Microsoft blocks all options to bypass MS Account on new Installs

I cannot express how grateful I am for the Shift+F10 trick. That is not something I would have guessed in a million years, & I consider myself a power user. I am even more grateful seeing as you were rather a sick puppy when you opened this thread.

I have a new bare system that I built, did not buy pre-installed & ready to run, onto which I'd been trying to install W11. I had of course connected it to the Internet using the equipment I use to connect my Windows 7 system to the Internet. The W11 install got to the "Let's connect you to a network" screen & just sat there looking at me. I believed I had installed W11 but several attempts with variations never got me past this blasted network screen. Shift+F10 got me a command prompt & after that, I was able to get to the W11 desktop. I had actually completed the install a couple of days ago. I have been booting from the internal SSD in my system, not the install media. But this network connect screen had been blocking me. So this thread has been immeasurably valuable to me.

For my last attempt that finally worked, I did 3 things that I had not done before:

1. Before bootup, go into the BIOS & turn off LAN support. My motherboard has networking onboard. I can't say I'm such an expert that I can claim this is common with most motherboards. I just know that's the way mine is. I should expect there is a certain variance in mileage on this one.

2. Still in the BIOS, turn off WiFi/Bluetooth support. In my BIOS, this is one setting. I suppose your mileage may differ on this one as well.

3. Don't connect my ISP's Internet equipment to the computer.

The idea is to make sure the BIOS has all networking disabled, & the computer is physically not connected to the Internet. Just remember to re-enable the BIOS settings at the appropriate time later on, before you actually do connect your ISP's equipment to your computer. Maybe this is overkill. I don't know. It's what I did & things worked.

I think the question needs to be asked. Why does the install not recognize the Internet connection that is active & available? I've got it plugged in. The little light next to the ethernet port is flashing, indicating data is being communicated. That is true both for the port on the backplane of my computer as well as the port in the modem supplied by my ISP. Data is flowing. Why does the install require this entirely non-intuitive Shift+F10 trick to complete the install? I think it's a shameful bug in the install process & really ought to be fixed. Unlike W7, W11 is in active development. Come on Microsoft. Get on the stick!

I do have a couple of tweaks to offer. When I got into the command prompt, I did a dir just to see where I was. Of course I got about 6 screenloads of data that flashed by faster than any human could possibly have absorbed. So I did dir oo*. That was manageable. Then I typed cd oo, then Tab. This autocompleted the command line for me. I may have hit Tab a few times. I don't remember. But once it completed the command line with the oobe directory name, I hit Enter.

Once again, I did a dir. This was a considerably shorter list than the earlier one, easy to read on one screenload. The expected command was there. It's actually a .cmd script, but I did not open it & read it. I might some day, but I haven't yet. So at the command prompt I typed by, then hit Tab as many times as necessary to let the system autocomplete the command for me. Then I hit Enter. Something happened, the system rebooted, & I got back to the annoying connect to network screen. Once I got there, I clicked the selection for not having a network connection. That got me to the W11 desktop for the first time ever.

I am now in the rather painful process of getting used to W11. Why painful? It's not Windows 7. I've been running W7 for at least 10 years. I'm used to it. Change is always painful. But I'm quite certain I'll reach that point when I tell myself to get over myself & I will arrive at a point of being able to say I'm comfortable with W11. But that point is still in the future. I continue to use W7 for my everyday stuff. I will gradually get my W11 to the point where I will be able to leave W7 behind.

Why not just cut over to W11 now? Because there are several things I need to set up on it. There are several things I need to learn how to do. I know how to do them on W7. W11 is a new world for me. But I see that my old pal Brink, who wrote so many fine tutorials on sevenforums that got me past many roadblocks, has been writing his exemplary tutorials on this web site as well. I'm sure, with his continued help, I will get where I want to be.

This is what I use and it works

1) During installation of Windows 11, you will be presented a screen that says "Let's add your Microsoft account". At this screen, enter a fake e-mail address. Note that not every fake address will work. Try using the address "nobody@nobody.com". On the next screen you will be asked for a password. Enter any fake password and then click on "Sign in". On the next screen the message "Oops, something went wrong" will be displayed. Click on "Next". On the next screen you will be able to enter a local account name. Do this and proceed with installation.

pparks1 said:

Note that not every fake address will work....

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I've tried that and sometimes seen a message along the lines of 'that account has been used for too many devices'.
If so, just try a different one until you fine one that works

Bree said:

'that account has been used for too many devices'.

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That's hilarious. On the other hand, I suppose that means people are actually following the advice here. Would that were the case in certain other places I frequent . . .

If you physically disconnect the LAN cable disabling the LAN in BIOS is not necessary. If you are connected but Windows Update cannot find drivers for the LAN adapter, it might get stuck for ever trying to make the adapter work. Using the command makes Windows display the "I don't have a network connection" message and allows you to skip network connection. Without connecting to the internet the only option is to create a local account so you are asked to do so.

Read the Personalization threads, you can make Windows 11 look like Windows 7 for your convenience. In my main PC (see second system specs) I use Open Shell to make the start menu like Windows 7. I have also found the Windows 7 orb so I even changed the start button to that of Windows 7. I then use Explorer Patcher which can be configured to make File Explorer (aka Windows Explorer) look like Windows 7. You can use the good old gadgets by installing 8gagdetpack. Google for Winaero site. You can get the good old calculator, Microsoft paint, Legacy Task Manager etc. Using Winaero Tweaker you can configure many settings to start from the traditional Control Panel and even have the old familiar interface from Windows 7. I have even changed the pop-up messages to the Windows 7 style balloons. Using Customizer God you can extract the icons from Windows 7 system files and replace the dull flat Windows 11 icons with the respective Windows 7 icons. I have done all of the above, read about it in the Customization threads of www.elevenforum.com and of www.tenforums.com

spapakons said:

If you physically disconnect the LAN cable . . .

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Yeah, I thought I might be overkilling it. But it worked to get me through the complete install. Eventually. At some point, of course I'm going to turn the settings back on in the BIOS & attach the LAN cabling. I'm expecting plug'n'play to say oh look, new hardware, let's install some drivers.

spapakons said:

Read the Personalization threads . . .

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Thanks for those ideas. I think I am going to try to learn the new ways & just get with the new program. If I absolutely, completely can't adapt, totally can't stomach this new thing, I'll keep your thoughts in mind. The Start Orb is one thing I have on my to-do list. I'm glad there is a way to change that. But that is a frill for a much later date. I need to do some basic things first.

I got the Windows 7 start orb in Classic Shell (predecessor to Open Shell) download site. There was a link to some Windows 7 skin. I downloaded the skin but used only the start button from there that was the orb.

I have Win11 on 2 Desktops Pro and Home and 2 Notebooks Pro and Home. After activation and updates I created a second user [slightly different name] as Local Account with Admin Rights. I rebooted into the new user and removed the one with Microsoft Account. Haven't run into any issues since starting with Win 11 in Oct. 2021. The Pro machines were new and the Home machines had issues and given to me for parts but I got them straightened out. Having need for a Notebook with Win11 and an ODD I did the Upgrade on a Win10 using the afore-mentioned replacing of a file in the Mounted ISO and disconnected from the Internet, it retained the User as Local.

If Microsoft blocks the hack to create a local account in 23H2 build 22631.2506 or later, we better keep an ISO with earlier build, such as 22631.2428 (latest I downloaded a few days ago I think it was that build). So we can clean install Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.2428, do the hack, create a local account and then install all updates up to the latest build. However I am curious if this is indeed the case. Anyone actually tried to do the hack in build 22631.2506 or later? Does it still works? Of course you must be disconnected from the internet to work.

I used the latest ISO offered by MCT and when finished had to 2 Build updates to get up to 22631.2715.

I've got a couple of questions of a more general nature here. First, do people want to bypass the registration early in the installation because they just don't want to do it at that point? What would those reasons be? Or is everybody getting the problem I did, where the "Let's connect you to a network" simply doesn't work for anybody?

Second, once I do connect my system to the Internet & go through the online registration, will it use the user definition I've already created? I've defined the usual administrator user you end up defining when you do the bypass trick. I'm hoping the registration will get attached to that user. But will it? I've read comments about deleting the user that gets created by the registration. I'm trying to prepare myself for what I should do. Would it be a problem to have 2 administrator users defined? What are the possible pitfalls with that? Is there a way of making the existing user registered based on what gets put in the second user & then deleting the second user? Is being registered even an attribute of a user? Isn't being registered a system-level thing, not attached to any particular user? If that's the case, what's the point of creating another user during registration? This is all quite confusing. I've got only a single user defined here in W7, an administrator. A user named Guest is listed in the relevant part of Control Panel, but it says, "Guest is off." That's fine. I'm the only user, plus this is my personal home computer. I'm not in a corporate setting where multiple people might use this system. It's just me.

Registration is more for the new machine's owner to activate warranty, etc. Beginning with Win8 OEM computers the product key/information is embedded in the motherboard and when installed Windows will obtain a Digital License.

The install of Windows requires the first User named to be an Administrator and usually that will be a Microsoft Account and require the User name and password to log in. A Local Account can also be an Administrator and can or not be set with a password, User's choice. Other Users can be set as a Standard Account, doesn't have the ability to make a lot of changes the Administrator can. Any additional Users added need a name different from any other by at least one character so as their folders and files are kept separate from others in C:\Users.

WildWilly said:

I've got a couple of questions of a more general nature here. First, do people want to bypass the registration early in the installation because they just don't want to do it at that point? What would those reasons be? Or is everybody getting the problem I did, where the "Let's connect you to a network" simply doesn't work for anybody?

Second, once I do connect my system to the Internet & go through the online registration, will it use the user definition I've already created? I've defined the usual administrator user you end up defining when you do the bypass trick. I'm hoping the registration will get attached to that user. But will it? I've read comments about deleting the user that gets created by the registration. I'm trying to prepare myself for what I should do. Would it be a problem to have 2 administrator users defined? What are the possible pitfalls with that? Is there a way of making the existing user registered based on what gets put in the second user & then deleting the second user? Is being registered even an attribute of a user? Isn't being registered a system-level thing, not attached to any particular user? If that's the case, what's the point of creating another user during registration? This is all quite confusing. I've got only a single user defined here in W7, an administrator. A user named Guest is listed in the relevant part of Control Panel, but it says, "Guest is off." That's fine. I'm the only user, plus this is my personal home computer. I'm not in a corporate setting where multiple people might use this system. It's just me.

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I hope you don't mind but I suggest you edit your post to remove registration references since they are incorrect & only serve to confuse your post.
I think you might, in some cases, mean activation or licence but I am not sure.
I'll be able to understand and give a sensible response to your re-written post.


All the best,
Denis

WildWilly said:

I've got a couple of questions of a more general nature here. First, do people want to bypass the registration early in the installation because they just don't want to do it at that point? What would those reasons be? Or is everybody getting the problem I did, where the "Let's connect you to a network" simply doesn't work for anybody?

Second, once I do connect my system to the Internet & go through the online registration, will it use the user definition I've already created?

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You talk about 'registration', I think you mean setting up the PC with a Microsoft account. Your later questions seem to confirm that.

When you use a Microsoft account as the first account on the PC the user folder's name will be the first 5 characters of the email address. Some people would like to initially set up with a Local account so that they can choose a more meaningful name for the account, which will also become the name of the user folder.

If your second question is about switching that local account to be a Microsoft account then yes, the user settings will remain as they were when it was a Local account. Switching from a local account to an MS account will retain all the user's settings, including the name of the user folder.

WildWilly said:

I've read comments about deleting the user that gets created by the registration. I'm trying to prepare myself for what I should do. Would it be a problem to have 2 administrator users defined?

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Those comments are aimed at someone who wants a Local account, but cannot get rounf the requirement to use a Microsoft account when setting up the PC. The idea is that you accept that, set up with an MS account, then create the local account you really wanted to use. Once you've made it an administrator you don't need the first user account any more and are free to delete it.

You can have as many accounts as you like on the PC. I make a point on all my PCs of always making a second Local account and making it an administrator. It's always useful to have another way in, should you get locked out of your main account.

Interesting . . . Well, mine is not an OEM computer. It's a build I did myself from components. So there's nothing burned onto my motherboard for Windows to recognize. As for warranty on the hardware, that's between me & Micro Center. Microsoft would not be involved with that.

I did create that first local user. Happened to give it a password. Might remove that eventually. If I could have my way, I would not ever have a second user defined on this system. I'm gathering from what I've read here that registration creates a user, even if one already exists & would be perfectly fine to use. I think you could delete that second user with no adverse consequences but I'm trying to get confirmation on that.

WildWilly said:

I'm gathering from what I've read here that registration creates a user, even if one already exists & would be perfectly fine to use.

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Registration? Or switching from a Local account to a Microsoft account? You are not using conventional terms to phrase your question, so it's difficult to interpret what you are asking.

Switching the account type from Local to Microsoft does not create a new account, it just changes how you sign in to your existing account. There is just the one account, no matter how many times you switch it back and forth between a Local account and a Microsoft account. You can switch any time you want, and all your account settings remain the same.

Thank you, Bree. I think I'm beginning to understand. I had no choice but to create a local administrator user during install because the install process refused to connect to the Internet despite my machine being properly connected. It looked like the plug'n'play install of network drivers just didn't happen. So I had to force my way around that. Otherwise, I probably would have had a user linked to my Microsoft account from the outset. You have explained to me that it will be just fine once I connect to my Microsoft account to delete that second user. You're saying the standard way of doing things is to first get the Microsoft administrator user associated with my Microsoft account, then add a local administrator account, then delete the first one. In my case, things are going to happen in the other order, so the one I will delete will be the second one.

I like your idea of an emergency administrator account. I'm going to do that. Thanks for that one.

Try3, about the activation key . . . It is my understanding that the ISO from which I built my install media is one of those multi-version things. It's got Home, Pro, Enterprise, 32-bit, 64-bit, everything in there. Practically the first step of my installation prompted me for my activation key. I never had to specify which flavor of Windows I was installing. After all the running in circles & finally getting the advice I got in the first post of this thread, I did finally get to the standard desktop. I went into Control Panel & verified that in fact, I did install Windows 11 Pro, which is what I intended to do & what my key was meant to give me.

Now I'm wondering what the purpose is of connecting to my Microsoft account. The image I have in mind is that once I connect to my Microsoft account, something I've had for years, Microsoft will bless my setup in some way. It will be certified legal. This is a one-time thing. I did it one time on my Windows 7 so I'm expecting something similar on my new W11. On Windows 7, the Control Panel says Windows is activated & there's a little Genuine Microsoft seal in the bottom right corner of the page. Like this:



I'm expecting this registration or whatever it's called under W11 will make the analogous page of the W11 Control Panel look something like this. I will get the little seal proving I'm being all legal & aboveboard & so on. I'm expecting this to be a one-time thing. Evidently, this step is going to define a user on my system. I'm arriving at the understanding that this user is not essential & I will be able to delete it.

Do disabuse me of my misconceptions if such they may be.

Bree, I am well & truly confused. What is the purpose of all this? This is a concept that I don't think existed on W7. That's what I'm trying to grasp. I can make it a Microsoft user. Does it have to be that? Is this at all connected with the seal of approval I've just mentioned?

WildWilly said:

Now I'm wondering what the purpose is of connecting to my Microsoft account. The image I have in mind is that once I connect to my Microsoft account, something I've had for years, Microsoft will bless my setup in some way. It will be certified legal. This is a one-time thing. I did it one time on my Windows 7 so I'm expecting something similar on my new W11.

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There is absolutely no requirement to switch to a Microsoft Account to be 'legal'. Activation of Windows works completely differently from what you are used to with Windows 7. As long as it says 'Activated with a digital licence' in Settings > System > Activation then you are fully 'legal' and need do nothing further. You can stick with a Local account as I have.



What an MS account does for you is let you use OneDrive, and some other features that require an MS Account to work. But even then you don't need to switch your sign in from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account to be able to use them. There are other ways....

WildWilly said:

Bree, I am well & truly confused. What is the purpose of all this? This is a concept that I don't think existed on W7. That's what I'm trying to grasp. I can make it a Microsoft account. Does it have to be that? Is this at all connected with the seal of approval I've just mentioned?

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I think for many it's the limitations of having to login to your PC via your Microsoft acct vs a simple local user account. If you allow your PC login to be tied to your MS acct what happens if for some reason you forget the password or Microsoft gets wonky? There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a local account(easier with no password) but have your Microsoft account entered into the system for appropriate MS needs. For instance I use a local account but my MS account is saved as I use Office 365 as well as One Drive(occasionally).