This might be relevant to those who wish / have to use Windows 11:
This week, Microsoft made it very clear that it wants to block the popular BYPASSNRO workaround, used to skip the internet and Microsoft Account requirement checks during the Windows 11 installation OOBE (initial setup), although thankfully, the script can still be created using Registry edits.
A 7 step guide.
This is great. Most other comments only talking about how the solution is to “install Linux”. But thats not a viable solution for us Admins setting up PC’s for users in a company who barely understand how to use a Windows machine, never mind them ever even hearing of the word Linux.
I would love to install Linux on some users machines that dont use the PC for anything other than Internet Access. But I know they would still have a cow.
Since I saw they were getting rid of Bypassnro ive been panicking, wondering if I’m going to start having to set up a Microsoft account for all my users. I’ll test this on Monday and hopefully breath easy. That is until they decide to strip us of this solution as well.
The just install Linux crowd gets really old. How’s that gonna help on a work machine where I HAVE to use Office to collaborate? Oh right, it’s not! Totally unhelpful.
Because they aren’t trying to help, they are just trying to feel superior about something by fixating on their survivor bias and ignoring whatever context people might have for still using Windows or having a dual-boot instead of just getting rid of it.
I don’t think this is it. Many Linux users who evangelize were Windows users once, they have a pretty good understanding of the context and the challenges that exist in that migration for both them and less tech-savy others.
Inching closer snd closer to the Year of the Linux Desktop, to the point where Windows-focused media like LTT started talking about it, didn’t happen because people said “both are good”.
It’s like politics, change for the better in a capatilist system happens with noise.
I’m a huge FOSS advocate and recommend Linux over Windows. I understand the challenges it repsents for users in a work environment. And those users will get Windows, for now, but they will continue to hear about its problems and the benefits of Linux whenever they ask me or complain. Because that’s what opens the doors, even if it’s annoying in the moment.
Just like politics, repetition of the problems they are making worse, repetition, and more repetition, until the ignorant learn the better path forward.
Edit: you know what? It doesn’t matter, not like you would believe my words anyway, just enjoy your life and I’ll… Not enjoy mine.
100% of my office relies on at least WSL.
All our servers are Linux.
Tons of huge multi-national companies are already using Google Docs which run great in Linux.
It’s coming.
Its a cybersecurity issue so it is inevitable, browser apps are the future because corporations don’t want files sitting on a filesystem, they want to keep them in their enterprise storage. ChromeOS is the future, or something like it.
Libre Office…
Taking the bait, what is specific to Office that is needed?
Sharepoint mainly. Mandatory at work. I don’t run IT.
AFAICT that’s supported https://rclone.org/onedrive/
Eh, depending on what’s being done office.com is fine for most.
That aside, if this is a business and you’re using office apps, you have an account that should be getting used during setup. Thats not who this workaround is for, and not who the “just install Linux” comment is for.
Edit: if you’re an admin with O365 and not using AAD on your devices, its your own problem.
If you’re using a personal device for work wanting to avoid AAD, you’ve made a mistake.
If this is somehow confusing to you, step back, re-read, and try again.
I want to live in your fantasy land.
Why do I want even more shit in the cloud? Some stuff I want on-prem and don’t need it in the cloud.
Plus, it’s now Entra ID.
Its not hard. Just have a production Linux desktop and a production windows laptop, and it becomes pretty clear what you can do. Basic memos and emails are no problem through the web, and thats a huge number of people.
Why buy cloud shit and then not use cloud shit?
Just don’t buy cloud shit and join to a local domain.
Let me know when I need to type that at the CLI and I’ll stop calling it aad.
You can use NTLite to set up local accounts during installation, skip the OOBE, remove TPM requirements, strip down some of the bloat, and disable some of the tracking. You can have it include driver packs and updates too. All I have to do after installation is log in, domain join if necessary, and set up user accounts.
I agree. Lemmy is like. “Use Linux…”
“Oh you still want to use Windows? Why do you still drown puppies and club baby seals?”
Deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me clubbing seals and installing windows.
Could you not use an outdated ISO of a windows that supports local accounts, and then apply updates ?
If someone doesn’t understand how to use Windows, they’ll probably find Linux easier. Probably all they need is Firefox and Libre office.
I think libre office is even a maybe in this case. Give them a browser and they’ll be fine.
Don’t say Linux then. If they already barely know windows, that’s an ideal situation, it’s going to be similarly confusing either way.
If your concern is that you think they would run into more stability issues when using a linux-based OS vs Windows, that’s a reasonable concern. But if we’re comparing against a sufficiently stable distro release, I don’t think it’s well founded.
If you’re setting them up for a company, you’ll join too a domain anyway and it’s a non-issue. Probably even have it automated using WDS or a similar 3rd party solution.
Doesn’t make it any less annoying as a policy from Ms, but for any company of like 50+ employees, it shouldn’t affect anything.
I have not set up WDS for my company but its on my list of learning how to do. Currently I go through the process of setting up a local admin before I add to domain. So I go through initial setup and then add to domain once I’m at the desktop.
I’m one IT guy for a company of 150 users.
Just look into answer files, WDS isn’t a requirement for using them (just makes it easier). It can contain three local admin and set it up. You shouldn’t even see the oobe in most cases (depending on how you prefer to handle that). Domain join can also be done from the file.
Iirc they aren’t getting rid of the method, they’re just making it less obvious.
If you’re managing fleets of windows installs you should already be using some kind of autounattend.xml script for settings like Automated Winstall. More info in this video. You can also use older Windows 11 ISOs and update after setup if you’re uncomfortable with that.
Not defending the decision by Microsoft, just pointing out some workarounds that should continue to work.
Oh, yeah… Linux. I think I saw one of those at the zoo