Musk 'texts' Nadella about Windows 11's demands for a Microsoft account
(2024/02/26)
- Reference: 1708963214
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/02/26/musk_windows_11_account/
- Source link:
Are you getting a bit tired of Microsoft's demands while installing Windows 11? You aren't alone – billionaire Elon Musk is also less than impressed with the requirements for a smooth out-of-box experience.
In this instance, Musk was attempting to get going with a new laptop and was displeased to find the Windows 11 setup asking for a Microsoft account in order to continue.
The X boss [1]said : "Just bought a new PC laptop and it won't let me use it unless I create a Microsoft account, which also means giving their AI access to my computer! This is messed up."
[2]
Musk's point has some merit, although it's not entirely straightforward. A corporate laptop obviously does not require a Microsoft account, but it is tricky to set up something for personal use without one. "There used to be an option to skip signing into or creating a Microsoft account," the billionaire huffed.
[3]
[4]
These days, however, the option is trickier to find. Musk's problem was that his laptop was automatically connecting to the local Wi-Fi, which doesn't have a password. If a user can install without connecting to the internet, it is still possible to get Windows 11 up and running without using a Microsoft account.
[5]Microsoft catches the Wi-Fi 7 wave with Windows 11
[6]Microsoft adds more AI to Photos in Windows 10 and 11
[7]Microsoft nopes out after Twitter starts charging $$$ for API access
[8]Windows 11 users herded toward 23H2 via automatic upgrade
[9]Moving to Windows 11 is so easy! You just need to buy a PC that supports it!
Musk received clarification from a community note explaining the process. Though he [10]complained that "Community Notes is failing here. This option no longer exists," he was told that the source of the problem was his laptop automatically connecting.
On a sacrificial PC, we found that Windows 11 can indeed be installed without a Microsoft account. We used Shift + F10 to drop to a command line at the network connection page and entered OOBE\BYPASSNRO to force a reboot and make the "I don't have internet" option appear. To be fair to Musk, it is quite convoluted.
Running a personal Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account is not a great experience, however. Some elements of the operating system simply do not work, and Microsoft is clearly keen for customers to have an account. If that's not a path you wish to tread, there are plenty of alternatives to Windows 11 out there.
[11]
Or you could follow Musk's example and take your complaints to the boss. In response to a suggestion that he call Satya Nadella for technical support, Musk [12]said : "I just sent him a text."
There's a name for individuals who demand to speak to the manager at the slightest provocation. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761835728000954654
[2] 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=2ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] 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=44ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] 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=33ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/24/microsoft_adds_wifi_7_to_windows_11/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/23/microsoft_adds_more_ai_to_windows/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/20/twitter_microsoft_api/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/21/windows_11_23h2_upgrade/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/14/microsoft_windows_11_plea/
[10] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761881852833419771
[11] 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=44ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761873103116812533
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
In this instance, Musk was attempting to get going with a new laptop and was displeased to find the Windows 11 setup asking for a Microsoft account in order to continue.
The X boss [1]said : "Just bought a new PC laptop and it won't let me use it unless I create a Microsoft account, which also means giving their AI access to my computer! This is messed up."
[2]
Musk's point has some merit, although it's not entirely straightforward. A corporate laptop obviously does not require a Microsoft account, but it is tricky to set up something for personal use without one. "There used to be an option to skip signing into or creating a Microsoft account," the billionaire huffed.
[3]
[4]
These days, however, the option is trickier to find. Musk's problem was that his laptop was automatically connecting to the local Wi-Fi, which doesn't have a password. If a user can install without connecting to the internet, it is still possible to get Windows 11 up and running without using a Microsoft account.
[5]Microsoft catches the Wi-Fi 7 wave with Windows 11
[6]Microsoft adds more AI to Photos in Windows 10 and 11
[7]Microsoft nopes out after Twitter starts charging $$$ for API access
[8]Windows 11 users herded toward 23H2 via automatic upgrade
[9]Moving to Windows 11 is so easy! You just need to buy a PC that supports it!
Musk received clarification from a community note explaining the process. Though he [10]complained that "Community Notes is failing here. This option no longer exists," he was told that the source of the problem was his laptop automatically connecting.
On a sacrificial PC, we found that Windows 11 can indeed be installed without a Microsoft account. We used Shift + F10 to drop to a command line at the network connection page and entered OOBE\BYPASSNRO to force a reboot and make the "I don't have internet" option appear. To be fair to Musk, it is quite convoluted.
Running a personal Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account is not a great experience, however. Some elements of the operating system simply do not work, and Microsoft is clearly keen for customers to have an account. If that's not a path you wish to tread, there are plenty of alternatives to Windows 11 out there.
[11]
Or you could follow Musk's example and take your complaints to the boss. In response to a suggestion that he call Satya Nadella for technical support, Musk [12]said : "I just sent him a text."
There's a name for individuals who demand to speak to the manager at the slightest provocation. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761835728000954654
[2] 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=2ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] 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=44ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] 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=33ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/24/microsoft_adds_wifi_7_to_windows_11/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/23/microsoft_adds_more_ai_to_windows/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/20/twitter_microsoft_api/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/21/windows_11_23h2_upgrade/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/14/microsoft_windows_11_plea/
[10] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761881852833419771
[11] 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=44ZdzDt2W47fMNOW@9pnRbSQAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761873103116812533
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The option is named following way
Jou (Mxyzptlk)
As for Windows 11 Pro use following Microsoft Credentials to easily create a local account.
username: x@x.x
password: x
Result: "Too many bad logins, want to create a limited local account?"
As for Windows 11 Home: A bit more difficult, for example having no network, having to use SHIFT-F10 and "OOBE\BYPASSNRO"... If that still works.
If he thinks that's bad he should try MacOS
Empire of the Pussycat
(body)
karlkarl
Don't Musk's Tesla cars also require the same kind of DRM-esque bullshite?
sten2012
And I stumbled here directly after clicking through a twitter link that used to be public to view but now requires an account.
Midnight
Just wait until someone explains to him what Windows Update does.
First time for everything
Zoopy
This might be the first thing in the last 5+ years that Musk has said and I agree with.
OTOH, Musk has such a backlog of schadenfreude and karma to work though, that I'm delighted he ran into this problem.
"This is messed up"
Pascal Monett
Oh, Elon, there are so many things that are messed up in this world.
And you are doing nothing to help.
Muskabuntu
You know where this is heading.