Image description: Elon Musk & X @elonmusk • 42m Just bought a new PC laptop and it won’t let me use it unless I create a Microsoft account, which also means giving their Al access to my computer! This is messed up. There used to be an option to skip signing into or creating a Microsoft account. Are you seeing this too? This is not cool of Microsoft.


(Originally published on mastodon.social: 2024-02-25)

    • @[email protected]
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      5010 months ago

      Even on the Pro edition, on the most recent version it doesn’t have an option up front for a local account.

      Apparently the workaround, for now at least, is to try signing in with [email protected] and a random password. It then tells you the account is locked due to incorrect sign in attempts, and gives you an option for a local account.

      • @[email protected]
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        3110 months ago

        If you set it up wothout an internet connection you will not be forced to log in. That workaround has worked for like a decade.

        • @[email protected]
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          2710 months ago

          About a year ago an update came out where even without an internet connection it wouldn’t even let me get past the sign in screen. It just told me to connect to the internet to proceeds or something. Not sure if that’s still a thing or not.

            • @[email protected]
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              1010 months ago

              I used some command prompt to get around it, so I’m not saying it’s impossible. but unless you are decently techy, you will not know to do it.

              • @[email protected]
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                110 months ago

                The guides I found give you every single detail you’d need to know. If you know how to read, you can use the terminal bypass method.

                • @[email protected]
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                  110 months ago

                  Right, but my mom and dad would not even think that there is a way around it. They wouldn’t even know to look.

                  • @[email protected]
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                    210 months ago

                    Sure, but are they ones who care about not having a Microsoft account?

                    They might even think it is convenient.

                    If someone is privacy aware enough, they’ll find the solution themselves.

            • no banana
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              310 months ago

              I did it the other day without issue. Went back to fedora when I realized that the middle click could only do either of its functions in windows on my ThinkPad, while it can do both in Linux.

          • @[email protected]
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            910 months ago

            Confirming, in December I didn’t have Wi-Fi drivers and thus couldn’t login to install the Wi-Fi drivers.

          • @[email protected]
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            510 months ago

            It is but here’s still a workaround. If you open the windows terminal on the login screen, disable the internet connection and run “oobeypassnro” you will not be forced to log in.

        • @Agent641
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          810 months ago

          Microsoft: May we please fuck with you endlessly with these pointless settings?

          Me making Trollface.jpg: Sorry bruv it’s the year 2024 and I still don’t have an internet connection.

          Microsoft: Oh ok nevermind then!

          • @[email protected]
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            310 months ago

            True. There’s still a workaround though. If you open the windows terminal on that screen, disable the internet connection and run “oobeypassnro” you will not be forced to log in.

      • @shamrock
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        410 months ago

        Good luck if it comes with S mode enabled though

      • @[email protected]
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        210 months ago

        I would assume it was for work and he would have it connected to a domain. With group policy you can set to use local accounts as default if I remember correctly.

      • @Agent641
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        710 months ago

        Its hacky and annoying that its even nessecary but still easier than installing Linux.

        • @[email protected]
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          2410 months ago

          When was the last time you installed Linux? I’m done with a fresh install on most popular distros in 30 minutes or less.

          • @Agent641
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            210 months ago

            Last week, Linux mint (Green ubuntu) still can’t get the battery to detect and I dont know why. If I unplug the laptop, it turns off immediately. Battery icon shows up, shows “Charging” but stays at 0%

            Battery was working in Windows the day prior.

            HP laptop from ~2016

            • @[email protected]
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              210 months ago

              I work with mostly Dell laptops and see this all the time on Win10 so 2 grains of salt, but: Usually reseating the battery does the trick, if not the battery + ram + hd/SSD.