Solved Best business desktop?

Hazel123 · Dec 1, 2021

I don't worry about having a Microsoft account. There are a lot of advantages too - your computer models and subscriptions are all stored there (eg my Word 2013 subscription which I can just redownload if I need to reinstall and it automatically activates as the subscription is logged on the MS Account). Likewise my Windows 10 Pro subscription activates automatically as stored in the account too.

It is no different to apple requiring an apple id to use an iphone or ipad.

But easy enough to install Windows 10 without a MS Account. Just don't connect to the internet during install.

If you're using Word you shouldn't need rtf ? Word Pad is still installed and if that is used instead of Word then it will save documents as rich text file instead of .doc. If you have files saved as rtf and open them in Word then it will convert them (or ask if you want to) and you can then resave them as .doc.

marne · Dec 1, 2021

THANK YOU!
My Dell 5890 Windows 10 Pro just arrived. I took it our of the box to look at it later. I was so surprised to see how small it is compared to the towers I always got with my previous computers. I like the looks.
I have a lot of thinking to do now about being afraid of having a Microsoft account.

If I do stick with wanting to set up with Local account, do you unplug from the Internet BEFORE turning the new computer on, or do it when you come to the sign in with Microsoft when the "Who's going to use this PC" pops up? (just what I saw a graphic of while searching how)
On that screen, do I type any name of my choice skipping the password and press Enter to continue on? (confused by a Youtube)
When do I connect to the Internet?

Bree · Dec 1, 2021

marne said:
If I do stick with wanting to set up with Local account, do you unplug from the Internet BEFORE turning the new computer on

You can set up W11 Pro without connecting to the internet, you'll see an option to 'Continue with limited setup'. like the one I posted in post #59.

In fact, even if you do want to use a Microsoft account it is better to create a local account first, then switch it to a Microsoft account later. If you set up with an MS account then your user folder gets the first 5 characters of your email address as its name. If you set up with a local account you user folder has the same name as your account name.

You can switch your account from a local account to a Microsoft account, and back again, as many times and whenever you want. But your user folder will never change its name, it's stuck with whatever name it got when you first set up the account.

Hazel123 · Dec 1, 2021

marne said:
THANK YOU!
My Dell 5890 Windows 10 Pro just arrived. I took it our of the box to look at it later. I was so surprised to see how small it is compared to the towers I always got with my previous computers. I like the looks.
I have a lot of thinking to do now about being afraid of having a Microsoft account.

If I do stick with wanting to set up with Local account, do you unplug from the Internet BEFORE turning the new computer on, or do it when you come to the sign in with Microsoft when the "Who's going to use this PC" pops up? (just what I saw a graphic of while searching how)
On that screen, do I type any name of my choice skipping the password and press Enter to continue on? (confused by a Youtube)
When do I connect to the Internet?

I think you'd just turn it on and go through the set up process. When it gets to the point where it asks you to connect to a network, just click on - I don't have a network or internet (says something like that). Even though it will display your network to select from just ignore that and select - I don't have network/internet. Then next, and carry on with the set up. After that, on the next screen it should ask you to choose a username (for the local account) and a password.

It's up to you whether you choose a password or not. You can just hit next and not enter a password so the PC just starts up with no password required (although it's probably a good idea to have a password).

Once it's all fully installed and you're at the desktop, then you can connect to the internet and do the Windows Updates.

unifex · Dec 2, 2021

If you want to set up Windows on a local account just don't connect it to the internet. Start it up, go through the initial setup, then uninstall bloatware (if you bought a ready machine, there will be bloatware), and then connect it to the internet when you actually need it. There is never any need to have the machine connected while setting it up.

unifex · Dec 2, 2021

Hazel123 said:
It's up to you whether you choose a password or not. You can just hit next and not enter a password so the PC just starts up with no password required (although it's probably a good idea to have a password).

That depends on where the machine is and how is it used. If it's really a *personal* computer, with one person using it, then the only reason to have a password is to keep your kids from messing it up. If that's not a concern, then what's the point of having to type a password every time you boot it up? On the other hand, if the machine is used in an office or somehow shared with other people, then of course you need a password.

Bree · Dec 2, 2021

unifex said:
There is never any need to have the machine connected while setting it up.

That is no longer true, not if it's Windows 11 Home. The initial OoBE will not let you get past the 'Let's connect you....' step until you have connected. Only 11 Pro retains the 'Continue with limited setup' option.

barman58 · Dec 2, 2021

Irrespective of when you assign a new device to a Microsoft account, it does have one major good point - when you allocate your windows Licence to the Microsoft ID it will allow you to recover the licence should your hardware fails ( as in one of the critical sub components such as the motherboard fail )

You can still run day to day on a Local account but the digital licence is a useful backup to have for peace of mind

unifex · Dec 2, 2021

Bree said:
That is no longer true, not if it's Windows 11 Home. The initial OoBE will not let you get past the 'Let's connect you....' step until you have connected. Only 11 Pro retains the 'Continue with limited setup' option.

Frankly, I never used a "Home" version of Windows, never understood what would be the point. I did buy a laptop for my wife which had Windows 10 Home preinstalled, but I upgraded it to Pro even before connecting to the internet. Of course, I had to turn it on first and then it went through the initial setup allowing me to setup a local account. If it did not, I would have sent the machine right back to Amazon. Nowhere on the product description page does it say that internet is required for the device to operate.

As for Windows 11 Home, I've never seen one, but are you really telling me that it will not work without the internet connection? The "let's connect..." step will not be able to connect if no network is present, right? So when you buy such a device, do they explain to you that you must have a network in place for the device to function?

unifex · Dec 2, 2021

barman58 said:
Irrespective of when you assign a new device to a Microsoft account, it does have one major good point - when you allocate your windows Licence to the Microsoft ID it will allow you to recover the licence should your hardware fails ( as in one of the critical sub components such as the motherboard fail )

You can still run day to day on a Local account but the digital licence is a useful backup to have for peace of mind

That's a good point. Transferring licenses to new computers became complicated once they got rid of the license keys. Can that be done without setting a user account with Microsoft credentials used for logging it? how many licenses can you associate with a given Microsoft ID? Can you do that for Office licenses as well?

Haydon · Dec 2, 2021

barman58 said:
Irrespective of when you assign a new device to a Microsoft account, it does have one major good point - when you allocate your windows Licence to the Microsoft ID it will allow you to recover the licence should your hardware fails ( as in one of the critical sub components such as the motherboard fail )

You can still run day to day on a Local account but the digital licence is a useful backup to have for peace of mind

As a curiosity, I have an extra MS account that is associated with an email address only and nothing else, no Windows license, no nothing! That happened somewhere along the way when my ISP went from their own email servers to that of MS and back again to their own email servers

marne · Dec 2, 2021

Again, I want you ALL to know I GREATLY appreciated ALL your replies here. I am going to read each one OVER before I do anything.
This computer was ordered as a Windows 10 Pro (includes Windows 11 Pro license). If so, I have yet to find out? No information came with, telling me of anything.
I am the ONLY one who uses my computer, so no worry about anyone else around to even see it.

Can this be possible? It was on sale for $769 when ordered November 26 BlackFriday. Now when I looked, it is selling for $549.00!
Should I send it back and reorder?

ThrashZone · Dec 2, 2021

Hi,
Yes return.

barman58 · Dec 2, 2021

unifex said:
That's a good point. Transferring licenses to new computers became complicated once they got rid of the license keys. Can that be done without setting a user account with Microsoft credentials used for logging it? how many licenses can you associate with a given Microsoft ID? Can you do that for Office licenses as well?

I've been using this system for several years now and I always attach my keys / licence to a digital storage With my Microsoft ID (outlook eMail, and use this as my main login for microsoft devices ( or more precisely Windows running on a device). I always create a local account for a backup, (emergency access) but use the microsoft ID as a daily user account .

In all the time that I've been doing this, (quite a while), I have never needed to enter a licence Key ( as long as I never try to use more licences than I have active). The licences have been from various legit sources both supplied with systems and direct from Microsoft and never been refused. The system does not differentiate between old OEM or Retail licences and office apps are included too as I believe that these are automatically stored with the MS account to, as long as you are logged in with your Microsoft ID when installing.

When the Microsoft account (now ID) was first introduced, I believe that you could use any legit and live email address but not sure if this still applies

marne · Dec 2, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Yes return.

That's OK. Live and learn. I should hook it up and if I screw up, will have something to fight with? "LOL"

Bree · Dec 2, 2021

unifex said:
As for Windows 11 Home, I've never seen one, but are you really telling me that it will not work without the internet connection? The "let's connect..." step will not be able to connect if no network is present, right? So when you buy such a device, do they explain to you that you must have a network in place for the device to function?

W11 Home works fine without the internet, it's the initial setup of Home that can't work without it. Don't know if a shop would explain, Microsoft do though....

Microsoft said:
Internet connection and Microsoft account Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account.

Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements | Microsoft

Find an overview of Windows 11 specs and features from Microsoft. Learn about the device specifications, versions and languages available for Windows 11

www.microsoft.com

There are ways to bypass this when setting up 11 Home, but you have to be pretty IT-proficient to know them (and if you are, why didn't you go for Pro?).

ThrashZone · Dec 2, 2021

marne said:
That's OK. Live and learn. I should hook it up and if I screw up, will have something to fight with? "LOL"

Hi,
Black Friday sells is just a gimmick usually if you don't research first.

I'd frankly call support and say if you don't credit the difference you'd return for full refund.

unifex · Dec 2, 2021

The only way I personally may end up with the "Home" edition is buying a laptop with Windows pre-installed. Very often there is no choice as different hardware specs are paired with specific Windows versions and marketed either as "business" or "home" or "gaming" for reasons that are not immediately clear. However, when I buy a laptop, I don't buy Windows from Microsoft, I buy a device from an electronics shop and it must work. That means, I unpack, press the power button and it works. In particular, it should work without internet, period. If it does not, the shop better have a big red disclaimer, because otherwise I would definitely return it.

ThrashZone · Dec 2, 2021

unifex said:
The only way I personally may end up with the "Home" edition is buying a laptop with Windows pre-installed. Very often there is no choice as different hardware specs are paired with specific Windows versions and marketed either as "business" or "home" or "gaming" for reasons that are not immediately clear. However, when I buy a laptop, I don't buy Windows from Microsoft, I buy a device from an electronics shop and it must work. That means, I unpack, press the power button and it works. In particular, it should work without internet, period. If it does not, the shop better have a big red disclaimer, because otherwise I would definitely return it.

Hi,
Doubt it home version is what manufactures use so ms accounts... are mandatory so ms kickback to them for not installing pro.