frase
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That is why I make a fresh install of the current OS, it also take out the superfluous apps a laptop has. One can then control to connect to a network or not then.
Another method for avoiding using a Microsoft account during setup
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Doc+Com
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Sorry if I'm missing the point of this thread but in answer to the title, I do this;
- During the install of Windows 11, allow the PC to connect to the internet.
- Shortly after, you will be asked to connect to your MS account or create a new one.
- Enter a non-accessible email address (I use no@thankyou.com).
- Enter a password anything you want but don't leave it blank (I use whatever appears after I've run my hand over the keyboard!)
- Hit enter. You will then see "Something went wrong and you will then be asked what user name you want to use to set up a local account.
This has worked for me when setting up new PC's for clients for the last 5 months at least.
Again, I apologize if this is already common knowledge here...I didn't have time to read all of the input in the thread.
- During the install of Windows 11, allow the PC to connect to the internet.
- Shortly after, you will be asked to connect to your MS account or create a new one.
- Enter a non-accessible email address (I use no@thankyou.com).
- Enter a password anything you want but don't leave it blank (I use whatever appears after I've run my hand over the keyboard!)
- Hit enter. You will then see "Something went wrong and you will then be asked what user name you want to use to set up a local account.
This has worked for me when setting up new PC's for clients for the last 5 months at least.
Again, I apologize if this is already common knowledge here...I didn't have time to read all of the input in the thread.
Larry Sabo
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I set up PC with Win 11 yesterday and was not asked to provide an e-mail address. It just set it up as a local account. This was using the installation media and product key card my customer had purchased. Needless to say, I was surprised.
nlinecomputers
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Was it Windows 11 Pro? You get more flexibility with pro.
Larry Sabo
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No; it was Win 11 Home.
nlinecomputers
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Not plugged into the internet? In place upgrade or a fresh install?
Larry Sabo
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I don't recall if I connected to my WiFi network during the installation. I think I did, as I was expecting the e-mail prompt but surprised that didn't get one. Not positive though. Fresh install. The activation status was "activated" not "activated under a digital license." Customer had tried to install Windows but was unable to do so; SSD was initialized MBR; I deleted all partitions and converted MBR to GPT. Perfectly routine installation after that.
britechguy
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@Larry Sabo
This is a screenshot from my own machine, which is running Windows 11 Pro, but I've seen the same for home:
Are you saying that when you activate the "detail dropdown" (which I have already done before snagging the screenshot) next to the green active check that you don't see any mention of a digital license?
Addendum: Of course it makes sense, if a local account is in use, that it will only note "active" in some way. You can't have a "digital license linked to your Microsoft account" when you're not logged in using a Microsoft Account linked Windows user account. It's possible it might mention that it's got a digital license linked to a Microsoft account, but whether it would identify whose is an open question.
This is a screenshot from my own machine, which is running Windows 11 Pro, but I've seen the same for home:
Are you saying that when you activate the "detail dropdown" (which I have already done before snagging the screenshot) next to the green active check that you don't see any mention of a digital license?
Addendum: Of course it makes sense, if a local account is in use, that it will only note "active" in some way. You can't have a "digital license linked to your Microsoft account" when you're not logged in using a Microsoft Account linked Windows user account. It's possible it might mention that it's got a digital license linked to a Microsoft account, but whether it would identify whose is an open question.
Larry Sabo
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Agreed.
I don't see how that's possible, although I can imaginge it saying "activated with a digital license" without referencing a MS account.. The customer does have an MS account and I was prepared to set it up using it, but was never prompted to do so nor asked for an e-mail address. I've told the customer that if he wants to change account sigh-in to use an MS account, he can do that in Settings, Account...
Markverhyden
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I've used this technique before and have had mixed results. Sometimes the fake email has worked and other times it hasn't. So I've just stayed with no network until I'm done with OOBE.
britechguy
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The scenario I was thinking of is that the machine was set up by someone with a Microsoft Account that linked that account to the first Windows user account at first setup time.
My i7 machine, which I inherited from a client, still reflects licensing linked to her. The machine I'm typing on is where that screen capture came from, but other "licensed things" that were installed when using a local account have information about those local accounts.
I could see a tech setting up a machine either with a user's actual Microsoft Account, or with a "shop" Microsoft Account (no, no, never, never - I'll establish one for the client if I have to), and then setting up a local account for the client because that's what they insist on using.
I just re-homed one of our old Toshiba Satellite laptops to a friend of the family who's in her 80s. The licensing for Windows is still linked to my partner's Microsoft account, as that's what was used at setup time, even when I'm logged in with my account. I set up a local account for her, and I never looked to see what it says about Windows activation when that local account is logged in.
In looking on the machine I'm typing from, for a local account I created in case I needed to check out differences at any point, here's what shows up as far as activation with the details expanded:
I just checked my W10 box which I updated to W11 with just a local log on and it just shows "activated with a digital license"
Larry Sabo
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That's about all I've seen on almost all PCs. But this time, I'm absolutely certain, it did not say that, just "activated." If I ever get that PC back, I'll see what it says and update the thread.
I don't know the history of the PC, except that the customer tried to install Win 11 and failed. It looked a brand new custom build, but I don't know who built it. The customer did not impress me as capable of doing so. I'll get more history next time I talk with the customer but I have no reason to do so at this point.
Markverhyden
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From what I've seen using an physical license, as in the code on a piece of paper, only shows activated. You only see digital if it's an OEM or online purchase from what I've seen.
britechguy
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This being the case, it would certainly appear that Microsoft does, indeed, have very sophisticated license tracking going on. It also reinforces my long held opinion that if someone hands me a license key and I have no knowledge of the legitimacy of its origins, if Microsoft activates it, it's legal and valid. I can't possibly know for sure, they must (or make the choice to allow sketchy activations, which is their choice).
Wheelie
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Yep correct. Been doing this since Win11 came out (sorry I have not been here for a while!) On every new Windows 11 computer that I have set up fresh out of the box (a lot!) .... this has worked 100% of the time for me. I even do it remotely with customers with new PCs over the phone before I even connect by talking them through it: During the setup go ahead and connect it to Wi-Fi as it requests - then - when asked for the Microsoft email address .... enter USERNAME for the email ... and enter PASSWORD for the password. Then you will get a prompt, "OOPS! Something went wrong! ..." and it gives you the "Who's using this computer prompt" and it then creates a Local Account!! Yay!! Then I disable Disk Encryption, turn off all Privacy Settings, and remove all the stupid retail apps using O&O's App Buster. I also use an O&O Shutup config file to disable telemetry and a few other things. This method of creating a Local Account has worked for me on all new computers - Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, etc. and with fresh installs using the Windows 11 ISO USB flash drive.
NviGate Systems
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Or at the very least, they don't care as much as in the old days. Microsoft you softie...
Sky-Knight
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The Windows OS is a market place they sell actually profitable services on, profits generated from OS sales are now marginal. So a soft stance of enforcement here actually makes a ton of business sense.
YeOldeStonecat
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I don't work with Windows Home....but are people seeing Windows 11 Home edition....ONLY allows Microsoft accounts to sign in? No way to trick that?
Also, are they seeing Bitlocker automatically enabled from the unbuckle...before someone signs in with a MS account? I understand Bitlocker will turn on once you sign in with a MS account. But...before that..it's on?
Also, are they seeing Bitlocker automatically enabled from the unbuckle...before someone signs in with a MS account? I understand Bitlocker will turn on once you sign in with a MS account. But...before that..it's on?
britechguy
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My understanding has always been that Windows 11, as shipped from the factory, has Device Encryption (Home) or BitLocker (Pro) active as shipped. It's not turned on as part of the setup process by the end user, but of the basic setup of Windows itself. This is one of the reasons I have included a check for Device Encryption/BitLocker Status and the turning off of same as a part of my Windows 11 "fresh from the factory" setup protocol.
This is not true for upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 if the existing Windows 10 instance did not have it on in the first place.
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