Microsoft taking another whack at requiring an account linked to their Windows system

[pshufd]

It's described at

Microsoft has always wanted you to have a Microsoft account to use with Windows. I often create throwaway or temporary Windows virtual machines and do not like to link an online account to Windows installations so I use one of the hacks to get around it.

Microsoft wants to really get serious on this though. So they could make this a pain in the neck again.

I'll keep my eye open for it.

 

[bogdanw]

What

I often create throwaway or temporary Windows virtual machines and do not like to link an online account to Windows installations so I use one of the hacks to get around it.

What I've always done:
- create the virtual machine without a network adapter
- install Windows, no hacks required
- add a network adapter to the virtual machine

 

[maflynn]

create the virtual machine without a network adapter

I don't think you'll be able to do that anymore.

The question is, can you create a local account after installation? If so, then maybe I'll just use a throw away account, create a local after the fact.

This is one of the biggest reasons why I walked away from PCs

 

[MBAir2010]

does this imperialism demand one phone number as  quests?

I remember open both Asus Zenbook and Dell XPS without entering a Microsoft persona; account
only using an edge or outlook user name/password.

meanwhile el_crapitan, Sigh Hierra and Mojave demanded iCloud activation during install Saturday
as my MacBook Air 2010 is still stuck logging in to iCrud fully as that won't go past step 5 on the iPad.
aaah, Cupertino at it best!

 

[pshufd]

does this imperialism demand one phone number as  quests?

I remember open both Asus Zenbook and Dell XPS without entering a Microsoft persona; account
only using an edge or outlook user name/password.

meanwhile el_crapitan, Sigh Hierra and Mojave demanded iCloud activation during install Saturday
as my MacBook Air 2010 is still stuck logging in to iCrud fully as that won't go past step 5 on the iPad.
aaah, Cupertino at it best!

I haven’t installed those versions for a couple of years but you haven’t needed to use an iCloud account to install for many releases. Apple gives you an option to skip it right on the form.

 

[pshufd]

I don't think you'll be able to do that anymore.

The question is, can you create a local account after installation? If so, then maybe I'll just use a throw away account, create a local after the fact.

This is one of the biggest reasons why I walked away from PCs

This will likely be for new installations sometime in the future. One solution would be to export a VM without one and save it on my DAS for the future.

 

[maflynn]

This will likely be for new installations sometime in the future.

I'm rethinking my long term plans for PC replacement. I'm getting nearly everything I need and want out of my Mac. I'm seeing less and less reasons for my use of windows.

Push comes to shove, maybe linux or getting a steam deck

 

[diamond.g]

This will likely be for new installations sometime in the future. One solution would be to export a VM without one and save it on my DAS for the future.

Just have to keep an older ISO/USB key around. Chances are the change would come with a Fall or Spring update (though it seems like they are only doing H2 updates these days). Alternatively domain joined systems don't have to have a MS account either. I think the Enterprise edition also skips the account requirement.

 

[pshufd]

Just have to keep an older ISO/USB key around. Chances are the change would come with a Fall or Spring update (though it seems like they are only doing H2 updates these days). Alternatively domain joined systems don't have to have a MS account either. I think the Enterprise edition also skips the account requirement.

I have W10 and W11 kits on my DAS but I have the tendency to update the kits and only save the latest. Perhaps I should save individual versions. I'm pretty sure that I have H2 saved right now.

I have macOS kits saved going back to around El Capitan. It's easier to spot the macOS versions with the names.

They mucked with H2 to try to discourage not having an account linked but that just meant that you had to use a new approach to bypass it.

There are so many people out there that don't want to link an account and I don't know why Microsoft insists on having an account.

 

[diamond.g]

I have W10 and W11 kits on my DAS but I have the tendency to update the kits and only save the latest. Perhaps I should save individual versions. I'm pretty sure that I have H2 saved right now.

I have macOS kits saved going back to around El Capitan. It's easier to spot the macOS versions with the names.

They mucked with H2 to try to discourage not having an account linked but that just meant that you had to use a new approach to bypass it.

There are so many people out there that don't want to link an account and I don't know why Microsoft insists on having an account.

Telemetry.... Data aggregation is big business now (I guess it may always have been).

 

[RandomConstant]

I'm rethinking my long term plans for PC replacement. I'm getting nearly everything I need and want out of my Mac. I'm seeing less and less reasons for my use of windows.

Push comes to shove, maybe linux or getting a steam deck

A long-time Linux and MacOS /OS X/macOS user here. While Linux is certainly more private than Windows or macOS, it has its issues too. Besides lack of hardware support (yes, even in 2025), corporate interests heavily affect the Linux kernel's development and unwanted changes are often forced on users who can't / won't configure and recompile their own kernels. This is why I've mostly turned my back on Linux (except for development / testing purposes).

Yeah, I get it - macOS can be a privacy nightmare, but at this stage in my life, I want something with great features, doesn't have adverts in the Settings screen, isn't constantly nagging you to log in and can run GarageBand and iMovie. I no longer feel like being a 'rebel' and using Linux full-time. As long as I have Homebrew, Cyberduck and Geany, macOS is just fine for me. 👍

 

[pshufd]

Recommendations: save an old installer, and, a new workaround using the Registry.