Microsoft removes even more Microsoft account workarounds from Windows 11 build

Microsoft has locked down well-documented workarounds in recent test builds.

See full article...

 

[dargonite]

I've commented on this previously; there is still the option to "Join Domain Instead," which allows you to create a local admin account, complete OOBE, and not require an email.

I do this in my office when setting up new computers or PXE boot installs.

 

[dehildum]

This is very bad. We have several critical systems that are NEVER allowed to connect to the Internet under any circumstances, and are often installed where there is no Internet connection to be had. Full stop. Remove these workaround - even as onerous as they've already become - and we simply won't be able to use Windows for these systems anymore.

That is the step you should be taking now while you have a little time to make the transition. OS X or Linux would be better for you at this point.

 

[Frodo Douchebaggins]

I feel you (I'm bloody pissed at MS also), but I think you don't need to go that far...

As far as I understand, the real issue with MS dropping support is that you won't get security updates anymore, and possibly that some future software will only be supported from win 11 onwards.

So, how about:

• Use linux for your everyday "medium/high risk" activities (browsing, home banking etc...)
• Play the games you can play on linux
• Keep a VM with Win 10 for when you need to perform those "low risk" operations that requires it (like gaming... or yarring , if you do not want to risk logging into an account)

I mean it when I say I only use windows for gaming. I've got a Mac for everything else. I'm not gonna dual boot my gaming box, so I'll leave it as-is until it's less useful than it would be on Linux and then it's change time.

 

[dehildum]

For now. I think we all know that these sorts of things are going to come for the Mac as well. It is only a matter of time. The only reason why it hasn't is how focused they've been on their cash cow: the phone.

Unlikely as Apple has a strong interest in user privacy. They make plenty of money without this sort of forced account setup.

 

[Rhutanium]

I've commented on this previously; there is still the option to "Join Domain Instead," which allows you to create a local admin account, complete OOBE, and not require an email.

I do this in my office when setting up new computers or PXE boot installs. View attachment 119832
View attachment 119833
View attachment 119838

As I've mentioned before, it occasionally happens where upon reinstall, the machine comes up without either ethernet or wifi drivers. Then you get to the setup screen where it makes you pick a network connection, which is prior to the screen you've shared, and then you just get completely stuck as it won't find ethernet or wifi. In those instances, OOBE /BYPASSNRO has been the only outcome for us in our corporate setting.

 

[Mungus the Unhyphenated]

Windows is devolving to the point of ALL the downsides of open hardware/software (complicated, unreliable, inscrutable, too many cooks in the kitchen, iffy support) with ALL the downsides of locked-down platforms (cloud sign-ons, security hassles, feature removals, no privacy, take it or leave it terms, secrecy). There are a few upsides they've kept, such as backwards compatibility, and alt app stores (Steam mostly) which are diminishing year on year.

I'm not sure where this ends up. They're driving away consumers, but corporate customers have no choice.

MS is coasting along with no real roadmap or competition, as the 'cloud migration' continues as a ploy to receive both cloud and 'terrestrial' income in perpetuity. This is Moses wandering for 40 years, barred from the Promised Land. If they commit fully to the cloud, their economy collapses. Like Germany with EVs.

At this point, wearing my corporate IT hat, let them go ahead with their seemingly inevitable quest to be a cloud service. Just offer client access license packages to anyone or any org that wants to connect to their cloud offerings, and keep printing money. Then just dump the corpse that is Windows into open source and let it get re-animated into something useful, but probably forked and balkanized, same as the vast array of Linux distros. Any Windows API-based client is the tool needed to connect to MS pay-to-play services, but MS won't have to spend a dime to support endpoint OSes. All of us who've had to support Windows for decades can just shrug and move on to supporting whatever distro makes sense and continue to deal with Microsoft licensing and services like always. All that really would change might be patching and upgrade cycles.

They've open-sourced other key code in recent years, so it's not impossible, and probably the least bad outcome.

But given corporate greed, they're probably more likely to spin off Windows as a separate corporate entity within the next decade or so. (Thereby "liberating" MS to pursue AI and The Cloud, while still sucking money off of a subsidiary.) It will then become a steaming pile of advertising and tracking that makes the current state of Windows 11 look quaintly benign.

 

[negolith]

I guess I'm another in the use case of I care much more about username folder than the log in requirements. That was the only reason I used the bypass on the last 11 system I used. I use onedrive as part of my remote backups so I'll be logged in anyways.

My workflow is really not compatible with Linux given the software suites I use. Maybe if all I did was gaming I would have a different opinion but gaming is a small part of what I do. My laptop has Mint and works for what it is but I don't do much beyond light coding on it.

I also find it interesting all the stories about instability in windows. Just more anecdotes but I've only had one windows system in 20 years have issues and a reinstall fixed it. I guess I'm just lucky.

 

[grendel151]

Yo, Ars!

Sounds like a perfect time for a nice well researched deep dive into gaming on Linux.

Available distros, getting the right drivers for video cards, hardware to use/avoid. The things that you need to know going into something like this. It's easier than it's ever been before, but it's also Linux and so it's easier than ever before to get it wrong.

Something all pulled together into one place. That's the kinda stuff I like paying for. I've gone down this rabbit hole a couple times and a good starting point would be nice. A guide from people that know something about computers.

 

[pjcamp]

all operating systems (including Apple's and Google's)

When did Linux stop being an operating system?

 

[Joel622]

This just seems like an inducement to use a stale installer offline and then try to get patched up before you get hacked. It's not a huge risk if you're behind a firewall but it makes an already tedious process even slower and more annoying.

Anyone who is still insisting on an offline account is doing it with a measure of spite and won't be corralled.

 

[raxadian]

Hi it looks like you want people to stop using your product, do you want any help with that?

 

[ScifiGeek]

In your long tirade of experienced woes with attempting to install Linux you neglected to describe how Windows has changed in the same period. Perhaps this is a case of "how to boil a frog".

Did you miss this part: "I'm as irritated as everyone else with Microsoft and Windows."

Each new Windows version brings new annoyance and intrusions/advertisements/privacy issues.

It's what makes me reconsider Linux from time to time, but with so many past negative experiences, I'm more than hesitant at this point.

 

[Gnafu the Great]

Why not just put Linux on an extra drive in your main ride and choose at bootup if you want to go Windows or Linux? That way you can really be impressed about how well the Linux drivers work for your main GPU.

By the way, the advice to "avoid Nvidia" I thought was true as well when I discussed switching with friends a few months ago.

However, it doesn't seem to be the case any longer. At least the Nvidia drivers work 100% perfectly out of the box for my RTX 4070 Ti SUPER in the sense that the performance I get in games is on par with what I get playing them under Windows.

Laptops specifically can have some extra quirks with NVIDIA, but I admit my information on that is probably somewhat outdated. I still think you'll have the best out-of-the-box experience with all-Intel or all-AMD laptops. It does look like NVIDIA is getting better and maybe more open (but really, just moving more into the firmware so there's less driver to open up).

 

[Gnafu the Great]

I'm as irritated as everyone else with Microsoft and Windows.

The common, glowing refrain seems to be: Linux, which I've starting thinking about again.

But has anyone else tried that MANY times and found it disappointing every time?

Granted I haven't done it recently, but I lost count of how many times I've heard "It's different now", in the 30+ years since I first brought home a stack of floppies from University, with Slackware on it.

In that time, I think I have had a Linux dual boot on my home computer about 10 different times, and it's been a disappointing experience every time. Nearly every time I do, this the distro ends up breaking on upgrades. How's that saying go: "Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me ten times...".

Every time, I've been extremely disappointed with with GUI, regardless of which DE I choose. It always feels like a random assemblage of parts that don't quite mesh.

Last time I tried was on my previous Windows 7 computer. I tried many distros (all had GPU issues), asked for advice, and was eventually told that my GPU was "too old", which I found hilarious because the message has always been, "when your computer is too old for Windows, install Linux". Many hours over a couple of weeks wasted on "It just works now" Linux.

There is never a definitive Linux, that you can just install an use/upgrades consistently safely for 10 years like you can with Windows. Unless you choose a major one, it might not even exist in 10 years. I've never had Windows fail and need reinstall. I installed Window XP once and used it past EOL, then Windows 7 once and used it past EOL, and Now Windows 10 which it seems I will use past EOL.

As much as everyone complains about Windows, IMO, it would be a dream if any Linux distro worked that well and could maintains stability over a 10 year lifetime of upgrades.

I've been running Fedora for over 18 years, and I've been upgrading from one major release to the next without issue for probably 15 years at this point. I firmly believe Fedora gives the best experience for folks who want recent versions of software, and then Debian is the best choice for something with longer release cycles. I think Ubuntu has done more harm than good by being too different over the years, trying too many things that didn't stick while trying to be the distro for new users. Debian and Fedora are community projects that have stood the test of time.

 

[Gnafu the Great]

When did Linux stop being an operating system?

It never started ;-).

 

[JCFan1979]

If Microsoft wants to something constructive during Windows setup it would be to have users create a local admin account and then their personal account. So many machines out there with users running as local admins is just stupid beyond reason.

 

[josephhansen]

If you're a gamer, switching to Linux is easy. If you're an artist, it's not an option. Here's a non-comprehensive list of programs I couldn't use on Linux, so I'm stuck on W10:

• Clip Studio Paint
• Affinity Photo/Publisher
• eON Vue PlantFactory
• After Effects

There's more, but just those five are important enough that it's not worth my time to even think about switching. After Effects especially- there's simply no alternative

 

[Earthmapper]

Personally all this does it push me closer to OSX. I already use both uses at work and Windows at home. Honestly, it's only PC games that keep me on Windows at this point.

This issue is one of several reasons I am moving away from Microsoft. I use it at work because I have to, but I no longer use it for my personal desktop or laptop.

I'm running Fedora's KDE spin on all of my personal computers. Linux in general has come a LONG way towards being a gaming platform. Steam, in particular, has excellent compatibility tools and some game developers are even releasing straight to Linux. Check it out.

Just install a Linux distribution, then install Steam. In Steam go into settings and turn on 'Steam Play for all other titles', then pick the compatibility mode. I use Proton Experimental, but you can adjust it in the individual game settings from your library. After that, in every way works just like you would expect (with some older games needing to have their compatibility set to an older version of Proton). When you log in to Steam, you should see your library and options to download/play. For comparison, I play some pretty graphically demanding games (i.e. Cyberpunk 2077) and have not been disappointed by the performance.

 

[10Nov1775]

https://cachyos.org/

What's absolutely hilarious is that just from the art styling of the desktop screenshot, I muttered, "This is Arch-based, isn't it?"

—yep.

Arch spinoffs gotta stop copying each other's mid-2000s cyber hacker Matrix homework.

 

[10Nov1775]

This doesn't apply to LTSC, that's enterprise only and as long as the US gov is a client there will never be a requirement to hook enterprise up to the MS cloud. With the multiple breaches of govcloud there will continue to be machines that aren't going to be put online to protect the most important secrets.

Idk, I seem to recall the CIA leaving a bunch of zero-day cyberweapons up online with the virtual doors thrown open...you know, the sort of things that make you WannaCry.

 

[tumblrfan69]

You can buy a MacBook, download all the software you want, and do Time Machine backups all without an AppleID. Maybe you can't download from the app store, but you can still install applications.

Importantly too you can just login to just the services you want too. Throwaway app store account for free apps and logged into else works fine. Login just to iMessage or just to Facetime also works. Login to everything with a different account? why not.

 

[TylerH]

I think the logical conclusion that MS is building towards is Windows 365 with a perpetual subscription.

That's been obvious since Windows 10 came out in 2015, at least.

 

[BobbyBobberson]

That's been obvious since Windows 10 came out in 2015, at least.

Dumb terminals are back, baby!

 

[TylerH]

None of my Win 10 home machines have been offered extended support. I did the registry trick on one machine to get the support to show. I need to do that on 2 more machines.

Do you have a link to an article or website that details this registry trick of yours?

 

[TylerH]

That is the step you should be taking now while you have a little time to make the transition. OS X or Linux would be better for you at this point.

Or just a Pro/Enterprise version of Windows 11 which allow you to domain-join and escape this problem, and will continue to do so for at least the rest of Windows 11's life and probably part of Windows 12's life, at minimum. That's probably a way more viable solution for a business than "totally switch which OS you are using, along with all the software, too".

 

[stoattiep]

Give Linux a try. I'm currently playing through Silksong, just beat Abiotic Factor, and have enjoyed countless hours on Elden Ring. The only pain point for me is lack of good photo manager/editor like Lightroom. I keep a Windows 10 VM around to run Affinity Photo, and it's not connected to the Internet so I don't mind that it's EOL.

 

[bman212121]

I'm as irritated as everyone else with Microsoft and Windows.

The common, glowing refrain seems to be: Linux, which I've starting thinking about again.

But has anyone else tried that MANY times and found it disappointing every time?

Granted I haven't done it recently, but I lost count of how many times I've heard "It's different now",


Last time I tried was on my previous Windows 7 computer. I tried many distros (all had GPU issues), asked for advice, and was eventually told that my GPU was "too old",

There is never a definitive Linux

As much as everyone complains about Windows, IMO, it would be a dream if any Linux distro worked that well and could maintains stability over a 10 year lifetime of upgrades.

I tried to grab some of the main bullet points.

Have I tried using Linux as a daily many times? Yes. I've used Linux going back as far as Red Hat 7 (Original Red Hat, not RHEL) I could never make it work as a daily driver in the past for me.

In the era you are talking about, an install of Windows would be followed with hours of putting CDs into the computer to install programs, and more hours going to websites to download and install more applications. That time period was 2009 - 2015, or about 10 - 15 years ago.

In 2009 mobile market share was less than a percent, in 2015 when Windows 10 came out mobile captured about 1/3 of the market, with desktop being 2/3 or more. In 2025 mobile is now 2/3 of the market and desktop is the remaining 1/3. That has dramatically shifted how everyone uses their computers, and a lot of the things you rely on are now web based.

My last install of Windows I plugged in the thumb drive, installed it, then opened up Edge to get Firefox. I didn't do anything to worry about drivers, I didn't even bother to put office on because you can just use Google sheets if you really need it. I'd also toss Steam on there and use that to load games versus getting out discs for each of my games and installing them one by one.

That workflow works as well in Linux. Plug in USB, install it. There's already browsers on there, and then you can just grab Steam and be about 95% set. Some of the missing things can be used as web apps. Will there be a piece or two of software you are missing? Probably. You have to decide how often you use it as to how important it is.

GPU has always been a thing, but more recent distros have been tackling that issue. There's an application on newer distros which can install GPU drivers on your behalf and have been tested against your OS. It takes away one of the pain points of dropping down into a terminal with X disabled to manually install drivers.

Never a definitive Linux: I don't think there ever will be. I do wish there were a more focused effort towards less distros with more polish, but that's not likely to change any time soon.

As far as upgrades they are far better than they used to be. In Mint for example, it pops up in the system tray telling you an upgrade to your OS is available. You click through the wizard and in about 10 - 15 minutes the system is on the latest version. If you want long term a lot of distros focus on LTS versions (Long Term Servicing) and have support for 5 years. But if you do an upgrade to the next LTS you could keep extending that indefinitely.

If you had said to me 10 years ago daily drive Linux, I don't think I could have done it. But in the past 5 years the shift in the ecosystem along side of some improvements on the OS side have made it something that is realistic for me now. So as always YMMV but if there was a time to take another look now is a good time.

 

[sporkinum]

Do you have a link to an article or website that details this registry trick of yours?

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how_to_force_windows_10_esu/

 

[HolyChao]

How do I get Mastercam and Solidworks to run on Linux? They're my primary reasons for having a PC in the first place.

TL;DR
- MasterCAM - Not gonna happen; Alternatives exist to generate G-Code from models, so long as you're only doing 3-axis (XYZ) tooling (No 6-DOF or articulated tools supported, from what I've seen)
- Solidworks - Within WINE/VM it works Solid-ly

MasterCAM:
If your version of MasterCAM is using a hardware/software dongle, ZERO chance of it working in a VM or WINE-type (emulated windows) setting, even if you can get it installed.
If you're using MasterCAM to import CAD (.dwg, .stl, etc) models to generate G-Code, there are some other options out there, but you'd lose some of the neat configurations and layouts MasterCAM is capable of (nesting parts, robust tool library)

MasterCAM Alternatives:
There are some less than ideal solutions available:

• FreeCAD integrated CAM G-Code generation (Path Workbench)
• PyCAM - Generates 3-axis G-Code compatible with most tooling set-ups. Only simplified roughing/tooling visualizations, you'd have to rely on your CNC/Cutter/3D-Printer controller for boundary/axis violation checks.

SolidWorks:
On the CAD front, it's all sunshine and roses for SolidWorks:
- As long as you have an OpenGL capable display adapter, running SolidWorks in a WINE environment has been solved.


Side question: Are you also using your PC as the CNC controller? If so:
- LinuxCNC - Does NOT generate G-Code, but is a CNC controller which supports a LOT of the hardware/interfaces out there for subtractive/additive machining, and supports simultaneous multi-axis controller operations.

 

[Mrbonk]

I have similar problems with w10 constantly turning defender back on when I disable it via GPO (defender keeps trying remove things as false positives and it doesn't respect my whitelist for those items and I'm sick of it so I disabled defender. I have Malwarebytes anyway and this is on a w10 pro)or it keeps adding a username duplicated with my local account trying to trick me back into signing in with a MSA and I have to remove yet again.

When I had to reinstall W10 last year for my brother it was a pain in the ass to get it to let me skip the account requirement.
I can't wait for Steam OS to be a thing anymore.

 

[vnyx]

Windows still and has pretty much always sucked so this is normal. One day it will be gone!

 

[cbreak]

What happens to my system when I delete my pointless microsoft account?

 

[JMTronicHobbyist]

You better eat this biscuit, I put some critical vitamins in it.

 

[approximate_pi]

I moved my gaming machine to debian last week, it was my last windows machine in the whole house (vintage machines aside). Valve's work on using WINE etc to make sure the majority of my games library work well under Linux means I can just never deal with installing windows ever again

If MS wants to make it actively horrible for me to use Windows I'm not going to fight them, I'm just not going to use Windows

(my primary non-gaming machines, and my work machines, are all macs)

 

[stux]

suggested OS X (which is supposed to be referred to as MacOS

macOS

 

[Alan Smithee]

When Microsoft decided my perfectly viable desktop couldn't run Win 11, I taught myself how to use Linux.

 

[Derp Derpus]

I'm glad all of my Windows 10 & 11 installs are IoT Enterprise LTSC. No need to bypass anything with my current .iso stash. Microsoft's greed will be their ultimate downfall. The only reason they want your personal info is to sell you trash or sell your info to data brokers. There's no legitimate reason for them to get any private information from customers.

 

[Slothur the Hasty]

I removed Windows and jumped to Linux Mint kind of blind when Recall was announced, the announcement then just made it clear that the sole purpose of Windows is data harvesting if it was not clear enough before, and this just cements it. Microsoft wants to track you basically.

Linux is getting there, i prefer the Cinnamon desktop offered by Linux Mint, and i have few issues on the range of computers i have installed it on, although my laptop is wonky, but that might be an Acer problem no matter what distro i try.
The lack of focus steals, nags, popups feels liberating, but that also goes for Mac OS.
My M4 mini also gets some use, and there is nothing with Microsoft or Windows that i miss anymore.

 

[Platonius]

A few days ago (after W11 desperately needed a fresh install) decided to also install linux (Pop_OS! is my first try). The main thing I need to find is something like nvidia's whisper mode/fan control that works on my MSI laptop. Most of what I use works on Linux or has a good replacement. Only problem seems to be a good replacement for iZotope RX.

 

[historyprovesyouwrong]

Linux is getting there, i prefer the Cinnamon desktop offered by Linux Mint, and i have few issues on the range of computers i have installed it on, although my laptop is wonky, but that might be an Acer problem no matter what distro i try.

I'd be curious to hear more about the issues you have with Linux on your Acer laptop?

I installed Ubuntu on my Acer Swift 14 and it runs without hiccups but maybe I just did not dig deep enough yet?