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Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

infosec.exchange

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Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#41
post #36

A while ago, I needed to get into safe mode to rescue a laptop that wouldn't boot. Since it uses Windows 11, I originally logged in using my Microsoft Account and a Windows Hello pin. Safe mode doesn't load wifi drivers and the laptop didn't have an ethernet port, so I couldn't log in to my Microsoft Account to get into Windows safe mode. Didn't have a dongle with ethernet port at that time, so I had to backup the dr…

wait, you need internet connection to even login? this means root cannot use computer when you do not have internet connection for any reason?

I’m not in Windows ecosystem for more than 25 years now. But I had to buy couple of windows laptops for sales team at my business. I tried very hard but windows wouldn’t allow me to set it up without first creating Microsoft Account online. I’m in Apple ecosystem, not that they are significantly different but they atleast allow me to use the system albeit in limited capacity.

I’m seriously considering going back to Linux for my next work setup.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#42
There are a lot of "workstation" type enterprise deployments where by policy, internet access is forbidden. Microsoft knows this, at least for professional and enterprise editions of Windows, I find it hard to believe an internet connection would be required, like ever.

I would also say the same about require either a live.com or M365/EntraId account for local login on AD joined systems' installations. Unless of course they require you to setup a base-image with an internet connection and then convert accounts to local-only post-install, which sounds like a typical Microsoft approach.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#43

It is very hard to use Android without a Google account. Most people accept that. They must have learnt from that.

Android is very usable without a Google account or even Play Services. It's not convenient, you may be missing some functionality, but it's usable and alternative app stores exist.

Huawei famously shipped devices without Google Play and many were fine with it. And Samsung's devices, AFAIK the most popular Androids, can have the Google account removed. Play stops working, but you can still use Samsung's own app store.

That may not last, of course, Android could become closed source, but in the meantime I dare say it's strictly more open than Windows. And I hope Microsoft gets slapped by EU's DMA.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#44
post #3

> "We're removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11." .·°՞(˃ ᗜ ˂)՞°·.

It's quite ironic they call it enhance security to tie their software to their cloud considering their cloud infrastructure is one of the most hacked of the big corpos. Data breaches happen all the damn time.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/04/hackers-could-read-n...

https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/01/in-major-gaffe-hack...

Something that doesn't happen much, if at all, with Google or Amazon.

Microsoft is one of the most incompetent and impotent corpo out there and considering how much critical infrastructure relies on their software it would do good for the world if the government intervened like they should have back in the antitrust lawsuit days. Break them up. Separate the cloud, windows and office businesses. Make them stand on their own merits.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#45
I'm also 100% convinced Microsoft will introduce mandatory code signing at some point and make it so that you can only ever install software from Windows Store.

They are envious of the Google and Apple walled gardens/cashcows and are now determined to turn Windows into one.

Windows is no longer a product for users, the users of Windows are the product for Microsoft to be shoved into the Azure sales funnel.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#46
post #39
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it? I use Android without Google account (with services though). No app forces account on me, there's always option to sign in through other platform or directly via email.

> No app forces account on me What apps? You can't use Google Play to download apps without an account.

No google acct here, I use fdroid and the Aurora store. I have no doubt though that google is working on killing the Aurora store.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41773781

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Fuck people that live in very rural areas! -Microsoft, apparently

Reminds me back at the Xbox One launch where notoriously an employee arrogantly said that always online DRM is fine and defended it when pressed by saying why would anyone want to live in an area with unreliable internet. He left Microsoft after the backlash.

Was it Don Mattrick, the head of Xbox at the time who left Microsoft two months after unveiling the Xbox One?

https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/e3/a489371/microsoft-e...

> Microsoft executive Don Mattrick told GameTrailers in an interview that was filmed just before E3 that he understood why some people are frustrated at their policies.

> "Fortunately, we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity," he said. "It's called Xbox 360.

> "If you have zero access to the internet, that is an offline device."

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#49
I recently bought a new computer for the first time in ~5 years. I had to boot into windows 11. What a garbage shit show that OS has become. It took nearly an hour for updates, then it constantly dogged me to sign up for free trials of all kinds of crap. It required logging into Microsoft. It made me back things up.

At no point was any of this really optional. And when it was they made it difficult to find the option to skip.

Re: Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

#50
post #16

I give it a week before someone patches it. I’m using LTSC. That’s fine. I suspect that’ll never require a Microsoft account. Edit: come on EU. Step up here. Tell them they need to give the users choice.

Do you still need an enterprise agreement to get a license for LTSC? That used to be the case for 10, anyways... kinda puts it out of the reach of most users.
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