Brand new lenovo W11.....setting it up....no OOBE function...

stevem5000 · Jun 22, 2024

Started lenovo up get to the network screen...I use Shift+Fn+F10 and the CMD screen opens up......
BUT it will not allow me to type anything in at the command prompt.....
It appears the Microsoft has cut off this method of setting up a Local Account and forces you
into setting up a Microsoft account....

Does anyone have solution to setting up a Local account.....or am I forced into a Microsoft acct...????

Bree · Jun 22, 2024

stevem5000 said:
...I use Shift+Fn+F10 and the CMD screen opens up......
BUT it will not allow me to type anything in at the command prompt.....

Make sure that the command prompt window has focus so it will accept your typing, click on it's title bar to do that.

Berton · Jun 22, 2024

I've done the default setup with the Microsoft Account then later create a new User [at least one character difference in name] as a Local Account with Admin rights, signed/logged out then rebooted, get both accounts on the login screen and choose accordingly. Then the Microsoft Account can be removed when logged in on the Local Account.

hsehestedt · Jun 22, 2024

Bree said:
Make sure that the command prompt window has focus so it will accept your typing, click on it's title bar to do that.

Bree is spot on. I have noticed that whenever I open the command prompt like this it does not have focus by default. Just click on it or ALT-TAB to it.

BTW, I just tested this method, and it still works flawlessly in the Release Preview builds.

stevem5000 · Jun 22, 2024

Bree......it worked...!!!!
I have never had to give CMD focus before....
I learned something new today....

THANK YOU...!!!

antspants · Jun 22, 2024

stevem5000 said:
Microsoft has cut off this method of setting up a Local Account and forces you
into setting up a Microsoft account

I believe this to be true. There is a thread about it somewhere but I couldn’t find it.

SIW2 · Jun 22, 2024

it's ?

Bree · Jun 22, 2024

stevem5000 said:
Bree......it worked...!!!!
I have never had to give CMD focus before....
I learned something new today....

THANK YOU...!!!

Thought that would be it. Like @hsehestedt I have noticed that the command prompt no longer gets focus by default.

hsehestedt · Jun 22, 2024

antspants said:
I believe this to be true. There is a thread about it somewhere but I couldn’t find it.

At least is my testing, I was able to install using oobe\bypassnro with no difficulties using a build 26100.863 ISO image. I did this earlier today.

antspants · Jun 22, 2024

hsehestedt said:
At least is my testing, I was able to install using oobe\bypassnro with no difficulties using a build 26100.863 ISO image. I did this earlier today.

I actually remember you saying so in the thread I was trying to find

Winuser · Jun 23, 2024

antspants said:
I actually remember you saying so in the thread I was trying to find

It's still doable but MS has made it much harder for the average user. IMO I don't mind setting up a new system using my MS account. Most of my computers are signed into my MS account. What does bother me is that they won't take the time to change the Windows first time setup to allow us to choose our username. The first five characters of my email address doesn't make sense and looks stupid.

hsehestedt · Jun 23, 2024

Winuser said:
It's still doable but MS has made it much harder for the average user. IMO I don't mind setting up a new system using my MS account. Most of my computers are signed into my MS account. What does bother me is that they won't take the time to change the Windows first time setup to allow us to choose our username. The first five characters of my email address doesn't make sense and looks stupid.

You can always create an answer file that does NOTHING, except to create a local user account. I made such an answer file for myself and I have used the same answer for several years now. Works flawlessly with the RP builds, of course.

GotNoRice · Jun 23, 2024

One way to go is to install Windows 10 and then upgrade to 11. You create the local account during the Windows 10 setup, and it's retained during the Windows 11 upgrade.

Other benefits of Installing 10 and then upgrading to 11 include retention of the Dolby Digital Codec (which has been removed from Windows 11 but is retained if you upgrade from 10), bitlocker not initializing automatically, etc. It also makes it easy to install Windows 11 on systems that don't meet the requirements, without having to modify the ISO, by simply using the "/product server" bypass method when starting the upgrade with a stock ISO.

Winuser · Jun 23, 2024

hsehestedt said:
You can always create an answer file that does NOTHING, except to create a local user account. I made such an answer file for myself and I have used the same answer for several years now. Works flawlessly with the RP builds, of course.

The problem with any work arounds is that the average user is not going to know it can be done or even how to do it. IMO, MS should allow us the option to choose a local or MS account when setting up the OS for the first time. If they don't want to do that they could at least allow us to choose our username.

Winuser · Jun 23, 2024

GotNoRice said:
One way to go is to install Windows 10 and then upgrade to 11.

The average user is going to be setting up a new computer that came with whatever OS that is pre-installed on their new device. I'm more concerned about those that don't know rather then those that do know.

hsehestedt · Jun 24, 2024

Winuser said:
The problem with any work arounds is that the average user is not going to know it can be done or even how to do it. IMO, MS should allow us the option to choose a local or MS account when setting up the OS for the first time. If they don't want to do that they could at least allow us to choose our username.

I completely agree. Windows is the OS - it should provide the flexibility to allow a user to configure it easily in the manner that best fits the needs of that user.