[badlucklottery]

I think they're saved to your Microsoft account by default now.

And, since Microsoft likes to pretend an account is required to even install Windows now, most people will likely have a linked account.

[m463]

I think it will lead to lots of lost data. Kind of like how your kid's old ipad loses its mind and your apple id password doesn't work and the data is lost.

This kind of thing should be super-explicit when setting things up, and they should provide a way out.

[cqqxo4zV46cp]

No. That doesn’t help anyone other than computer nerds that have the background understanding to have usefully thought through the pros and cons. The reality is data is effectively “lost” all the time already when a laptop’s display fails, or some other problem that’s left the actual data completely in tact, because most people don’t know what to do about that and a sizeable portion of those people won’t bother to ‘take it in to the shop’.

[raxxorraxor]

non-computer nerds cannot remember any account credentials and if they use any hardware key their chances of recovery are way worse than restoring any failed archaic system. This is to get people into the MS ecosystem. It isn't about growth or providing a service.

[LtWorf]

I don't use a windows account.

Of course that means I'm constantly bugged about using one.