account. The result was the complete mirroring of all my important data to the Dell, which I upgraded to maximum memory.

The next step is to remove both the 1TB SSD drive and the backup 1TB HD from my old comp, which I will reformat and insert into external USB cases. I will on a regular schedule back up my data physically to the USB drives, switching them and storing them off site.

Basic data backup security.


12 posted on 10/07/2025 9:26:59 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: Songcraft
PS - Linux Mint is my favorite linux distribution. The desktop is similar to the windows desktop you are familiar with.

https://linuxmint.com/

13 posted on 10/07/2025 9:36:31 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Je suis Charlie Kirk.)
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To: dayglored

The Dell I bought came with Win 11. So I am okay as I am right now?

Wouldn’t that give me an Msft account?

I just want it ( and the laptop) to work as they do now.


14 posted on 10/07/2025 9:36:49 PM PDT by citizen (A transgender male competing against women may be male, but he's no man.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Thanks very much, E. Pluribus Unum.   Much appreciated.

15 posted on 10/07/2025 9:37:51 PM PDT by Songcraft
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To: Songcraft

Y3s, go here to https://distrosea.com/ znd try one or a few. I woukd suggest linux mint as perhaps the easiest. Ubuntu is 9k too, but i never liked ubuntu.


16 posted on 10/07/2025 9:38:57 PM PDT by Bob434 (Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana)
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To: Jeff Chandler
> If you want to use the same OS for free forever, go Linux.

I've been running Linux since 2001. It rapidly became my operating system of choice, since I'd been a Unix fan starting in the 80's but used Macs and PCs because they were easier than Unix. But Linux had the best of both worlds -- a POSIX system with a decent desktop environment.

I was a Fedora/CentOS guy for many years but the past decade I've become an Ubuntu fan. Works good.

I still have a Windows 7 virtual machine that I use to run some ancient programs I still use. Skipped 8. Used 10 and 11 at work because I had to. But at retirement (not far in the future) the Win7 will be my only remaining Windows box. I have VMs of 10 and 11 if for some reason I have to crank up a program that will only run on those. But they won't be on 99% of the time.

17 posted on 10/07/2025 9:39:28 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Thanks again!      🙂

18 posted on 10/07/2025 9:40:55 PM PDT by Songcraft
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To: dayglored

Most modern apps require Windows or Mac. I don’t have the time to fart around with Linux. I have done so in the past for elderly family/friends who wanted to save pennies, but life is too short to spend wrestling with esoteric operating systems. Time is money.


19 posted on 10/07/2025 9:45:00 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: Songcraft

Actually you could just use the live boot instructions on the linux mint website.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/


20 posted on 10/07/2025 9:45:10 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Je suis Charlie Kirk.)
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