[Strom]

> The problem is that Windows 11 and above require a Microsoft account

It is not quite a requirement, I have my Windows 11 Pro running just fine with no Microsoft account. They do attempt really hard to make it look like it's required though. Even going as far as showing a fullscreen app after Windows update that only has options for registering or login, but luckily Alt+F4 closes that abomination.

[neither_color]

The last time I tried to do this it was impossible to sign into Office or Xbox on that same PC without logging into a Microsoft Account which subsequently takes over your local login. No way around it other than to not use those apps at all or only running office through a browser. It went like:

Install flight simulator on a Win10 PC with local login only and launch -> sign into an xbox account -> after you enter your name and password, you get a dialog box where you have to agree to sign your Microsoft Account on that PC with two dark pattern options that lead to the same result.

I couldn't find any combination of group policy editor, registry, and services.msc around it. You can either close it and lose access to the game you just paid for, or proceed and then you get your account signed into email and a bunch of other crap you dont want and have to spend hours getting rid of all traces of that account in your system(but it's never 100% gone). Only way to bypass it is to buy the game through Steam.

Between MacOs Linux and Microsoft, Microsoft has the last respect for you as a user and nobody should use it if they don't have to.

[ly3xqhl8g9]

Edited. I just didn't even bothered; given the trend, probably Windows 12 or 13 will close the loopholes.

[skissane]

They can never “close the loopholes” entirely, because there are customers that want machines with zero access to public Internet (embedded systems, national security, etc), where a Microsoft account is an absolute non-starter. Closing all the loopholes would be abandoning those market segments (many of which are already trending towards Linux/etc anyway)

I suppose they might make it mandatory unless you have some special version of Windows which is hard to buy (like LTSC). But make it too hard they risk that market. Anyway, now bypassing it involves opening a command prompt window, only the more technical users will do so, and that’s a small enough minority they probably aren’t missing much.

[Meph504]

They actually already make a special version of windows for those purposes and it isn't available to the open market. Government editions that have no telemetry, advertising, or integrated cloud products at all.

I know it is a pipe dream but I wish they could be forced to sell this to the general public.

[skissane]

Are you talking about LTSC or something else?

I have looked into buying LTSC. Apparently you need a business (I own a “shelf” company which has never done anything, but legally it counts), and a Microsoft volume license agreement. I looked into the later. Supposedly there is this trick where you order all these useless-but-cheap Identity Manager CALs to cheaply meet the minimum order requirement for a volume license. But I got a bit stuck working out what to order (or even if it was still available through resellers in my country). I lost interest at that point.

[mkup]

I am not Meph504, but I suppose they meant either Windows Enterprise G or Windows Enterprise G N editions, not Windows LTSC editions.

[skissane]

Is Enterprise G the same thing as “China Government Edition”?

Is there a “US Government Edition”? Is it different from the Chinese one?

How does G differ from LTSC?

[Meph504]

Correct

[Scarblac]

> Closing all the loopholes would be abandoning those market segments (many of which are already trending towards Linux/etc anyway)

Sounds more likely to me that they'll just abandon those market segments.

[jimbobimbo]

I believe, Microsoft account is a requirement for Home editions, not Pro or above.

[CatWChainsaw]

Pro now requires it unless you know any loopholes.