New Windows 11 build makes mandatory Microsoft sign-in even more mandatory(arstechnica.com)
arstechnica.com
New Windows 11 build makes mandatory Microsoft sign-in even more mandatory
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/new-windows-11-build-makes-mandatory-microsoft-account-sign-in-even-more-mandatory/
50 comments
For gaming I usually use cachy os but occasionally need windows for certain games and FSR4, I’ve recently have been using those stripped down windows isos. Such as Optimum 11.
So far the experience has been nice, it doesn’t even come with a default browser so it’s pretty stripped down. Note that I only use it for gaming so I’m not sure if it works well as a daily os. Never had it asked me to sign in, even during installation.
https://windowsxlite.com/Optimum11Pro/
So far the experience has been nice, it doesn’t even come with a default browser so it’s pretty stripped down. Note that I only use it for gaming so I’m not sure if it works well as a daily os. Never had it asked me to sign in, even during installation.
https://windowsxlite.com/Optimum11Pro/
I would not put one of those builds on my network, and I'd also expect this to have very imperfect compatibility (e.g. quite a few games need Edge WebView, and these usually rip it out). And you get maybe 1-2 extra FPS. And Windows 11 LTSC is right there.
Oh interesting! I will happily switch to this. I don’t keep up much with the Windows world.
I’m not using the stripped windows for performance, I strongly dislike all the unnecessary items that comes bundled. My windows use case is for it to just run games. I don’t want it to do anything else.
Seems like Windows IOT fits the bill though so thanks for sharing!
Seems like Windows IOT fits the bill though so thanks for sharing!
it's probably less hostile than the official microsoft version
my windows machine is on its own VLAN anyway
my windows machine is on its own VLAN anyway
There should be an antitrust forcing Microsoft to sell Windows, at least the part of it that’s useful for gaming.
It’s shameful what the do to the people locked into their platform.
It’s shameful what the do to the people locked into their platform.
No different from what any of the big tech companies do.
Not defending the behaviour, but it's definitely the pattern with every tech company.
Not defending the behaviour, but it's definitely the pattern with every tech company.
They could all use an antitrust shakeup.
The politicians are purchased, they may even have shares.
What's the big monopoly anymore? Almost everything runs on variants of Wine. Even Anticheat, if the developers care enough.
The remaining foothold of windows for home use is games. It’s the only reason I still have a windows partition (well, app development to be fair but that’s not everyone). A lot of the previous moat like Word seems to have moved to the cloud.
So, what are the blockers for Linux for games? I know ”the linux desktop” is a meme, but IME Ubuntu (for me, but pick your choice) has been boringly reliable and easy to use for a decade now at least. (laptops are hit or miss but that’s a different story). With SteamOS, why are or aren’t we getting close to where games can run smooth and lots of home users can finally ditch Windows? DirectX? Game engine support?
So, what are the blockers for Linux for games? I know ”the linux desktop” is a meme, but IME Ubuntu (for me, but pick your choice) has been boringly reliable and easy to use for a decade now at least. (laptops are hit or miss but that’s a different story). With SteamOS, why are or aren’t we getting close to where games can run smooth and lots of home users can finally ditch Windows? DirectX? Game engine support?
Im no expert by any means (but I have been following the year of linux desktop meme for years now). SteamOS/proton has helped break new market holds tremendously for Linux gaming, but one of the bigger remaining problems across the industry is still anti cheat for large popular multiplayer games
My understanding is that 'anti-cheat' solutions are the biggest remaining issue. Proprietary drivers that are by design resistant to analysis and reverse-engineering.
What I've always done is just not connect it to the internet during the install process. I imagine this has implications for Rufus and tiny11, but... It's more annoyance than anything else.
If you knew enough to use the command (or look up a tool/installer that makes use of the command), you likely already know or will be quick to find the install without internet workaround.
If you knew enough to use the command (or look up a tool/installer that makes use of the command), you likely already know or will be quick to find the install without internet workaround.
Rufus has always maintained that they'll inject an answers file for as long as that works, but not patch Windows ISOs in any more hacky way.
Gonna be good fun when I need to reinstall and won't have any kind of internet access because no drivers ship in Windows for my specific motherboard's WiFi or Ethernet chips.
Put the drivers on a USB drive and you can point Windows to it when prompted.
Or I could buy a Macbook. Or I could get a machine that's preinstalled. Or I could just not reinstall. Or...
Not the point man.
It doesn't prompt you by the way.
Not the point man.
It doesn't prompt you by the way.
Yes, it does. I've been through that dance with Windows.
And Windows has prompted for drivers since _at least_ Windows NT4.
Yes, get a brand new $1k+ machine because you can't be arsed to grab an inf. If you have that money laying around, absolutely your choice of course.
Here's some instructions for you: https://teamsbackground.net/how-to-install-network-drivers-d...
And Windows has prompted for drivers since _at least_ Windows NT4.
Yes, get a brand new $1k+ machine because you can't be arsed to grab an inf. If you have that money laying around, absolutely your choice of course.
Here's some instructions for you: https://teamsbackground.net/how-to-install-network-drivers-d...
No, it doesn't - not at the post-install network check phase, which is where people will hit this issue unexpectedly. You have to pop a terminal and load the drivers that way, or for now, trigger the bypass.
> Here's some instructions for you
To clarify even more explicitly, I don't need your instructions or help. My point was to illustrate that this is unacceptable, not that I'm in need of IT help. I shouldn't need a second computer to download drivers to a USB drive, and I shouldn't need to know in advance that I'll need to do this, and I shouldn't need to be able to recall it during an unrelated part of the installation where the installer decides to grace me with a button to load drivers. This is nonsense. Even requiring network connectivity is plain nonsense in its own right.
> Here's some instructions for you
To clarify even more explicitly, I don't need your instructions or help. My point was to illustrate that this is unacceptable, not that I'm in need of IT help. I shouldn't need a second computer to download drivers to a USB drive, and I shouldn't need to know in advance that I'll need to do this, and I shouldn't need to be able to recall it during an unrelated part of the installation where the installer decides to grace me with a button to load drivers. This is nonsense. Even requiring network connectivity is plain nonsense in its own right.
I still use Windows 7.
[deleted]
...with VirtualBox hosting Windows XP...and airgapped. :-)
I do still have an XP machine, which I use now and then to read something off of a 5.25" floppy. I've also used it to run DOS programs.
On the Windows 7 box I assiduously use my password "password123" and it's been good.
Edit: dammit, now I gotta change my password again. Going for "qwerty" this time.
On the Windows 7 box I assiduously use my password "password123" and it's been good.
Edit: dammit, now I gotta change my password again. Going for "qwerty" this time.
Microsoft barely cares about consumer Windows anymore. Cloud is where they make their real money and is where the revenue growth comes from. The company wants consumer Windows to cover its costs so it's not a burden on the rest of the company. Beyond that, it doesn't appear senior management really cares all that much what the backwater part of the company responsible for consumer Windows does.
Doubt TPM is about selling hardware. Though Microsoft has some hardware devices, most of that market is owned by other companies. OEM licenses are not a money maker like they were decades ago. TPM likely is a combination of wanting to reduce liability, part of DRM plans to make Hollywood happy, and government desire to eventually have all code signed and attributable to the individual who compiled it. It might not accomplish any of that today but is part of the roadmap to the place where those goals can be implemented.
Doubt TPM is about selling hardware. Though Microsoft has some hardware devices, most of that market is owned by other companies. OEM licenses are not a money maker like they were decades ago. TPM likely is a combination of wanting to reduce liability, part of DRM plans to make Hollywood happy, and government desire to eventually have all code signed and attributable to the individual who compiled it. It might not accomplish any of that today but is part of the roadmap to the place where those goals can be implemented.
This opens a loophole to blackmail you. If you don't buy the Windows they can shutdown your account. And if you use the account for payments or signups e.g. to banks?
Kaboom!!!
It is a general evil plan set up step by step and not only from Microsoft.
Kaboom!!!
It is a general evil plan set up step by step and not only from Microsoft.
Windows 11 LTSC is definitely the best version of win11. I have it in a VM. I really hate this push for online accounts, it's something I'll never agree to.
Gosh, they should adopt the slogan - “Run baby run”.
How about "Windows, getting me Started since '95"
Smart (evil) way to hustle people off Windows 10.
I'm so glad my motherboard doesn’t support Windows 11. That's the one 'secret hack' that seems to work.
Pretty sure the TPM requirement was just an excuse to sell new PCs. They ended up allowing older platforms for 11
I'm sure it's an honest attempt to move the baseline for security up and shake off the "Windows is insecure by default" perception they've been fighting since introducing UAC.
Though it is definitely not required, IoT LTSC does not have these requirements.
Though it is definitely not required, IoT LTSC does not have these requirements.
Pfff. It's a push to hardware they can lock down and claim full control over so they can sell the Windows platform as secure to content providers (games, etc.) The same way Android banking apps refuse to run on rooted phones, you'll soon be unable to run a lot of apps if you don't have a TPM. Then it'll be some websites that can't be accessed...
This fearmongering about Microsoft has existed since the very day the first TPM shipped, and it has never come closer to being real.
Most of the security improvements shipping in Windows are leftovers from Xbox, but they very clearly state that Windows Security does not treat the user themselves as a threat.
See the slide around 4 minutes into this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7VwtOrwceo
Most of the security improvements shipping in Windows are leftovers from Xbox, but they very clearly state that Windows Security does not treat the user themselves as a threat.
See the slide around 4 minutes into this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7VwtOrwceo
Evidence? I have a laptop I purchased refurbished and upgraded to Win11 almost immediately. It cannot be updated to 24H2, apparently because the TPM does not support the required version for that Win11 version.
Windows continual slowdown and incompatibility is intentional to sell new hardware. This has happened since the 90's.
I have notebook that supports everything (TPM 2.0). The only excuse is that the CPU is allegedly a generation too old, which only makes sense for servers.
That 100% pushed me to wipe Windows from all of my computers, except for my company-issued notebook.
I haven’t noticed a difference (if anything, everything is faster).
That 100% pushed me to wipe Windows from all of my computers, except for my company-issued notebook.
I haven’t noticed a difference (if anything, everything is faster).
You can turn off TPM on any motherboard.
-an into copilot, an a tighter localmachine lockdown. and subscription apps
Again OP?
[dupe] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43511073
[dupe] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43511073
[deleted]
Nothing more american than trying your hardest to drive people away!
Shift f10
Start ms-cxh:localonly
Start ms-cxh:localonly
[deleted]
Shift F10
OOBE\BYPASSNRO
I don't have internet
...
.. edit.. so they are closing this? Ok, time for plan B
...
.. edit.. so they are closing this? Ok, time for plan B
(221 points, 13 hours ago, 227 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43512660