Basically, install Windows as you normally would, but when asked for Time and Currency format, select English (World) instead of your country.

Then let the installer do its thing. Eventually, you will see a window with an ice cream cone on the floor with the words “Something went wrong” and the error message “OOBEREGION.” This cryptic message means that the “out of box experience” (OOBE) didn’t launch because it didn’t know which region to launch.

Click Skip, though, and Windows will install just fine. You won’t be prompted to buy Microsoft 365, you won’t be prompted to pay for a OneDrive subscription, and your Start menu won’t be cluttered with apps.

  • rastilin
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    fedilink
    61 year ago

    I think they’ll go even harder, making Windows only run stuff purchased through the Windows Store so they can completely lock in the market.

    • @qwertyqwertyqwerty
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      English
      21 year ago

      They already have a Windows “S” mode or whatever it’s called that does this. People will reject it, even casual users. I had one person ask me to turn off this mode to their kid could play Roblox. They just want to run apps, they don’t care how they work.