Microsoft Account and internet now mandatory to set up Windows 11 22H2 Insider builds

Wolfzz · May 10, 2022

Microsoft Account and internet now mandatory to set up Windows 11 22H2 Insider builds

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 22H2 Insiders on the Windows 11 Pro edition will now require a Microsoft Account and internet connection during the initial setup of a personal use device.

www.neowin.net

Ghot · May 10, 2022

Old news. :)

Windows 11 Pro users will force users to login to their Microsoft account during the set up process - gHacks Tech News

A Microsoft account will soon be required for setting up Windows 11 Pro Edition. Local accounts can't be used for the installation.

www.ghacks.net

There are a few work-arounds already.

Bree · May 10, 2022

@Wolfzz, it's been like that for a while now with the Insider Pro builds, and has always been that way for 11 Home since the initial RTM launch last year.

There are workarounds....

Wolfzz · May 10, 2022

I new about the Home edition and I heard they were talking about doing the same to the Pro edition, didn't think they would actually do it, as I have NO need for a Microsoft Account as I don't need or use any of their Bloatware Apps and with more Telemetry. I will look at the workarounds.
Thanks

Brink · May 10, 2022

Correct. You can workaround this as detailed in the clean install tutorial below.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

bogdan · May 10, 2022

And those who have Mediatek network cards for example, whose lan driver must be installed manually after installation, what to do?

Bree · May 10, 2022

Wolfzz said:
I have NO need for a Microsoft Account as I don't need or use any of their Bloatware Apps and with more Telemetry. I will look at the workarounds.

You'll only need the workarounds if you want to do a clean install. If you already have Windows 10 of 11 with just a local account then an in-place upgrade does not insist on switching it to a MS account.

spapakons · May 12, 2022

It makes sense for Insider's Preview builds so Microsoft can confirm you are a registered Insider and not just using the Preview version without feedback. If you do want to use a local account instead, hopefully the same workarounds that work for the release version for Windows 11 Home still work here. Last time I checked, you press SHIFT+F10 to open a command prompt and run the command taskmgr to open Task Manager. Then click on More details, go to Details tab, find "oobe network" or similar. End task. Close Task Manager, close command prompt and you should be presented with the option to create a local account.

jimbo45 · May 12, 2022

Hi there
Installing via dism /Apply-Image also works (clean installs) .

If you fiddle around with the install-wim using something like a Winpe bootable USB or Macrium stand alone recovery with a command line (create the PE rather than the RE version) you can then also "inject" stuff into the WIM for customised and unattended install. E,G instead of having to install Ms Office again etc.

Remember this is a more technical board so although dism wouldn't be used normally by "bog standard" users most people on these Forums should be able to handle that method of install.

I'm not keen on registry hacks, renaming .dll's 3rd party "get arounds" etc etc Just uismg standard Ms commands works best for me.

Cheers
jimbo

Bree · May 12, 2022

spapakons said:
Last time I checked, you press SHIFT+F10 to open a command prompt and run the command taskmgr to open Task Manager. Then click on More details, go to Details tab, find "oobe network" or similar. End task.

That should still work, as would running the command oobe\bypassnro from that command prompt.

What is "oobe\bypassnro"

When installing Windows 11, if you want to get around having to connect to the internet and login with a MS account, you can enter the command prompt and run: oobe\bypassnro I always thought oobe was the command and \bypassnro was an option switch, and I found it completely odd there was no...

www.elevenforum.com

spapakons · May 12, 2022

My workaround is easier than messing with Dism, yours seem even easier. Thanks for sharing.

astroturph · May 12, 2022

Microsoft already removed two different workarounds so it's only a matter of time when they remove the oobebypassnro workaround.

cereberus · May 13, 2022

astroturph said:
Microsoft already removed two different workarounds so it's only a matter of time when they remove the oobebypassnro workaround.

I do not think they will entirely remove that one - it was introduced for corporate users who complained they had requirements for pcs e.g. in labs to run without connecting to internet.

Bree · May 13, 2022

astroturph said:
Microsoft already removed two different workarounds so it's only a matter of time when they remove the oobebypassnro workaround.

cereberus said:
I do not think they will entirely remove that one - it was introduced for corporate users who complained they had requirements for pcs e.g. in labs to run without connecting to internet.

Even if they did, NavyLCDR's post has documented the registry changes that script makes, they should continue to work when applied manually.

spapakons · May 13, 2022

Also the military wants PCs isolated from the internet for security reasons. There must be a way to bypass creating a Microsoft account and just create a local one.

I just though of another possibility. Why not bypass OOBE (Out Of the Box Experience), the initial configuration and just run the computer in Audit Mode? Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F3 allows you to use the computer temporarily with the built-in Administrator account. Once on the desktop you can install drivers, applications and let the final user create the first account. Guess what! You can even create a local user! So you create a local user, then restart. Hopefully you won't be asked to create an account, since there is already one, haven't tested though. Next time I install Windows 11 Home, I will test it and report back.

TairikuOkami · May 13, 2022

If you think MSA is bad, just wait, passwordless accounts will be mandatory too.

Apple, Google and Microsoft Commit to Expanded Support for FIDO Standard to Accelerate Availability of Passwordless Sign-Ins - FIDO Alliance

Faster, easier and more secure sign-ins will be available to consumers across leading devices and platforms

fidoalliance.org

spapakons · May 13, 2022

Not all devices support passwordless access. To use fingerprint you need a fingerprint reader. For face recognition you need a webcam. Using a pin, usually 4 numbers, is less secure than using a standard password. So let's just ignore this nonsense for now. Until it materialize there will be at least a year.

ThrashZone · May 13, 2022

Hi,
Pin number was always a stupid thing to suggest
Mostly because it was just another thing to remember for people that can't remember a password

Besides the finger print scanner and webcam needed fingers can also be altered from paper cuts or even calluses I know some touchpads don't like some of my fingers
Webcams
Beard/ no bread/ just woke up/ crazy hair/ no hair/ drunk hungover face then you get into makeup for the ladies that throw on a couple coats before they go anywhere :lmao: