I can see former MS Store apps on freshly n&p PC

[Appletax]

I took the screenshot below last October and am finally getting around to posting it here. The system is an HP EliteDesk and it has a fresh install of Win 11 direct from M$. Microsoft Store shows me all the previous programs that were installed going back to 2019. What's up with that? That means the MS Store is tied to a computer forever in a way, apparently. What are you thoughts on this?

Edit: this PC had a fresh N&P and only a local user account was created so it was not tied to a MS account.

Screenshot:

 

[Markverhyden]

It should be tied to the MS account used for the MS Store. That's what Apple and Google Play do.

 

[Appletax]

It should be tied to the MS account used for the MS Store. That's what Apple and Google Play do.

Right. This is a fresh N&P. I only do local accounts so this PC was not tied to a MS account.

 

[Markverhyden]

Right. This is fresh N&P so no MS Account. I do local accounts only.

"fresh install of Win 11 direct from M$". Since the machine was tied to an account before it will authenticate to that same account when licensing. Which is standard.

 

[Appletax]

"fresh install of Win 11 direct from M$". Since the machine was tied to an account before it will authenticate to that same account when licensing. Which is standard.

Even to the local account? The new install had no MS account on it at any point. So this is tied to the machine itself really, not an account.

 

[Markverhyden]

Even to the local account? The new install had no MS account on it at any point. So this is tied to the machine itself really, not an account.

That's what it would appear. Which is a problem. Say I decide to get rid of my MS box I bought new. So I nuke and pave it. The original license activation is what will activate. So it appears if app store was activated before it might reactivate with the same creds. Possibly giving access. Have you tried to install one of the apps? If the apps store is signed in can you sign out?

 

[britechguy]

Much in regard to Windows 10 and 11 is tied to the hardware and not to the Microsoft Account linked to a Windows User Account.

I don't know how one could use the Microsoft Store without a Microsoft Account being involved, even if it was not linked to a Windows User account directly. In that case, I'd imagine the things previously acquired (and that's what the Library is all about, most of those don't look like they're resident on your machine currently, or else the "cloud with download arrow" icon would not be showing) will have the licenses associated with the hardware (much like Windows licenses are).

 

[Appletax]

That's what it would appear. Which is a problem. Say I decide to get rid of my MS box I bought new. So I nuke and pave it. The original license activation is what will activate. So it appears if app store was activated before it might reactivate with the same creds. Possibly giving access. Have you tried to install one of the apps? If the apps store is signed in can you sign out?

I checked this out on my bench PC which is the same PC from the same company the other PC in my post came from. This PC has always had a local account. The past MS Store apps are showing. I chose to download Microsoft Remote Desktop, which was acquired on 4/25/2019 - many years before I got the computer. I was able to install it. What a weird thing. I guess it doesn't really matter but it does make it feel like it's not a total nuke and pave (completely brand new with no prior person's stuff attached to it).

 

[xrobwx71]

It would be interesting to see, as an experiment, purchase a gray market license, N&P, use new license, see result.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Microsoft not only recognizes a "username" for a Microsoft account, it also can tie in and recognize computers based on hardware hash, and license information....that themselves can still tie a device to a Microsoft account.