Windows 11 adds auto-recovery, kills offline setup loophole
- Reference: 1743428710
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/03/31/windows_11_insiders/
- Source link:
[1]Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) is rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Beta channel as part of [2]build 26120.3653 . It is aimed at saving administrators from the task of dealing with PCs left unbootable by, for example, [3]a problematic update released by a security vendor .
The feature, which is enabled by default for home users, sends a device into the Windows Recovery Environment (RE) if a critical failure prevents normal booting. Windows RE then connects to the network to communicate with Microsoft's recovery services. Microsoft can then pinpoint the root cause and deploy targeted remediation.
[4]
IT administrators can choose to turn the feature on or off and configure the scanning interval to check for remediations (Microsoft recommends every 30 minutes) and can also decide when the device will restart (72 hours is the recommendation "to optimize the remediation process").
[5]
[6]
So, while is not a completely seamless recovery, this will be an improvement over the [7]catastrophe that unfolded for some enterprises in 2024, when Windows devices worldwide were bricked. QMR currently only applies to Windows 11 24H2.
[8]Windows 11 roadmap great for knowing what's coming next week. Not so good for next year
[9]Microsoft goes native with Copilot. Again
[10]Microsoft makes sweet, sweet music with Windows MIDI Services
[11]You're going to do what to the feature? Microsoft defines what it means by 'deprecation'
Loophole allowing users to skip the Microsoft account requirement on Windows 11 is closed
Also included in the release was the removal of the bypassnro.cmd script.
The script allowed users to get through the Windows 11 setup without needing an internet connection. Therefore, a user did not need to provide a Microsoft account. It was a popular and widely shared workaround for users not keen on the company's online services.
Microsoft said: "We're removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account."
[12]
While other workarounds remain, Microsoft continues to push for users to have a Microsoft account. The change is unlikely to affect IT departments with managed devices but will mean users who would prefer to avoid the company's online services have a little more work to do. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/get-started-with-quick-machine-recovery-in-windows/4398487
[2] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/03/28/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26120-3653-beta-channel/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/19/crowdstrike_falcon_sensor_bsod_incident/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z-q8LDzVZggAx8dtVS6HogAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z-q8LDzVZggAx8dtVS6HogAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z-q8LDzVZggAx8dtVS6HogAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/24/crowdstrike_validator_failure/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/28/microsoft_windows_11_roadmap/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/06/microsoft_goes_native_with_copilot/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/windows_midi_services_2/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/31/microsoft_defines_what_it_means/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z-q8LDzVZggAx8dtVS6HogAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: I'm so glad I installed Mint
Why did you wait until 11?
start ms-cxh:localonly
The new oobe\bypasssnro.cmd has already been found...
Re: start ms-cxh:localonly
The more you tighten your grip ...
Re: start ms-cxh:localonly
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-eliminates-workaround-that-circumvents-microsoft-account-requirement-during-windows-11-installation
Fun game
Try talking a normal user through connecting a rebuilt machine to the internet for said "essential" Microsoft account if the Network/Wifi Driver isn't in that version of Windows install media - lots of secret shortcuts and powershell-fu.
Even as someone who *Can* do it, it quicker and easier to shove an old USB network device in.
removing /BYPASSNRO says loud and clear Microsoft care more about getting Microsoft accounts in place than you having a working PC.
what's the betting this is the prepwork for Windows 12 Home removing local accounts completely? Heck, at this point, I wouldn't bank on Windows 12 Pro allowing Domain Join over Azure...
Meh
What I do is log into the Microsoft account I never use during the install, and afterward, I set up a local account, give it Administrator privileges, log out of the Microsoft account, and use the local account thereafter. And setup local accounts for the rest of the household.
Re: Meh
Trouble is that way you still have to HAVE an MS account. Talking to gran setting up over the phone you have to go though all the faff of creating an account you'll never use...
At least having a skip option means not having that mess.
Re: Meh
If you ignore that Microsoft account long enough, Microsoft will deactivate and eventually close it. So you have to have a Microsoft account, but not forever.
I had to reinstall a windows10 laptop for somebody without internet access recently. The whole "you must have a microsoft account" thing is a massive pain the ass. All of the loopholes I've used to get around it in the past *no longer work*. It took me over an hour of fannying about to make it install (I'm not a newbie, I have been a developer and sysadmin for over 30 years).
And then it was locked in fucking S mode. And they tell you that the only way to remove S mode is to install an app from the Microsoft Store, for which you need network access and a Microsoft Account. I eventually found a way around that too but seriously what a huge waste of time to do something that should be simple and easy.
It just shows what utter contempt Microsoft has for the their customers that they deliberately go to such lengths to make life difficult for them.
Right?
People still talking about Linux being hard when the fact is, it's FAR easier to install than M$ and has been for years.
Return to sender
> And they tell you that the only way to remove S mode is to install an app from the Microsoft Store,
I have used the same solution every time for S Mode. Return to store with "not fit for purpose" as the argument.
Wasted too much time with that mess.
>> We're removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.
Stick to LTSC. Microsoft won't remove this or it will fail the "offline from inception" requirement most businesses have for imaging. It would be commercial suicide.
Microsoft won't remove this or it will fail the "offline from inception" requirement most businesses have for imaging. It would be commercial suicide.
You want to bet on that?
I'm so glad I installed Mint
And toasted that win 11 POS.