When you set up a new windows 11 PC these days, microsoft tries to force you to sign in to or set up an account with them, so they can do "helpful" things like back up your data to the cloud for you, track your every movement etc. It appears to be impossible to get around this, but there is a way. When you get to this step, or earlier:

1) Press shift-F10 to open a command prompt. Type in OOBE\BYPASSNRO then enter to bypass the internet connection requirement. The computer will reboot.

2) Press shift-F10 to open a command prompt. Type in ipconfig/release then enter to disable the internet. Close the command prompt and continue.

This is what I use to install Windows 11 (and Windows 10 in the past):

How to Use Rufus to Bypass TPM and Secure Boot Requirements in Windows 11

I have Windows 11 installed on 3 desktop PC's and a little Lenovo laptop here, the oldest desktop uses a 4th Generation Intel CPU from about 10 years ago which isn't "officially" supported for W11 but I used Rufus to bypass the 'artificial' restrictions Microsoft put in place for 7th generation and older CPUs and Windows 11 runs fine even if it's just a little slower compared with the latest hardware.

I'm also using local accounts on all of these machines... no Microsoft account for me, thank you.  :)

From the machine I'm using right now:

---

It's weird.

more here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-forcing-people-to-open-microsoft-account/5085a424-745c-4e2c-b1bd-ad85207921d9

Carl D wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 5:13pm:

This is what I use to install Windows 11 (and Windows 10 in the past): How to Use Rufus to Bypass TPM and Secure Boot Requirements in Windows 11 I have Windows 11 installed on 3 desktop PC's and a little Lenovo laptop here, the oldest desktop uses a 4th Generation Intel CPU from about 10 years ago which isn't "officially" supported for W11 but I used Rufus to bypass the 'artificial' restrictions Microsoft put in place for 7th generation and older CPUs and Windows 11 runs fine even if it's just a little slower compared with the latest hardware. I'm also using local accounts on all of these machines... no Microsoft account for me, thank you.  :) From the machine I'm using right now:

I'm always wary of using random bits of software from the internet. It could be a whole lot worse than the problem you are trying to fix.

Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w

freediver wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 6:21pm:

Carl D wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 5:13pm: This is what I use to install Windows 11 (and Windows 10 in the past): How to Use Rufus to Bypass TPM and Secure Boot Requirements in Windows 11 I have Windows 11 installed on 3 desktop PC's and a little Lenovo laptop here, the oldest desktop uses a 4th Generation Intel CPU from about 10 years ago which isn't "officially" supported for W11 but I used Rufus to bypass the 'artificial' restrictions Microsoft put in place for 7th generation and older CPUs and Windows 11 runs fine even if it's just a little slower compared with the latest hardware. I'm also using local accounts on all of these machines... no Microsoft account for me, thank you.  :) From the machine I'm using right now: I'm always wary of using random bits of software from the internet. It could be a whole lot worse than the problem you are trying to fix.

Rufus is digitally signed and it's also available from the Microsoft Store.

I've been using to create Windows install USB sticks for years now and I've never had a problem with it. And no one else has ever had a problem with it as far as I know.

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 6:24pm:

Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w

I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows.

Can someone explain it to me?

I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 7:44pm:

I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better.

Laziness.

When I upgraded my old computer - a Win7  OS
I got a new one with Win10 already loaded nearly 3 years ago.

My idea was to convert the old one to Linux to try it out
but I never got around to it.
I just can't be bothered.
I only ever used Windows at work and at home - it's all I know.

Windows has a captive market.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 7:44pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 6:24pm: Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better.

I haven't used it since 3.11. I started win 3.1 installed out of the shop, no printer drivers, complain, free upgrade to 3.11 WfW. Still horrid, installed OS/2 and stuck with that until pretty much the end and ran a public 24h BBS/Fidonet on it for years until the internet killed BBS/Fido, that was a good OS. Then Linux... been there since, must be nearing 26 or 27 years.

Setanta wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 8:08pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 7:44pm: Bobby. wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 6:24pm: Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better. I haven't used it since 3.11. I started win 3.1 installed out of the shop, no printer drivers, complain, free upgrade to 3.11 WfW. Still horrid, installed OS/2 and stuck with that until pretty much the end and ran a public 24h BBS/Fidonet on it for years until the internet killed BBS/Fido, that was a good OS. Then Linux... been there since, must be nearing 26 or 27 years.

Sounds good.

I've used the Chrome OS for about the last 15 years.

Fast.  No bloatwear.  No viruses.

Did I mention how fast it is?

After 15 years, nobody has given me a valid reason why MS Windows is better than the Chrome OS.

Nobody has even made an attempt.

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 7:55pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 7:44pm: I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better. Laziness. When I upgraded my old computer - a Win7  OS I got a new one with Win10 already loaded nearly 3 years ago. My idea was to convert the old one to Linux to try it out but I never got around to it. I just can't be bothered. I only ever used Windows at work and at home - it's all I know. Windows has a captive market.

It's like a cult.

Go out and buy a Chromebook - you'll never look back.

Win11 is full of adverts.  WTF


How Microsoft Is Killing Windows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxUg2QMXvJw

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 8:49pm:

Win11 is full of adverts.

So why use it?

I still haven't heard a proper answer.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 9:08pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 8:49pm: Win11 is full of adverts.  So why use it? I still haven't heard a proper answer.

I have Win10 which I'm happy with.
I keep getting reminded to upgrade to Win11 but I always decline.
It seems that other users are the same.

I call it Win11 nagware.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 7:44pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 6:24pm: Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better.

Work, mostly. Then, it is what you are used to.

Also, the alternatives are crap. Apple is overpriced. I once spent an hour trying to umount a mouse on a linux install, then gave up. I did get a chromebook once, but only used it for the internet.

The bitlocker stuff is scary.

When I was creating corporate images the base computers were coming with bitlocker on by default. Obviously had to turn it off to create an image. Took a while to work out what was happening as nothing tells you its on it just doesn't work. The guy has the key so I suspect that if you loaded the components from a pro image it would possibly run in home.

freediver wrote on Jun 12^th, 2024 at 9:34pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 7:44pm: Bobby. wrote on Jun 12th, 2024 at 6:24pm: Why you should NEVER login to Windows with a Microsoft Account! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRNpDvGF4w I can't for the life of me figure out why people use MS Windows. Can someone explain it to me? I haven't used it for 15 years, and things have never been better. Work, mostly. Then, it is what you are used to. Also, the alternatives are crap. Apple is overpriced. I once spent an hour trying to umount a mouse on a linux install, then gave up. I did get a chromebook once, but only used it for the internet.

Why would you try to umount a mouse? Mount and u(n)mount(ing) a mouse is impossible. Do you mount mice in Windows? Can you fsck them? Do you need root to do it?

Maybe it was pseudomount. I forget the details.

Windows 11 was automatically downloaded and set up on my computer recently, without my knowledge. Has anyone else had that happen to them?

Windows 11 seems more user-friendly than Windows 10.