I have several had drives on my desktop, one of which is some version of Windows that I only use with a scanner. When booting with that drive I never connect to the Internet. Only when booting with Linux do I connect to the internet.
Appears no way to startup a new out of box laptop without logging into MSFT
- Thread starter GON
- Start date
If it has detected Internet connection up (whether through Wi-Fi or hardwire) it will not let you continue on initial setup.
You used to be able to turn it completely off (hold down the power button for 10 seconds) then the initial setup would let you choose offline setup again if the Wi-Fi was turned off but I don't know if it will anymore though, I haven't installed a Home version in years.
Rufus will give you an option to remove that setting when you get an iso to reinstall if you want to go that route.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Just tried the initial windows startup with no network connector present by disabling the network device in the hardware bios.
Below is a pic of the result. Still can't get past the requirement to connect to a network, even with no network adapter present.
Below is a pic of the result. Still can't get past the requirement to connect to a network, even with no network adapter present.
On Pro you can do it by selecting that it’s going to be a work or school computer that you’ll join to a domain later and just create a local account.
On Home it does require an MS account and there is no way to bypass it anymore as far as I am aware.
On Home it does require an MS account and there is no way to bypass it anymore as far as I am aware.
There is big money in that for corporations
That’s why all the free services, you pay with the data from you and your family that they package and use. Also, in some cases auctioned off to other companies.
I’m confused, but that may be nothing new?
When it’s prompting you to connect to a network, do you mean a Wi-Fi network?
Or is it requiring a Microsoft account before connecting to a Wi-Fi network?
If you really want to, create a Microsoft account with an email address, phony, name, and phony other information that they might require?
Then simply don’t use that email account or use it for junk mail purposes
Like I said, I might just be confused as to your goal.
But yeah, technology companies force you to share certain personal information if you want to use their product
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Goal is simple- would like to use this PC as a standalone PC, without connecting to the internet. This appears to no longer be an option on Windows 11 home.
I made the grave mistake when I lived in Columbia, SC of having setup Windows 10 with MSFT account. Without my knowledge, MSFT used BITLOCKER to encrypt the laptop hard drive. The motherboard failed on the laptop while under warranty. The laptop returned from repair with the hard drive encrypted, required MSFT to provide the BITLOCKER key. I used a dormant email account to setup that laptop, and was unable to retrieve this unknown MSFT controlled key.
After the above experience, my lesson learned was to not give MSFT control/ access to my systems.
Guess I am going to buy windows 10 or windows 11 pro to work around this.
Then to get current Office and extra cloud storage you need a MS365 account that costs $60 - 100 annually
Went through this on a cheap HP laptop for my Wife - who likes to upload high res photos (amateur nature photographer)
Laptop had limited HD so the files at uploaded to the cloud server. I will try to talk her into a thumb or ext SSHD when we upgrade.
After much anger and frustration I just had to throw up my hand and become assimilated
Went through this on a cheap HP laptop for my Wife - who likes to upload high res photos (amateur nature photographer)
Laptop had limited HD so the files at uploaded to the cloud server. I will try to talk her into a thumb or ext SSHD when we upgrade.
After much anger and frustration I just had to throw up my hand and become assimilated
That explains a lot.
I have given up on Microsoft a few years back after using them over 20 years starting with Win 95. Im completely done with their operating systems and happy that I am everyday I turn on my Mac
I dont know if that would be any different for you and not suggesting it.
You can use Win11Home with a local account after setting up a MSFT account unfortunately. They don't tell you about the whole BitLocker stuff either; at least it's disabled by default on Pro. You can get the BitLocker key in a txt and save - but it's often too late to think about that when you need the key.
You sure you don't want to make an ISO disk of Win11Home with Rufus instead? At least that's free since your license should be hardcoded into the computer.
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Download and install Linux Mint and not have to deal with Microsoft. You'll get better performance running Mint on a 3-5 yo PC than Windows 11 on new hardware.
https://linuxmint.com/
https://linuxmint.com/
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Thanks for the suggestion to use Linux Mint.
Any idea how Linux Mint works with applications like MSFT office standalone?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Easy way to get past that:
Shift-F10 -> Opens command prompt
In the command prompt type: oobe\bypassnro <enter>
The computer will restart. Assuming you did not connect to the internet, you will now have the option to not create a microsoft account.
Shift-F10 -> Opens command prompt
In the command prompt type: oobe\bypassnro <enter>
The computer will restart. Assuming you did not connect to the internet, you will now have the option to not create a microsoft account.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
MSFT disabled the SHIFT F10 option on the SEP 2024 WIN 11 update (home edition).
Further, MSFT has disabled the oobe\bypassnro file.
Once the local account is created, then you can.Sounds like fun !
I actually just set up a brand new MacBook Air without having to sign into an Apple ID. It’s a 100% usable machine. The only restriction that I found is that I can’t copy and paste between my iPhone and laptop. I didn’t realize how often I do that until I set up this machine to experiment with.
Yes, I do have an idea: It doesn't. Microsoft does not make their standalone Office/O365 products available for Linux-based OS's; maybe an app on Chromebooks or something. Some older versions are hit-and-miss by using a very unofficial installation on an emulator (Google "WINE Linux" if you have too much time on your hands). Some people will set up a virtual machine to run Windows inside of their Linux installation. None of these options are very effective, easy, error-free or efficient.
It'll work the web-based versions just fine, though.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
I thought the same, but came from Costco.
