Solved Windows 11 Key

I have just finished install Windows 11 and I am curious if the key you purchase decides on how you install the system. With windows 10 I always installed without any Internet connection an only after I was happy with the installtion did I connect to the Internet to activate and get all the updates. I did this because I wanted my user name and my password, I perfectly good password I have been using since the 1980's.

This Windows 11 refuses to install without an Internet connection and as soon as you provide the connection, it needs your Microsoft Account and then demands a PIN to provide you with easier access to your own computer.

I asked CoPilot for a solution, but it could not provide any that worked. I then asked it if Microsoft refers to users as PINheads and I was asked to be respectful.

After installing Windows 11 for the third time, I decided to just live with it.

Ak

alkaufmann said:

I have just finished install Windows 11 and I am curious if the key you purchase decides on how you install the system. With windows 10 I always installed without any Internet connection an only after I was happy with the installtion did I connect to the Internet to activate and get all the updates. I did this because I wanted my user name and my password, I perfectly good password I have been using since the 1980's.

This Windows 11 refuses to install without an Internet connection and as soon as you provide the connection, it needs your Microsoft Account and then demands a PIN to provide you with easier access to your own computer.

I asked CoPilot for a solution, but it could not provide any that worked. I then asked it if Microsoft refers to users as PINheads and I was asked to be respectful.

After installing Windows 11 for the third time, I decided to just live with it.

Ak

Click to expand...

The key you purchase determines the version of Windows 11, normally Pro or Home.

Bree said:

Yes, in fact I've just clean installed 23H2 today without connecting to the internet or using a Microsoft account.

At the initial setup screen after installing W11, press Shift+F10. This opens a command prompt. Type the command (note: there are no spaces in this command) OOBE\BypassNRO

The PC will restart and this time you'll see the option to skip connecting to the internet. You'll then be able to set it up with a local account.

Click to expand...

alkaufmann said:

After installing Windows 11 for the third time, I decided to just live with it.

Ak

Click to expand...

If only you used the search bar in this forum, you'd have found the tutorial section where you'd have found help on this subject.

At the internet connection prompt during installation:

Shift + F10 to open command prompt. Type:

cd %systemroot%\System32\oobe

Click to expand...

Enter

BYPASSNRO

Click to expand...

Enter

Sometimes an error comes with simply running the oobe\bypassnro. But CD into that directory and you won’t get any errors.

Of course this implies you are NOT connected to the internet. You are trying to convince Windows you don't have internet access to allow you create a local account. It won't work if you connect to the internet.

if you do connect to wifi or have your ether cable plugged in, run:

netsh interface show interface

Click to expand...

enter
annotate your nic (the active one)

netsh interface set interface "NIC_NAME_HERE" disable

Click to expand...

reboot, run the original commands (posted above) again.

dacrone said:

if you do connect to wifi or have your ether cable plugged in, run:


enter
annotate your nic (the active one)

reboot, run the original commands (posted above) again.

Click to expand...

Isn't that easier to just disconnect the LAN cable? If it is a wireless adapter, simply ignore the list of detected WiFi networks and don't connect. Execute the commands, the computer will restart. Reply to all the questions again and at Network screen click the blue "I don't have internet connection" text.

spapakons said:

Isn't that easier to just disconnect the LAN cable?

Click to expand...

depends on your setup. i know people that have home servers rack mounted in a closet (typically headless once up and running), but getting behind a tight space may or may not be feasible. just giving op the option.

We are talking about installing Windows on a typical computer, not server, but OK. All of you with a typical computer and easy access to the LAN cable, just disconnect it.

Any pc can be utilized as a server… especially in a home setting. I gave op the commands required for either scenario.

spapakons said:

Isn't that easier to just disconnect the LAN cable?

Click to expand...

There is no need to disconnect the LAN cable! Of course, you could disconnect it, but even without disconnecting it you can use exactly the same procedure with one tiny additional step. EASY!!!

NOTE: I tested this with the Windows Pro edition, 24H2, build 26100.1150.

To summarize, this is exactly the same procedure as when you DO NOT have an Ethernet connection except that after the reboot from running "oobe\bypassnro" you perform an "ipconfig /release". This is effectively the same thing as having unplugged your Ethernet connection.

So, let's start with a reminder of what you can do if you DO NOT have an Ethernet connection or if you have unplugged your Ethernet cable:

You could open a command prompt and run "oobe\bypassnro". The system will reboot and you can proceed through setup but you will get an option that says "I don't have internet" allowing you to create a local account and bypass the need to create or sign on with a Microsoft account.

If you cannot disconnect your Ethernet cable, or you simply don't want to bother simply do this (these are the detailed steps for what I summarized above):

1) Just as before, when you get to the first static screen after the reboot during Windows setup (the screen that asks "Is this the right country or region?", open a command prompt by pressing SHIFT + F10 and running "oobe\bypassnro".

2) The system will now reboot. When you get back to the same screen again ("Is this the right country or region?"), once again open a command prompt by pressing SHIFT +F10.

3) Run this command: "ipconfig /release".

4) Close the command prompt and proceed with installation.

5) You will get the screen that provides the option that says "I don't have internet".

6) Select that option and continue as always.

Final Summary: As you can see, the procedure remains the same except that after the reboot from running "oobe\bypassnro" we perform an "ipconfig /release" which is effectively the same as disconnecting the Ethernet cable.

Thanks for all the replies and I am sorry I asked Copilot for help instead of doing more searching here. It is a bit too late for me now as I only have one more program to install and I am done. This information will be useful when I install Windows 10 in my old system and then donate it.

Thank you,
Ak

I would do a clean install of Windows 11 to make the computer more attractive to buyers and let the new owner configure the account and other details. Why bother? Let Windows Update find drivers and the new owner install applications. He would format the disk and reinstall Windows anyway.