Microsoft account log in required.
How about seven instead, and for free?
And without login
Yes. And using Rufus to create your install media, you can even configure it to create a local account for you so you don’t have to go through the rigmarole yourself.
Actually, I wonder if that still works with an image of the new current Win11 releases where the local account functionality has been “removed.” I haven’t tried it. Someone will probably chime in.
It works and you can create a local account only
Here’s is how to get 3 extra years for free: https://massgrave.dev/ without Microsoft account login
Potentially 6
Wouldn’t this get patched with one of their “security updates”.
They seem to not care, some methods are even server side, they could have patched hwidgen a decade ago
The fact that in lieu of paying them they simply want you to log in with an account they control should speak volumes to the privacy implications.
I give my sincere condolences to anyone that is forced to use this shitty corporate OS.
Switched to CachyOS Plasma on my main machine not even two weeks go! My only regret is that I didn‘t try it sooner. It has it‘s hiccups but QoL features make up for it. It actually works better for me than Windows did since Win7. At least so far. I genuinely enjoy using my computer again.
What QOL features improved your experience?
I love the task manager and it‘s UI. It‘s just much easier to keep track of your connected devices, running programs and media playing in the background. The UI allows you to quickly adjust sound volume of programs without having to navigate through arbitrary menus. Or to navigate through a song or podcast running in the background. You can do that on a mini player from the Task manager (the equivalent to the task bar on Windows). External storage devices have a simple dismount button. No right clicks and searching for the right option necessary. There are many more little UI decisions that KDE did right. The dolphin browser and general file search functions are blazing fast. No comparison to Windows built in file browser. I also love how I can update almost all programs and drivers at the same time with one click.
There are of course some caveats but that‘s not really the OS‘ fault most of the time. For example my Discord didn‘t want to start until I update but the package wasn‘t ready yet for CachyOS. I looked for a solution online and found several options to deal with this problem. And that‘s honestly fantastic because everyone has different preferences and can use the solution that best suits them. I ended up disabling automatic updates for Discord in one file and then told Discord it‘s already on the new update by changing one digit in another file to resemble the current update. Now Discord will leave me alone with random updates and I can just update it whenever I want in Octopi (the app manager).
So what was a hiccup at first ended up being a learning experience. Now I understand my computer a little better and Discord won‘t annoy me as much anymore long term. This should be possible on Windows too but I would’ve never knew that without Linux. I‘m starting to understand what they mean by „finally owning my computer“. It takes time but it‘s very rewarding.
Nobody has worked harder in the push for Linux than Microsoft.
Microsoft account log in required.
Shhhh, no one tell them there is a free way without a Microsoft account.
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It’s not free.
How do you figure?
You are buying it with your personal data and granting them access to your computer. Even if you don’t think that’s not worth much, it is still not free. You’re just paying with something other than money.
The vast majority of people have already activated Windows with an email address. I have several friends who have done so and for them this cost nothing.
If they’re still using the computer then they’re still paying with their data, just like if you subscribe to Netflix, you’re still a customer. The fact the you already conceded to paying doesn’t negate your ongoing payments.
