Windows 10 users fume: Microsoft, where's our 'local account' option gone?

[purple_monster]

It was still there last night when I was setting up Windows.

Hello,
$2 has been deposited into you account, ty for your support.

Bill

 

[Burticus]

Come on people... just disconnect the network / ethernet during the install. How hard is that?

 

[ManofGod]

You tested an older build, which isn't relevant anymore.

The complaint here is that the Local Account option is becoming increasingly obscured with newer builds.

No, I tested with the latest build created with the media creation tool. In fact, I am on the inside builds.

 

[cyklondx]

just don't install windows, how hard is that.

 

[ManofGod]

just don't install windows, how hard is that.

Windows works extremely well, why would I want to do that? Everything I have works with it, including the ultimate game pass, which I got with my XBox Live Gold subscription. To each their own, I do not really care.

Edit: Fixed to make sense. (removed the word: not.)

 

[seanreisk]

I'm posting to eat crow. I used to get pissed about all the Microsoft account bullshit that comes with Windows and Office. I mean, pissed. Finally I gave in and allowed Office to connect to Microsoft OneDrive so I could share something with a client. And then I tried a Microsoft PIN account. And then OneDrive version control. And then I tried a stored profile so I could use a computer in an office 200 miles away.

I cannot say what will happen in the future, and I realize this may not be the right solution for everyone, but I've taken some time to learn the tools and right now I can't see anything I don't like about signing in with Microsoft and OneDrive. I am eating crow. Big crow. I feel like I wasted time fighting it.

 

[ManofGod]

Hello,
$2 has been deposited into you account, ty for your support.

Bill

So what, you are calling him a liar?

 

[ManofGod]

I'm posting to eat crow. I used to get pissed about all the Microsoft account bullshit that comes with Windows and Office. I mean, pissed. Finally I gave in and allowed Office to connect to Microsoft OneDrive so I could share something with a client. And then I tried a Microsoft PIN account. And then OneDrive version control. And then I tried a stored profile so I could use a computer in an office 200 miles away.

I cannot say what will happen in the future, and I realize this may not be the right solution for everyone, but I've taken some time to learn the tools and right now I can't see anything I don't like about signing in with Microsoft and OneDrive. I am eating crow. Big crow. I feel like I wasted time fighting it.

What is a stored profile? Thanks.

 

[ManofGod]

All the new 1903 builds I do have to be disconnected from the network in order to install a fresh copy without an online account. The start up process literally does not give you an option if you have a WAN connection.

On the build 1903, newly created boot media, I was never able to reproduce the missing local account option. Must have tried at least 6 different ways with the same results. Always connected to the internet so, as I said before, I must just be lucky. (Home, Pro, VM, bare metal hardware, new build, old gateway computer and so on.)

 

[ManofGod]

None of these discussions could ever hope to be complete without the obligatory "What about Apple/Google" post

And of course the whole reason most of us here have spent decades tolerating Windows - even in it's latest consumer-gaslighting incarnations - is because it's *not* OSX.

LOL, clearly I am not part of most of us. I do not tolerate any OS, I enjoy them all.

 

[Ebernanut]

I ran into this recently when installing win 10 for a friend. I don't recall the workaround being difficult but instead of being an obvious choice I had to spend time looking up how to get the option.

It's not that big of a deal but once again they're trying to push users towards something that benefits them regardless of what the user wants.

 

[waderunner]

I actually like the convenience of the cloud-based account. I move very frequently between multiple work and home computers. And having access to OneDrive, and also management of my Windows licenses, is worth it for me.

I do understand the other side as well. So continued support for local accounts is also important.

But I can sort of see Microsoft's dilemma. The vast majority of Windows users are not [H]ard. And so even offering a local / cloud account option during setup probably generates a shit ton of confusion and support calls from all the people buying OEM desktops and laptops.

Seems like, at some point, Microsoft will offer a Windows Core edition of some kind, similar to how they have done .NET Core. As a sort of enthusiast / hobbyist edition. That would be smart, since that community isn't buying retail licenses anyway.

And, be honest, Microsoft is hardly draconian on how Windows licensing is handled. How many people on this forum have paid retail for a Win10 license since it was released? The fact that you can continue to buy $10 OEM Win7 keys in the grey market and use them to activate multiple Win10 machines kind of tells you than MS isn't totally about screwing over users.

Ultimately, of the current big tech names in the cloud... Google, FB, Apple, Amazon, MS, I feel like MS is still the least evil, and the most PC friendly.

 

[mls1995]

I literally clean installed Windows 10 yesterday bc I’m trying to sell my laptop in for the sale threads. All you have to do is either A) not connect it to the internet during set up or B) install it and then add a new admin user account and delete the account that you made during setup.

Is it annoying? Oh yes, because it really confused me. It is right? No it isn’t. Can you work around it? Yes you can and quite easily.

 

[Hagrid]

Why would people be mad? MS has been doing this kind of thing for a while now. You do not own the software, they will "help" you pick the right option.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

But I can sort of see Microsoft's dilemma. The vast majority of Windows users are not [H]ard. And so even offering a local / cloud account option during setup probably generates a shit ton of confusion and support calls from all the people buying OEM desktops and laptops.

Doubt it.

Th eoption to create a local account has been hidden behind advanced tabs since the very first Windows 10 release. I doubt too many people have accidentally created local accounts.

 

[seanreisk]

What is a stored profile? Thanks.

The correct term would be 'roaming user profile'. Basically, I had a VPN / VPS combo that was replicating a client's server environment, and I was using that as a pre-production server to build forms and reports (I refuse to work on a production server - a proper pre-production environment that can be wiped and recreated dependably is the first thing I insist on). I was visiting them for a week to work with their support people and their sysadmin set me up with a roaming profile so I could log in to any computer and get to my pre-prod stuff without setting it up or leaving settings installed.

 

[AaronGant]

It's a step that sounds like it should only be necessary if you are trying to avoid activation servers for piracy. Shouldn't be a step required to legitimately use software the way people want.

 

[Ebernanut]

It's a step that sounds like it should only be necessary if you are trying to avoid activation servers for piracy. Shouldn't be a step required to legitimately use software the way people want.

It doesn't get around activation, not sure what would have ever given you that idea.

 

[Monkey34]

Pretty well sums it up:

Reddit user Old_Traveller noted: "It's such a dick move. I'll never tie my main OS with an online account."

 

[blandead]

Just hit enter when it asks for a password, it'll create a local administrator (with no pw) and skip the Microsoft account prompts

At least this computer did when I noticed local account option missing

 

[jardows]

Horrible reporting, but I expect that from ZDNet and Bott. All he does is quote a few forum and Reddit users - he didn't even try it himself to see what was going on!
Then he references an old article which in of itself said that it was much easier to setup a local account with 1903.

Again, a bunch of FUD spewed by the tabloid of tech news. I'm not sure which is worse, ZD or wccftech.

Using the media creation tool, I have installed with Ethernet connected to the Internet both Home and Pro versions of 1903, and every time at the user account section, I had the option to select a local account. No one who claims a different experience has been able to tell me what they are doing differently that makes a difference. Yes, if you have Wi-Fi, don't connect to a network, but you can be connected to the Internet by Ethernet, install Home or Pro of 1903, and select a local account on installation.

 

[SvenBent]

Its in windows 7 there where its "gone" *ducks and covers while running out the door*

 

[AaronGant]

It doesn't get around activation, not sure what would have ever given you that idea.

I never said it would get around it, wasn't an idea I had. To clarify: I had meant to quote, in the my original posting one of the people mentioning disconnecting from the internet to get it to install how they wanted. I've heard that is not an uncommon step in various cracks for software, usually not a step required for installing legit software.

 

[ManofGod]

Horrible reporting, but I expect that from ZDNet and Bott. All he does is quote a few forum and Reddit users - he didn't even try it himself to see what was going on!
Then he references an old article which in of itself said that it was much easier to setup a local account with 1903.

Again, a bunch of FUD spewed by the tabloid of tech news. I'm not sure which is worse, ZD or wccftech.

Using the media creation tool, I have installed with Ethernet connected to the Internet both Home and Pro versions of 1903, and every time at the user account section, I had the option to select a local account. No one who claims a different experience has been able to tell me what they are doing differently that makes a difference. Yes, if you have Wi-Fi, don't connect to a network, but you can be connected to the Internet by Ethernet, install Home or Pro of 1903, and select a local account on installation.

Personally, I would like to know as well, either to avoid it or get around it. (Remember the guy who kept saying IT'S A CLOUD INSTALLER!)

 

[jardows]

Personally, I would like to know as well, either to avoid it or get around it. (Remember the guy who kept saying IT'S A CLOUD INSTALLER!)

Yes. Seems like this topic was discussed ad nauseum a few months ago in the Operating Systems subforum.

 

[Ebernanut]

I never said it would get around it, wasn't an idea I had. To clarify: I had meant to quote, in the my original posting one of the people mentioning disconnecting from the internet to get it to install how they wanted. I've heard that is not an uncommon step in various cracks for software, usually not a step required for installing legit software.

My bad, I misread that as saying that only pirates would try use an offline account.

I get tired of people claiming that only pirates would object to certain restrictions put on software when there's plenty of better reasons.

 

[RangerXML]

You can just create a local account by starting the computer disconnected from the internet. When you’re on the desktop it will prompt you to set up a MS account once you plug a network cable or connect to WiFi, but you can just cancel. I think it’s dump, but the ability is still there.

 

[Jagger100]

Come on people... just disconnect the network / ethernet during the install. How hard is that?

Are those instructions given at the time of windows setup?

 

[ManofGod]

Are those instructions given at the time of windows setup?

I would first have to be able to reproduce the problem myself, which I have not seen, at least so far.

 

[Ranulfo]

MS has been hiding or obfuscating the local account option since windows 8 came out.

 

[pillagenburn]

Remember guys, the Windows operating system is a service. A service that can be revoked at any time for any reason or no reason as all online accounts will eventually be tied to identities.

And if Microsoft doesn't like your identity then it can suspend login of your identity until you comply with their terms of service (what will eventually be known as terms of existence)

Time to reinvent the internet.

 

[Aix.]

I upgraded my main PC + HTPC from Win7 a while back without issue; both were local accounts. I generally stream content from the HDDs on my main PC and used HomeGroup without issue for years; when I upgraded to Win10 I could still stream, but it became really cumbersome to navigate to the shared drives (both were local accounts).

I recently did a fresh Win10 install when I updated my main PC and the installer pushed the MS account route, which I didn't think much of during the install. Now I'm having problems connecting the two PCs and I'm wondering if it's a local account vs linked account issue, asking for passwords and stuff. Other weird stuff happens too like unchecking "require PIN on system start" and then the system still asks for a PIN.

 

[PeaKr]

I use ntLite to configure installation iso's. Many useful features like integrating drivers, hotfix and some nice tweaks. One blocks the creation of online accounts. I haven't noticed this behavior but I usually leave the ethernet unplugged. A week ago I remember seeing Domain options instead of the usual Local Account but I navigated through to create a Local Account, thought it was a glitch.

ghacks tests a number of w10 editions using 1909 and comes away with some insight.

 

[iissmart]

Didn't they just rename it to "domain join" but leave the functionality unchanged?

 

[Staples]

I just installed a few weeks ago. It is still there. Hopefully it will remain there in future versions. I think this is a bad move if they do.

 

[purple_monster]

So what, you are calling him a liar?

Hello,
$2 has been deposited into you account, ty for your support.

Bill

 

[1_rick]

What, until next year? They run on commercial products that never connect to the internet.

Sorry, I have no idea what you're trying to say here. If you aren't connected to the internet when you install Windows, it can't force you to create a Microsoft account. QED. Also, and I shouldn't have to point this out, this can never really change, except for some fantasy scenario.

If it wasn't for those, it would be gone. They'll cripple the local account in some way.

No.

 

[1_rick]

I actually have tested this a while back, when someone, I do not recall who, tried to claim that the local account option during setup is gone.

I won't mention the name, lest he reappear, but he was pretending that there was no such thing as "be offline when installing" until called out about it.

 

[1_rick]

I noticed this for new Windows 10 Home installs on OEM machines - I literally had to create a dummy MS account to get past the setup screen, there was no way to actually use a local account. I guess it sounds like you'd have to boot without internet to get past it otherwise. Really quite stupid.

To the extent this was true, Microsoft already rolled it back--and, again, if you're not online, it will pester you a couple of times to go online, but if you remain steadfast, you can create a local account.

Until such time as all computers come with wifi and there is free, ubiquitous wifi (by which I mean it's *everywhere*) Microsoft simply cannot get rid of local accounts.

Comparison to phone OSes don't make sense because, you know, phones are online.

 

[1_rick]

What's the use case for creating a local user account?

Not requiring a 10-character password? Yeah, I know, that's a kind of flippant answer but if I don't want to put a password on my home PC, I'm not going to. Can't do that with a Microsoft account (as far as I know).