Solved Re all the weeping over local user accounts...

I've been crying for weeks over this local account issue.

TraderGary said:

I find it curious the need of so many forum members to eliminate having a Microsoft account.

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Tranquility really. I'll pay for the use of the Operating System and the Office Suite..., after that, I just want to be left alone!

The problem is, Microsoft doesn't respect ownership and privacy rights. Every step they've taken recently has been in the wrong direction. I will not use a Microsoft account or OneDrive. I have no use for either. It's that simple.

DJNelson said:

The problem is, Microsoft doesn't respect ownership and privacy rights. Every step they've taken recently has been in the wrong direction. I will not use a Microsoft account or OneDrive. I have no use for either. It's that simple.

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Try to think of Windows as a big, enthusiastic, eager, and fun loving dog that hasn't gone to obedience school and is still trying to figure out who the boss is. He's gonna be up in your business (if you know what I mean) constantly. Oh, he'll still try to guard you because he thinks you're his property. He may even try to guard you at the most inconvenient moments and it could take years of conditioning before he'll break the habit of chasing away the mail man (if he ever does) so you will just have to keep him on a leash and tell him, "Bad dog!" until it finally sinks in (or doesn't).

You can get apps that will help you train your dog and you will get varying degrees of success with these. You can make alterations at the puppy stage but it will still require a little surgery. None of these approaches are perfect and many of them are experiMENTAL. Nonetheless the puppy stage is the time to make significant changes if they are to be made at all.

Now this analogy goes a long way so I won't bore you with it, but methinks there are some real nasty dog breeders for hire at MS and some of them are very keen on doing things with the genetic "code" that do not necessarily benefit the dog 'owner' but are strictly developed to further empower MS. The old "who owns the dog" argument has never really died, but if all one really has is a license then one really should not be held accountable for the impolite behavior of the dog. So what more can a poor boy do?

A: He can Frankenstein his own breed in the knowledge that whatever he does with it he is liable for his own choices. I'm pretty sure this is in the EULA some place. Of course, this is all done at his own risk. He can't be whining to Microsoft just because his doggy was misbehaving after he decided to take ownership of the dog. By establishing a local account I'm neutering the breed. By refusing to use One Drive I'm circumventing a virus. Now I like to think of myself as a responsible dog owner but it's only natural that there will be the occasional issue to contend with.

Monsanto, errrm.. I mean Microsoft... Doesn't really want to own your dog. That's why the license is in your name. They don't really want to be liable for what you do with your dog either. Somebody should write a book titled, "The Proper Care and Feeding of your Microsoft Operating System". It would probably sell. No, I'm not crying over what MS is doing with local accounts. Indubitably there will be a work around and MS will be content with that because as long as they aren't liable the onus will ALWAYS be on the user.

Unlike some here I would be very surprised if so many Forum Members did NOT use local accounts. Many of us want to keep our dogs on a leash when we take them out for a walk. We enjoy helping fellow users reap the benefits and rewards of using a functional OS and to learn how to keep control of it. At the same time I understand why some would prefer not to "neuter" their operating systems and that is their choice. What concerns me is when it appears that MS would remove that choice. Perhaps they wish to do away with licensing altogether. We shall soon see.

If I live another 20 years it will be a miracle. I rather doubt it. I'm at the age where I'll do what I like when I like with my own PC. If this means I'll have to use a different unlicensed version of an OS so be it. In fact, I'm already gearing up for this. I have enough to last me for what is left of my life. I keep telling my girls there's always Linux. They're not exactly closed to the idea anymore either.

That's the great thing about Windows today. There's something for everyone. I'm fortunate to buy what I want and do what I want with it!

TraderGary said:

my Internet was so slow back then

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Dial-up internet? I remember it taking days to download a new version of Linux Mandrake. I also remember before download managers, if the download failed I would have to start all over. The good old days? Not when it comes to dial-up internet.

TraderGary said:

That's the great thing about Windows today. There's something for everyone. I'm fortunate to buy what I want and do what I want with it!

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Not everyone in this world are as fortunate as you.

Microsoft does what they like because they can, Windows is pretty much integrated into everyday life and you really cannot do without it , no matter what they do to the OS.

Edwin said:

Tranquility really. I'll pay for the use of the Operating System and the Office Suite..., after that, I just want to be left alone!

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Where in the MS EULA's do they agree to the leave user's alone part?

Winuser said:

Dial-up internet? I remember it taking days to download a new version of Linux Mandrake. I also remember before downloads managers, if the download failed I would have to start all over. The good old days? Not when it comes to dial-up internet.

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My son once recommended a website I thought I would give it a try unfortunately I was spoofed the screen froze and in that time a new dial-up had been created and connected cost me £1 a minute lucky i discovered it in 40 mins cost me 40 quid the first scam i had encountered ...
BT Phoned me the same night to warn me ... lol

Dark Knight said:

Microsoft does what they like because they can, Windows is pretty much integrated into everyday life and you really cannot do without it , no matter what they do to the OS.

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If you are pottering about the internet watching YT and reading the odd paper you can manage perfectly well without MS, might even manage a letter or two

But anything else, MS Rules the world ...Agree

Josey Wales said:

Not everyone in this world are as fortunate as you.

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The secret is to never stop working. I retired 20 years ago and never stopped working!

Winuser said:

I actually prefer to use a MS account on my computers but not when first setting them up. I always setup the computer with a local account. Once setup and running I switch to my MS account. I do that so that I can decide what username I want, were I want my User folders located and If I want BitLocker turned on or off. IMO, Mommy Microsoft needs to lighten up and let us decide how we want our computers setup.

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You can now set up your own name in Dev/Beta Insider builds but not yet on release version - maybe a future update will do this?

TraderGary said:

That's the great thing about Windows today. There's something for everyone. I'm fortunate to buy what I want and do what I want with it!

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@TraderGary That's the thing we all have in common in this forum.

Winuser said:

Dial-up internet? I remember it taking days to download a new version of Linux Mandrake. I also remember before downloads managers, if the download failed I would have to start all over. The good old days? Not when it comes to dial-up internet.

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@Winuser
I think many of us have fond memories of that era when the Internet was so young, new, and exciting as it evolved as a new frontier. The sounds of modems negotiating before . . . . . . CONNECTED.
14.4K, 28.8K, 56K, ADSL, CABLE, and for some fiber!
Now truly fast broadband, and decent WIFI.

Scannerman said:

so you will just have to keep him on a leash and tell him, "Bad dog!" until it finally sinks in (or doesn't).

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The problem is it figures out new ways out of the kennel every patch Tuesday..

When somebody says he/she doesn't want to log in with a Microsoft account, I always wait for a logical reason. I've been logging into Windows on all my computers with a Microsoft account for years and have never experienced even a hint of a problem because of it.

DJNelson said:

The problem is it figures out new ways out of the kennel every patch Tuesday..

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*LAUGHING* Well-said . . .

Notice that O&O ShutUp10++ is now MUCH larger to reign things in where possible
Version 2.0.1009, File size 75MB.
Released on: 10/14/2025

larc919 said:

When somebody says he/she doesn't want to log in with a Microsoft account, I always wait for a logical reason. I've been logging into Windows on all my computers with a Microsoft account for years and have never experienced even a hint of a problem because of it.

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My mother had a friend that was less concerned about Civil Liberties. Her response was always, "I've got nothing to hide."

Sadly, she was a professor and missed the point of protecting Civil Liberties entirely. Overreach is overreach and people should always have a right to choice and privacy. It should always be AVAILABLE to take part in sharing info or NOT.

TraderGary said:

The secret is to never stop working. I retired 20 years ago and never stopped working!

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I retired 15 years ago from public works. Took a 8 months break then went back as a seasonal worker.