Solved install windows 11 with a local account instead of a microsoft account

LesFerch said:

I'm not sure there is an easy way to disable the virtual network with VMWare Workstation Player. I'll have to check that. I could also look at VMWare Pro now that it's free for personal

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fg2001gf11F said:

Yes, I just tried "work and school" > Sign-in options > selected Domain and it went straight to the local account setup.
Used official MS 26100.560 installation media.
That still works, without disconnecting and goes through all the updates.
It came up directly updated to 26100.712.
I like this method much better without the need for disconnecting, it gets all the updates too.
We'll see how long it will take to MS to screw this up too.
Microsoft seems like the "Office for the complications of simple affairs".
Or like they say in Italy "UCAS" (Ufficio Complicazioni Affari Semplici)

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I can't see even Ms hosing this up -- after all joining a domain requires on the domain owner / work place to establish logon credentials and not Microsoft. Some companies too will operate internal "Intranets" so the domain won't even be visible to the external internet so Ms will have no way of checking whether any domain name entered is valid -- simpler just to leave it as is.

Cheers
jimbo

Yes, it can check if the domain is valid. As long as you can connect, it is valid. If you cannot you probable mistyped it or it is not valid, so you are prompted to try again. Just skip, why bother?

LesFerch said:

I thought you can't create an account in audit mode. Did you test that?

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First, no need for audit mode, but even if you did use audit mode, your answer file creates the user account AFTER you are done with audit mode.

But again, I am not talking about using audit mode. You can create an answer file that does NOTHING but alter setup slightly to auto create a user account without even prompting you. In other words, as far as the user is concerned, this like just like any other manual install EXCEPT that it never asks for a user account because the answer file supplies that info.

Again, the user does NOTHING special. Just follow the installation wizard as always, no audit mode or anything else special.

This works flawlessly Have installed this way HUNDREDS of times.

Note this will not yet work with the preview build currently available (560) because there are still issues related to setup that Microsoft has not yet addressed in that build. This affects more than unattended setup.

I suggested to use Audit Mode instead of creating an answer file which sounds more complicated and requires some programmer basic knowledge.

spapakons said:

I suggested to use Audit Mode instead of creating an answer file which sounds more complicated and requires some programmer basic knowledge.

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Requires absolutely NO programming skill, not even the most basic.

Simply take a sample template and open ion Notepad. Change the username if you need to. I have been using the same answer file for a couple years.

hsehestedt said:

Requires absolutely NO programming skill, not even the most basic.

Simply take a sample template and open ion Notepad. Change the username if you need to. I have been using the same answer file for a couple years.

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I'd suggest posting a copy of the answer file, and it's name and tell somebody how to get it onto the media so they can do the same thing.

hsehestedt said:

Requires absolutely NO programming skill, not even the most basic.

Simply take a sample template and open ion Notepad. Change the username if you need to. I have been using the same answer file for a couple years.

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The answer file is great for install media, but is there a convenient way to add an answer file directly to an ISO image?

You should be able to use nLite/vLite (whichever works for Windows 11) to modify the parameters you want, including the creation of the local account and then create a new ISO with the modifications. Use Rufus to create a USB flash drive from this ISO and you should be good to go. You can also include updates, drivers and some applications.

LesFerch said:

The answer file is great for install media, but is there a convenient way to add an answer file directly to an ISO image?

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You don't even need to bother adding it to your ISO image. Since you are using an ISO image, I assume you are installing to a VM. So here is what to do...

Create a separate ISO image that contains nothing but the answer file.

Attach it to the VM in addition to the install media.

Done!

Windows setup will find the answer file on another drive. This way you don't need to modify your install ISO at all. Just attach a separate ISO in addition if you want to use the answer file, otherwise, leave it disconnected.

Or open ISO with Magic ISO or Ultra ISO or other suitable application and import the answer file.

Wheew, well I've gotten confused over the last 20 posts as to which way would be the easiest for people to use.

Will the clean installs tutorial be updated to reflect all these changes?

Thanks

If I remember correctly latest versions of Rufus include the option to create a local account, so the easiest possible way is to download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and then use Rufus to create the USB flash drive. Rufus will detect it is a Windows 11 ISO and upon clicking to begin you will see a popup asking to bypass compatibility. Check all boxes, one of them is to create a local account.

Scroll down to the third option, download the ISO directly.


Restart your computer and press F12 (or F11 or F9 or F8 depending on system) to see the Boot Menu. Select to boot from the USB to clean install Windows 11. For upgrading from a previous version you don't have to create a USB. Just mount (open with File Explorer) the ISO and run Setup. To bypass compatibility check for upgrading an unsupported computer, first disconnect from the Internet before running Setup. Then replace the hidden file C:\$Windows.~BT\sources\appraiserres.dllwith a fake one to bypass compatibility check. Then proceed and follow onscreen instructions. To create the fake file make sure you uncheck the box to hide known extensions in Explorer properties, so you can see extensions like .dll or .txt, and then right-click on the desktop and select New->Text file. Just rename it to appraiserres.dll deleting the .txt at the end. This is your fake file. copy-paste it to the sources folder and click Yes when asked to replace it.