For me it’s the removal and change of UI elements. There is still no built in way to move the task bar to the top or side of the screen and to get a useful right click menu back I have to go into the registry and change a value. There is also the whole thing where you are forced to use a Microsoft account with no option to use a local account instead.
Besides the ones that they listed, I’ve also heard complaints about a lack of multi-monitor support and ads in the Start menu and login screen, though I believe the ads are only in certain versions of 11 (the home/personal editions, but not the more expensive company editions). I think the ads have also been limited to Microsoft products and apps from the Microsoft store - stuff like Word and Edge - but it’s a really bad path that they’re going down and it’s only a matter of time until that becomes targeted ads to go along with their tracking and selling data.
Not defending windows 11 in any way, but on install, when you get to the “login to your microsoft account” screen, if you open command prompt (ctrl + f10 i think) and open the network utility - type ncpa.cpl, then you can find and disable your network adaptor. Close cmd and the network utility and click back. It will ask you to create a local user.
I’ve done this a couple of times and it hasn’t forced me to create a Microsoft account yet (I use a lot of windows vms). If this no longer works on win11, apologies, it used to.
This may not still be true, but previously if you disconnected or removed the NIC during installation, after some haranguing you could setup a local account. (Note that this is still obviously bad, but if you need a solution, it might provide one.)
You actually have to exit the setup menu(f2 iirc), run a specific command, and then it will let you make an offline account.
If you don’t have a NIC, it will make you get an internet connection before proceeding. That was my experience on my laptop. What had happened was that for whatever reason, my wifi card wouldn’t work with the amd motherboard in my laptop (it wasn’t cnvio, and it was the same issue with ac 7265 and an ax210). So I had to resort to that to install windows.
I haven’t used, or especially installed, Windows in years. Wasn’t sure if what I described was still the case. Good to know there’s still a way, though, in case I get desperate!
It’s really not that hard to use a local account. When it askes for a Microsoft account just hit SHIFT+F10 then type in the command “oobe\bypassnro” and the pc will reboot. Now just don’t let the computer connect to internet, and when it askes for internet hit “I don’t have an internet connection” and then it will let you continue with a local account.
…I admit though… as I typed that out its pretty annoying lol Not hard, but like… just annoying.
I was actually wondering, when the previous commenter referenced the setup menu, if the shift+F10 thing still worked. I know it brings up the command prompt in the install interface, but in case you didn’t know, it also brings up the command prompt in general use Windows. (Or it used to. Again, I’m very out of date on the subject.)
I think “not hard, just annoying” means that anything tech related is out of reach for most people, unfortunately. Plus, to be honest, most people probably won’t care about or see a problem with Microsoft forcing an online account on them. I’m happy they’re happy, but their privacy ends not with a bang, but a whimper.
For me it’s the removal and change of UI elements. There is still no built in way to move the task bar to the top or side of the screen and to get a useful right click menu back I have to go into the registry and change a value. There is also the whole thing where you are forced to use a Microsoft account with no option to use a local account instead.
I guess the location of the menu never really bothered me but I can understand that for folks who prefer it on the side.
Admittedly, using a local account is a challenge though not impossible. But to your point none of these things should require registry hacks.
Besides the ones that they listed, I’ve also heard complaints about a lack of multi-monitor support and ads in the Start menu and login screen, though I believe the ads are only in certain versions of 11 (the home/personal editions, but not the more expensive company editions). I think the ads have also been limited to Microsoft products and apps from the Microsoft store - stuff like Word and Edge - but it’s a really bad path that they’re going down and it’s only a matter of time until that becomes targeted ads to go along with their tracking and selling data.
Not defending windows 11 in any way, but on install, when you get to the “login to your microsoft account” screen, if you open command prompt (ctrl + f10 i think) and open the network utility - type
ncpa.cpl, then you can find and disable your network adaptor. Close cmd and the network utility and click back. It will ask you to create a local user.I’ve done this a couple of times and it hasn’t forced me to create a Microsoft account yet (I use a lot of windows vms). If this no longer works on win11, apologies, it used to.
But I shouldn’t have to do that. I should just be able to say no.
This may not still be true, but previously if you disconnected or removed the NIC during installation, after some haranguing you could setup a local account. (Note that this is still obviously bad, but if you need a solution, it might provide one.)
You actually have to exit the setup menu(f2 iirc), run a specific command, and then it will let you make an offline account.
If you don’t have a NIC, it will make you get an internet connection before proceeding. That was my experience on my laptop. What had happened was that for whatever reason, my wifi card wouldn’t work with the amd motherboard in my laptop (it wasn’t cnvio, and it was the same issue with ac 7265 and an ax210). So I had to resort to that to install windows.
Ah, fair enough.
I haven’t used, or especially installed, Windows in years. Wasn’t sure if what I described was still the case. Good to know there’s still a way, though, in case I get desperate!
It’s really not that hard to use a local account. When it askes for a Microsoft account just hit SHIFT+F10 then type in the command “oobe\bypassnro” and the pc will reboot. Now just don’t let the computer connect to internet, and when it askes for internet hit “I don’t have an internet connection” and then it will let you continue with a local account.
…I admit though… as I typed that out its pretty annoying lol Not hard, but like… just annoying.
I was actually wondering, when the previous commenter referenced the setup menu, if the shift+F10 thing still worked. I know it brings up the command prompt in the install interface, but in case you didn’t know, it also brings up the command prompt in general use Windows. (Or it used to. Again, I’m very out of date on the subject.)
I think “not hard, just annoying” means that anything tech related is out of reach for most people, unfortunately. Plus, to be honest, most people probably won’t care about or see a problem with Microsoft forcing an online account on them. I’m happy they’re happy, but their privacy ends not with a bang, but a whimper.