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Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

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Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#311

Post by pndy »

GlenTheMachine wrote: post #100

...and from what I can tell, their online account security is craptastic. Here’s a true story that happened to my family. My son is the only person in the house who uses Windows. For his game machine. He set up a Microsoft online account. It got hacked - someone set up a fake family and managed to get my son’s account listed under it as a child. As a consequence, he couldn’t install any new software. I’m not sure wha…

> ...and from what I can tell, their online account security is craptastic.

There's something weird and shady going on: I did created MS account to get this "marvelous" free Windows 10 offer once the update was smuggled on my Windows 7 installation and in subsequent buggy releases I had to reinstall the OS from scratch. So I had to login to activate this thing but I choose to not use the account later switching to local one (I did created an offline one during OOBE) and yet, Windows is still holding credentials to the online account somewhere because Activity section of the MSA Privacy page is still registering OneDrive activity coming from my desktop. I am not logged anywhere in OS, credentials manager is cleared out, OneDrive application is removed but still, it happens.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#312

Post by input_sh »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #145
JMTQp8lwXL wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To the end user, what makes this model preferable to buying the operating system software? For some businesses higher up the stack, it makes sense-- e.g., people spend $X per month on the Adobe Suite, and people tend to enjoy that.

> people spend $X per month on the Adobe Suite, and people tend to enjoy that. I work in the graphic design industry, and I've got news for you... people do not enjoy Adobe's move to subscription pricing, and on the contrary still complain about it. Anecdotal evidence, I suppose, but seriously... I haven't met a single person who prefers Creative Cloud to just buying the suites.

Not to mention that its prices are ridiculously expensive for the majority of the world.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#313

Post by frant-hartm »

ztjio wrote: post #231
jamie_ca wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple, with the new Mac Pro. Mac starting at $6k, Screen starting at $5k, but the monitor itself is only good on a (I hope) VESA mount, if you want an ordinary desk stand it's an extra $1k. https://www.cnet.com/news/1000-apple-mac-pro-display-stand-s...

It's ridiculous to call it an "ordinary desk stand" it's anything but. A 100% perfectly calibrate weightlessly counterbalanced stand is a godsend for those who need it. The rest can get the VESA adapter instead. Furthermore, this is a product targeting a market that normally spends over $40,000 on a monitor without any mounting gear or stand to do the same work. Apple's display a bargain in context. If you think this…

It's sad to see such victims of marketing.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#314

Post by clhodapp »

terenceng2010 wrote: post #267
tapirl wrote: post #153

As a happy Win8 user, that's exactly the reason why I switched from Win10 to Linux. Many offline functions need online to perform. It is sad.

I will stick with my windows 8.1 in my i5 third gen machine as late as possible, until either the support ends or the computer needs to be retired.

That seems like a strange place to take a stand, since the specific brand of user hostility that pervades Windows 10 seems to have seen its origin in Windows 8

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#315

Post by noja »

danShumway wrote: post #11
mentos wrote: post #2

“They have not removed it, it just is not visible by default if you are connected to the internet. Either run the setup without being connected to the internet, or type in a fake phone number a few times and it will give you the prompt to create a local account.”

That's a pretty clear dark pattern, no? At the very least, it signals that Microsoft really doesn't want users creating offline accounts. Which is troubling, because their TOS for online accounts is quite onerous, and includes a couple of problematic restrictions, including a mandatory arbitration agreement. If I was a Windows user who relied on local accounts this would be very worrying to me.

It's only a dark pattern until online accounts are always required... (then it's for forever).

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#317

Post by jdnenej »

sieabahlpark wrote: post #225
tzs wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...and from what I can tell, their online account security is craptastic. I'm not convinced that their offline security is good, either. I sometimes will pick up my Surface Pro 4 and disconnect it from the charger. Disconnecting from the charger usually (but not always...not sure what determines it) wakes it. It then turns on their equivalent of Apple's Face ID, and tries to log in. Sometimes I don't actually want…

> I'm not convinced that their offline security is good, either. If they have physical access to the device there isn't much you can do anyway.

You can with encryption and not using face unlock.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#318

Post by groundCode »

tempguy9999 wrote: post #295
jammygit wrote: post #229

I help a friends dad with his computer sometimes. A few times per year, he brings it to me and says it’s being slow. Every time, it’s windows update bogging his machine down for weeks, since it can’t seem to update on its own without crashing and causing issues. Last week it took over 5 hours to reinstall an update - several times longer than would be needed to install windows or Linux from scratch. I might install c…

Perhaps install cinnamon in a VM like VirtualBox and let him roam over that first? See how he feels.

I’ve tried this with my dad. The problem is, he never boots up the bum to have a go. He doesn’t really get how there can be more than one OS on his physical machine. So basically we are stuck in a cycle of him not wanting to switch until he’s used to the “new” thing but him never using the new thing.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#319

Post by jdnenej »

jevgeni wrote: post #276
GlenTheMachine wrote: post #100

...and from what I can tell, their online account security is craptastic. Here’s a true story that happened to my family. My son is the only person in the house who uses Windows. For his game machine. He set up a Microsoft online account. It got hacked - someone set up a fake family and managed to get my son’s account listed under it as a child. As a consequence, he couldn’t install any new software. I’m not sure wha…

Today you still can use and create an offline account. If you’re offline. People here don’t read the original thread.

It's a really nasty dark pattern. Most users won't realise they have to disconnect from the internet to sign up and will fall for Microsoft's trap.

Re: Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows

#320

Post by bitwize »

ztjio wrote: post #231
jamie_ca wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple, with the new Mac Pro. Mac starting at $6k, Screen starting at $5k, but the monitor itself is only good on a (I hope) VESA mount, if you want an ordinary desk stand it's an extra $1k. https://www.cnet.com/news/1000-apple-mac-pro-display-stand-s...

It's ridiculous to call it an "ordinary desk stand" it's anything but. A 100% perfectly calibrate weightlessly counterbalanced stand is a godsend for those who need it. The rest can get the VESA adapter instead. Furthermore, this is a product targeting a market that normally spends over $40,000 on a monitor without any mounting gear or stand to do the same work. Apple's display a bargain in context. If you think this…

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand the inherent superiority of Apple products...
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