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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

#651
post #642

After my recent (and dismayingly poor) experience with a new PC on Windows 11, I wonder: Windows 11 installer did not recognize my wifi card (integrated in asus motherboard), so my installation was purely offline. I had to install manufacturer's drivers via usb key to get the PC online. How is this possible in a world where MS wants installations to be online? Meanwhile, Linux installer recognized the wifi right away…

For me it's been on and off, sometimes a windows installer manages to detect network cards and sometimes it doesn't.

I think I've been blocked from continuing an installation once, so I assume you'll just have to plug something in that it can detect or grab an install image which has the drivers.

I swapped over to primarily use linux a while ago, but was surprised that they've made windows 10 look like (what I think is) windows 11. When did that happen?

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

#652

I doubt it’s going to happen, but a part of me prays that people will eventually get sick Microsoft’s increasing bullshit and it really can become the Year of the Linux Desktop. Gnome has genuinely gotten pretty great in the last couple years, and I think a lot of former Windows would genuinely like it if they gave it a chance, and virtually any Linux you install will have less tracking bullshit than Windows. I suspe…

About Gnome (Shell). I disagree it looks very pretty but the UX a huge step backwards from Gnome 2. Users are better off with KDE, XFCE or Mate.

I installed linux mint xfce edition on a laptop with only 8 gb of ram, and while there were a few hiccups where I had to adjust, it's a breath of fresh air. Super low memory usage, no wayland nonsense, it. just. works.

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

#653

Rufus and Massgravel still function as a pressure release valve to prevent too much outrage from building up, but Microsoft is working hard to direct more and more of the flow into the channels that get them the most revenue. If HN readers want to set up a machine without any of the bloatware, with all the "developer-mode" switches turned on, without a Microsoft account, there are still ways to get it done. I actuall…

The cheeky response to that is: At that point you might as well have just installed Linux :)

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

#654
post #630

My biggest annoyance is that I specifically bought a Windows 11 license, from the MS store, using my MS account. I did this because I assumed that if something went wrong, I would always be able to recover it. I could never 'lose' the key if it was tied to my account. Well unfortunately, MS screwed me. When I upgraded my PC I was apparently supposed to transfer the license before deleting the old PC from my account.…

Just use Massgravel and problem is solved :) https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts

LOL. I found that website today and thought it was named "mass grave".

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

#655

Pirate it and you will have a much better experience for free

and it comes with free malware! I gotta be honest man, I do not understand someone who pirates executable code. I (and I assume most of the hn audience) am not some starving student with nothing to lose. I would much rather run linux than pirate windows.

The ones who're pirating the non executable code are who I don't understand. Oh and I'm a starving PhD student.

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

#657

Pirate it and you will have a much better experience for free

and it comes with free malware! I gotta be honest man, I do not understand someone who pirates executable code. I (and I assume most of the hn audience) am not some starving student with nothing to lose. I would much rather run linux than pirate windows.

What???

Commenter was suggesting using original Microsoft ISOs and verifying through massgrave.

Zero malware

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

#658

Pirate it and you will have a much better experience for free

and it comes with free malware! I gotta be honest man, I do not understand someone who pirates executable code. I (and I assume most of the hn audience) am not some starving student with nothing to lose. I would much rather run linux than pirate windows.

Agree with you but not every answer is move to Linux. A lot of us help family member with IT stuff. People I help use excel, quicken, and one drive to run their businesses and finances. I could see myself running into GPs license issue with my father in law.

I tried to get a few of them to use chromebooks but the need for quicken or another app they used for decade(s) keeps them windows based.

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

#659

I doubt it’s going to happen, but a part of me prays that people will eventually get sick Microsoft’s increasing bullshit and it really can become the Year of the Linux Desktop. Gnome has genuinely gotten pretty great in the last couple years, and I think a lot of former Windows would genuinely like it if they gave it a chance, and virtually any Linux you install will have less tracking bullshit than Windows. I suspe…

I used to have Windows just for gaming. I tried Bazzite on the new PC that I bought. It works so well. I don't need a toy SO for my games any more.

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

#660

Pirate it and you will have a much better experience for free

Using a pirated OS does not sound like a good idea lol. Who knows what could be added during "cracking" of the license.

Nuthing. You could manually reproduce what massgrave does.
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