Microsoft Account To Be Mandatory For Windows 11 PRO - Panic !

I have no Google account on my Android device. I don’t use it for calls or web browsing. My Android device has no SIM (probably I am younger than you are thinking!). I use it for apps UI tests and sometimes for the game. I use the Internet (on my PC) just for a few things like apps and OS updates, work emails, and maybe download a movie and regional news. I love Tech, Web, PC, Windows, Mac, Android... but I do not rely on the Internet.

Most of the time I preferer walking, trekking, and cycling instead of sitting behind the PC to check my Social App status (I have 3 of them only for my work and I am logged in about 10 minutes in a week to reply to messages).

If I miss someone or something, I prefer to meet them in the physical world, not through the pixels! I sometimes use the PC all day to design something, make a song (I am not a composer), or organize my binary stuff, without the Internet!!

I know many people around us that are on the same road! They use PC, Android, Mac just for their work and probably their interests without the Internet. If somewhere something would be mandatory, we change the road!

Real-life is not the Internet or Windows. It is out there in the physical world!

Nothing can be a "Must" for human (!), only can be a choice, even the Internet or MSA!

I can’t understand why I have to share my personal life with companies?! Personal things are Personal, it means it is just for one person (no more)! Clear enough! If I want to share my personal things with someone, I prefer to share them with someone which I love the most. I am not paranoid (what a scientific word)!!!

atinfo said:

I have no Google account on my Android device. I don’t use it for calls or web browsing. My Android device has no SIM (probably I am younger than you are thinking!). I use it for apps UI tests and sometimes for the game.

Click to expand...

atinfo said:

Most of the time I preferer walking, trekking, and cycling instead of sitting behind the PC to check my Social App status (I have 3 of them only for my work and I am logged in about 10 minutes in a week to reply to messages).

Click to expand...

And you use the internet!

AdvancedSetup said:

Wow, I'll remain silent so as not to cause outrage but you can keep your political pandering opinion to yourself.

Click to expand...

I'm less clear on what that even means, but I do know it is an ad hominem to distract from the actual discussion.

The topic is how 'horrible' and 'unthinkable' it was for MS to require an internet connection/MS Account to install W11 Pro. The consensus seems to be that in most cases there's nothing that nefarious or strange about it.

The Pool Man said:

I'm less clear on what that even means, but I do know it is an ad hominem to distract from the actual discussion.

The topic is how 'horrible' and 'unthinkable' it was for MS to require an internet connection/MS Account to install W11 Pro. The consensus seems to be that in most cases there's nothing that nefarious or strange about it.

Click to expand...

I think they are referring to the first paragraph of your post. I for one would like to know what anti-maskers and anti-vaxxer have to do with this thread?

Winuser said:

I for one would like to know what anti-maskers and anti-vaxxer have to do with this thread?

Click to expand...

It's already explained. Language that is emotional grandstanding. I provided examples of those using similar language.

Dru2 said:

And you use the internet!

Click to expand...

App (UI) test is offline (test on a device is because of their high-density screen, the measure of light density, and … we can test them on PC too)! I barely play on Android (my average gameplay time is 1 hour per year!!! The Games are offline too!)

Log in to reply messages could be handled by calling them or via SMS (It is not a "must" to contact them via Social apps, there is another choice too)!

In conclusion, We do not rely on the Internet.

atinfo said:

In conclusion, We do not rely on the Internet.

Click to expand...

Ah, lucky you. Since I can no longer drive I rely on the net for groceries/shopping. Also for contacting various Gov. departments and since Bank buildings are going the way of the dinosaur- for online banking. For me it's definitely a 'utility' I can't do without.

Hi folks
Relying on the Internet is really 2nd nature these days -- in fact it's common now that when people decide on hotels for holidays / business Internet access is almost top of the list of requirements. It's tough on those who don't like or can't use the Internet - but that's the way it is. Even old fashioned "Voice phone" for customer service or general questions to Govt depts is becoming increasingly rare and convoluted -- if you can even find a phone number at all.

I don't find it horrible that Ms who own the intellectual copyright of Windows (including Windows 11) can specify as to how people install it. If people don't like the trend of direction they are perfectly free to stick with older releases (either on a VM or on physical hardware) or chose another OS.

In any case I'm sure there's always people out there who will find ways around this.

Cheers
jimbo

Fabler2 said:

Bank buildings are going the way of the dinosaur

Click to expand...

Good point. I hope the "Bank System" goes the way of the dinosaur one day. I can't stand it (absolutely no offense). I do nothing with it (things I mentioned above are not my job or income).

I don't have much in the way of secrets for Microsoft to plunder, and find that the benifits far outweigh the disadvantages. I have had an account for years and it makes loading a fresh installation easier and having the codes for bit locker stored with them has got me out of a mess more than once.

Since around July 8, 2021, Windows 11 Home has required a Microsoft account for installation. I saw no hue and cry about it then, but, well . . .


And now we come to February 17, and someone woke up . . .


I have had a Microsoft Account for years and years, since I've been using Microsoft Windows since 3.1. I have been a Beta Tester since MSN.

Folks are saying it's Microsoft's way of making more money, but they're not getting any more than I want to spend from me. I choose to pay for Microsoft 365 Family and install it on all my computers. I was pretty lucky when I bought the three main computers I use in that they all qualify for Windows 11 without additional cost. Yes, I know the cost of Windows 10 was included in the OEM package. This was my choice and I don't regret it. So, if I'm not required to spend more with Microsoft for things I don't want, why would anyone else be required to?

I started testing Windows 10 as an insider on October 3, 2014. At that time I read the EULA pretty thoroughly, which stated that information about my usage would be sent to Microsoft. IOW, Windows 10 would "phone home". It was my choice to continue as an Insider when Windows 11 was released for testing and ultimately, RTM'd. I agreed to the EULA . . . BTW, when I first started testing, we had to sign an actual paper copy of an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) before we could test. We also had to agree not to "reverse engineer" anything Microsoft.

Yes, Microsoft does things I don't like, increasingly so in the past months, but I've agreed to the terms in the EULA, so I have no complaints.

Wynona said:

Since around July 8, 2021, Windows 11 Home has required a Microsoft account for installation. I saw no hue and cry about it then, but, well . . .

Click to expand...

Yeah, but users could chose based on preferences. Now it's not going to matter one way or the other. That's what the crying is about

Anyway, I have no issue as I do have and use a Microsoft Account.

Dru2 said:

Yeah, but users had a choice Home or Pro. Now it's not going to matter one way or the other. That's what the crying is about

Anyway, I have no issue as I do have and use a Microsoft Account.

Click to expand...

Yuh huh . . . if they wanted to pay more to upgrade to Pro, which I would not. This machine came with Pro, but I haven't seen anything I can't do in Home on my other machines. BTW, they came with Home.

Wynona said:

Yuh huh . . . if they wanted to pay more to upgrade to Pro, which I would not. This machine came with Pro, but I haven't seen anything I can't do in Home on my other machines. BTW, they came with Home.

Click to expand...

It's all a matter of perspective - While you might not do something, others have no issue in doing.

Anyway, Group Policy Editor in Pro, not in Home. I myself have (and will always) use a Pro level OS. That's me

You cannot do GPO editing on the home version. Yes, I know there are many so-called hacks to get it working on the Home version but none that I've seen so far work properly.

Not that you'd typically need it at home but you cannot join a Domain with the Home version

You cannot enable drive encryption with BitLocker on the Home version

Not really for home users even if they have the Pro version but you cannot use Windows Information Protection (WIP) on the Home version

Many other business related features, but again not something most home users would want or use even with the Pro version

You don't have access to the full User and Group management on the Home version but is available on the Pro version.

You cannot use Remote Desktop to control your computer from another computer with the Home version

You don't have access to Windows Sandbox on the Home version

You don't have access to Hyper-V virtual on the Home version

The Home version of Windows 10 has a limit of 128GB of RAM vs. the Pro version has a 2TB limit on RAM

You can set up a Kiosk PC with the Pro version, you cannot with the Home version



Again, full removal of choice is the complaint, not whether or not one should use or want to use the Cloud. I've been in the computer industry now for over 30 years and when (or if) this does become true, it will be the first time in 30 years where a customer has not had a choice. If you see nothing wrong with that, it's okay, but others do find this to be a bit off-setting if you will.

AdvancedSetup said:

Again, full removal of choice is the complaint, not whether or not one should use or want to use the Cloud. I've been in the computer industry now for over 30 years and when (or if) this does become true, it will be the first time in 30 years where a customer has not had a choice. If you see nothing wrong with that, it's okay, but others do find this to be a bit off-setting if you will.

Click to expand...

I went back and reread the OP and found no complaint about full removal of choice; however, he/she has found that a Microsoft Account is mandatory for users running Windows 11 Home and Pro. What I did find was that he/she has no use for a Microsoft account, doesn't want the ability to sync, wants no security of any kind, has set up a Microsoft email account, would like to have instructions on how to use a Microsoft Account, has a question about using the password in the email address, and would like to disable collection of data, uninstall OneDrive, and finally, is annoyed that Microsoft is taking up more of his bandwidth on a very slow connection.

@england66

1. Microsoft Account: A Microsoft Account is a combination Microsoft ID and email address. You can . . .

a.Microsoft Account -- Log into Windows and various services, such as, Xbox, Skype, OneDrive, Outlook.com, etc., using your email address and password (your Microsoft Account). You would use the password that was setup when the email address was created.

b. Microsoft eMail address: Your Microsoft Account is also your email address. You would use the password that was setup when the email address was created. If you have another email address, feel free to continue using it. There's nothing that says you have to use the Microsoft email address for email. :)

Which parts of Windows can be uninstalled will depend; some can be, some can't be. I would suggest the free version of Revo Uninstaller.

revouninstaller.com/products/revo-uninstaller-free

Oh, yeah, when you start to use Windows, whether you've read the EULA or not, you agree to abide by its terms and conditions. There may or may not be a way to stop Microsoft collecting data, but if there is, I don't know it. I haven't looked because IMO, Microsoft is such a huge company that if they sold or misused our data, I don't see how it could be kept secret . . .

AdvancedSetup said:

I've been in the computer industry now for over 30 years and when (or if) this does become true, it will be the first time in 30 years where a customer has not had a choice. If you see nothing wrong with that, it's okay, but others do find this to be a bit off-setting if you will.

Click to expand...

If you've "been in the computer industry now for over 30 years" you would have seen the changes in Windows over those years, noticed how it's been moving towards where we are today. If this is a surprise, well...

Oh, and I stated in 1998 with Windows 95. Now running Windows 11 Pro RTM

Okay I'm going to drop out and stop following this topic. Wynona is correct the user didn't specifically ask what this topic has spread off into and now borders on politics which is always a losing proposition and nothing to gain one way or another.

I have windows 11 pro and currently its activated through the l internet on a local account Although 71 yrs old I do fiddle about each time I install windows 11 on my computer and have installed on my Dell numerous times and all versions of Windows 11 and am I a good "boy" at 71 yrs?..... as you will all find guys as you get older less things matter and that stuff that worries you as young people is all nada nada nada............
Happy grumpy days,
Device name DESKTOP-1ULGF16
Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz 2.80 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.64 GB usable)
Device ID 0A7A2DB8-DF9E-4A47-A4CB-72E8D7CB3618
Product ID 00331-10000-00001-AA421
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 21H2
Installed on ‎09/‎02/‎2022
OS build 22000.527
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.527.0

Have you see this; apologies to all if you have.