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Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

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Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#551

Post by lopis »

naldb wrote: post #344
mythz wrote: post #300

The best thing to happen to Linux Desktop is Windows 11, with perfect timing too as modern Linux has been a joy to use as a daily driver. Normally I'd be unhappy when a sleazy corp forces me to give up on 25 years of muscle memory of using my preferred OS, but I'm thankful they gave me the push I needed to rip off the ad/spyware laced Windows Band-Aid that I only need to do once in my life. It's been over a year sinc…

The best thing to happen to Linux Desktop is not that it has improved but that its biggest competitor has dropped the ball? That’s not really praising it.

Linux being the best OS didn't just "happen". It was a long process in many fronts (usability, devices, drivers, games, etc). But despite that, people are still reluctant to even try Linux, so Windows screwing around is the best thing that can happen to Linux.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#552

Post by LoganDark »

mzajc wrote: post #453
mort96 wrote: post #432

The stated "reason" makes no sense: > 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. If they're only worried that their users may end up with an incomplete Windows install, surely the solution is to provide a better way to set up Windows with a loca…

They're not worried about that, they're worried about users not creating and using microsoft accounts. The stated reason could be a paragraph of lorem ipsum and it wouldn't make the press release any less obtuse.

Everyone knows they're not worried about that. GP is simply pointing out a hole in their story of claiming to care about something else.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#553

Post by ThePowerOfFuet »

xela79 wrote: post #520

So I just figured out a workaround that actually works! At least until Microsoft puts out a new Windows installer that fixes this, here's what you can do: First, make sure you unplug your ethernet cable or turn off WiFi before you start installing Windows. This way your computer isn't connected to the internet during setup. When you get to that screen where it's asking you to sign in with a Microsoft account (you kno…

Tell us you didn't read the linked article without telling us you didn't read the linked article.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#554

Post by breakingcups »

newswangerd wrote: post #546
somenameforme wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason they don't meaningfully enforce their copyright on consumer PCs is precisely because they do care about their market share. If you buy a computer with Windows (or get it installed) in what I suspect is the overwhelming majority of the world, it's an 'illegitimate' copy and it works 100% fine, including operating with Microsoft's servers. As you mentioned, they could trivially stop this if they wanted to, b…

The funny thing is that I would be totally willing to pay for a license if in exchange for no ads and no needing a Microsoft account.

You can! Windows 11 Enterprise.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#555

Post by breakingcups »

snailmailman wrote: post #258
somenameforme wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It being the year of Linux is definitely a meme at this point, but Microsoft's trying their hardest to make it a thing. Steam's latest survey [1] shows Windows losing 0.19% marketshare. 3/4 of it went to Mac, 1/4 to Linux. 0.19% over a single month is a fairly significant shift, especially because the Steam survey is biased towards Windows gamers to begin with (Windows has 95.4% marketshare on the Steam survey), so i…

I’ve had multiple friends who are not tech savvy ask me about steam os. Because they basically only use their gaming PC for gaming, and they are frustrated with windows. None have actually switched yet, but also 10 is still supported, and steam os isnt quite ready from what i understand; (nvidia driver issues?) although I assume that’s changing quite quickly. I haven’t looked super recently. Personally I run bazzite…

10 is no longer supported in 7 days, unless you activate ESU. Officially this requires a Microsoft account, but there's always the Massgrave way.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#556

Post by storus »

I still can't change display brightness on Linux Mint on my 2 year old ASUS Zephyrus G14 with 4090 because ASUS used some microLED panel and Linux has no drivers for it. The combination of AMDGPU and Nvidia drivers also leads to situations where Nvidia GPU is not switched on for ML workloads. The only choice is still to run W10 on it.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#557

Post by breakingcups »

xela79 wrote: post #520

So I just figured out a workaround that actually works! At least until Microsoft puts out a new Windows installer that fixes this, here's what you can do: First, make sure you unplug your ethernet cable or turn off WiFi before you start installing Windows. This way your computer isn't connected to the internet during setup. When you get to that screen where it's asking you to sign in with a Microsoft account (you kno…

You haven't read the article in which they explain that that is the specific hole they're closing.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#558

Post by breakingcups »

daemin wrote: post #469

The biggest issue I have with Windows insisting that I use a Microsoft Account to log in is that I have a long and complex password set up for the account which is stored in a password manager. I don't want to dumb down that password, I don't want to use biometrics, I don't want to use a passcode or pin to log in as that is arguably less secure. I just want a local account which I can set up a convenient password for…

You can set up an alphabetical PIN, which is, for all intents and purposes, exactly the convenient password you're looking for.

Not that that should keep you on Windows, of course.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#559

Post by blincoln »

mythz wrote: post #300

The best thing to happen to Linux Desktop is Windows 11, with perfect timing too as modern Linux has been a joy to use as a daily driver. Normally I'd be unhappy when a sleazy corp forces me to give up on 25 years of muscle memory of using my preferred OS, but I'm thankful they gave me the push I needed to rip off the ad/spyware laced Windows Band-Aid that I only need to do once in my life. It's been over a year sinc…

100% agree.

I supported enterprise Windows systems for a decade, although I had Unix and Linux experience as well and liked all of them.

I skipped Windows 8 entirely. For the 10 era, I had at least one Linux VM on each of my systems, and migrated to open-source where possible even on the host OS (Blender, Inkscape, etc.).

Windows 11 pushed me to flip things around - Linux as the host OS, and a Windows VM or dual-boot if I absolutely need to do something with that system that only runs well on Windows. These days, that list is very short.

All of the many frustrations of 11 become much less pressing when it's just throwing a temper tantrum in its playpen instead of interrupting serious work; the effect is magnified by rarely needing to interact with it at all anymore on my personal devices.

Linux still has a few quirks, but IMO there are fewer and fewer of those every year, while they seem to be increasing on Windows. The most recent 11 update has made Windows Explorer unreliable for me. I'm still stunned. The last time I saw stability issues with Explorer was on 98 SE.

Re: Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without MS account

#560

Post by globular-toast »

dspillett wrote: post #525
globular-toast wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did it 15 years ago and never looked back. Vista was enough to give me the nudge. On the occasion I've had to use Windoze over the years I've laughed harder and harder each time. It's hard to explain to people who only know Windoze, but it's just really nice to use software made by people who don't hate you.

While I don't disagree with you at all, I'd advise against calling the OS “Windoze” (or “Winblows”, or the company “Micro$oft”). This gives off a very “From my parent's basement, I stab at thee!” impression and reduces how seriously a lot of people will take you and what you are saying, and those people could apply the same impression to the rest of us too. I used to do the same thing, about 1½-to-2 decades ago.

"The worst kind of oppression is when the victims think and talk in the language of their oppressors."

Why would I care if suits "take me seriously"? I grew out of "Windoze" etc. Now I've grown back into it, because fuck Micro$oft.

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