Technology

I just bypass the requirement by installing Linux Mint instead

I put this in another thread: It's not a big deal. They're removing the bypassnro.cmd script, which is just this:

@echo off

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

shutdown /r /t 0

You can still use shift-F10 at the same point, type those two lines (not the @ECHO OFF), and it will achieve the same result.

Are people shocked that windows keeps removing things that allow the os to be usable and debloated?

Copilot recording your screen will be a non optional feature before win11 is over.

We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.

Any windows fanboy cares to explain how this supposedly enhances a user's security?

The spin on requiring an internet connection being phrased as 'ensures all users exit setup with internet connectivity' is amazing too.

The command (C:\Windows\System32\) OOBE\bypassnro (.cmd) one types into the command prompt (after opening it with Shift+F10) for the bypass is the location of a batch file they will be removing (the parenthesized parts are optional, implied by the command interpreter, and so is any capitalization). You can still do whatever it's doing (adding a registry key and restarting) by typing the command manually or providing a copy of the file on a USB drive. After a restart, the OS will check for the registry key AND lack of internet connection to provide the local account option.

For the record, the contents of the file are

@echo off
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0

The first line is optional, and so is the third if you're OK with restarting manually. If creating the file on Unix-based systems, make sure the newline sequence is CRLF (DOS/Windows standard).

Obligatory shoutout to literally any Linux distro, which does not need this workaround, and is usually easier to install and set up than debloating a fresh Windows 11 install.

Just one more reason to skip Windows 11…

Fix:

open this site: https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/

check your options that you like

download your xml

download win 11 iso

put on stick (with rufus) with the downloaded xml file

install win 11

profit

This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity

And what if someone doesn’t have internet connectivity?

I've got my first son or daughter on the way, I'm thinking they might be learning Linux as their first OS

A few weeks ago I helped one of my client's employees set up their brand new laptop, which came with Win11 installed, of course. They just need it for basic work stuff and there's no chance in hell anything other than Windows is a viable option here.

We work remotely so I would help them get set up to a point where they could at least share their screen to me, or I could take over via remote access myself, to finish the installation process. I just needed to guide them through the steps "blind" for a short while. Easy peasy, right?

So we go through the Windows 11 first time setup together. All seems to go ok until Windows asks them to log into their MS account or create one. No problem, we should be able to do that, right? Only that we can't. We're connected to the WiFi, etc., yet they get some generic ass error message like "Sorry, something went wrong" and that's that.

Ok, so we can't log in with an online account. Let's try offline as a fallback! We set the username, password... "Sorry, something went wrong" again. We try to guess maybe it's the password, it doesn't match! Or it's not strong enough! So we try all these different things for ages. Again, we're getting no feedback whatsoever from Windows. Just "Something went wrong fuck you lol".

I don't use Windows myself, I've been a Linux user for years now, I don't have any freaking clue how to remotely diagnose a vague issue that literally prevents them from getting the laptop to a functional state. So I Google the problem and the recommended answer is to run this magic "bypassnro" command. It will cut all the mandatory online account bullshit, move straight to a reliable offline account setup screen, and allow us to, you know, actually do work? And it worked!

If I hadn't had that command at my disposal, that I was forced to use by Microsoft's broken ass setup UX, I would've probably spent twice or three times longer coaching my non-tech-savvy client through booting into fail safe mode and doing all kinds of arcane sysadmin shit that I don't even have to ever think about in Linux. All this just to get them into the desktop, on a brand new laptop.

And Microsoft have now decided to take it away. Nice one.

This will be the year of the Linux desktop.

ive been on windows all my life but as of last week it's the first time that ive had zero windows machines in my life since i installed linux mint on them. ive never been happier.

Microsoft it the best ad for linux.

bypassw11.exe

How the hell are we supposed to install it without a Internet connection? I worked in a company that was so hard on security that only certified machines were allowed access to the net, so virtual machines were not allowed to access the LAN and therefore the Internet. Generally not a problem as we just used them to test software on different OS versions, so no Internet required.

This change disallows all offline installs. What is their gain? Are they that keen on our data or are they planning to use the connection to a Microsoft account for something even worse than just selling personal information? I could think of a few reasons and none are nice...

I'M OKAY WITH MAKING A WINDOWS ACCOUNT. I'M JUST NOT OKAY WITH MY ~/ PATH BEING C:/Users/Jacobuedhbcuycbdhh55674c4bhdncy6448774/

THIS CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY CREATING A LOCAL USER AND THEN SIGNING IN

Apple does this.

Microsoft is now doing this.

I wonder how long until Google start doing it with Android 🤔

This future is so fucking dystopian

windows is not user friendly

Great even more reasons to avoid it

Just had to set up two pcs for work. Trying to get around the account setup and thinking about all the bullshit that comes with windows I just installed Linux mint.

Just another reason to switch to Linux

It is insecure to create one account with username and password during the setup process. The password should always come from your password manager. But you would not have access to your password manager during the installation process.

Please remove this step.

I feel like this won't stop anyone who was already refusing to use a Microsoft account for windows. Anyone who was already bypassing the account requirement will still do so, it just will be more difficult. They've accomplished nothing except further pissing off some of their most competent user base.

I use that command partially because Microsoft accounts don't allow passwords as long as the password I like to use for my PC

W10 LTSC has support until 2032 😎

Didn't Microsoft do the same thing with Windows 10 and EU prevented that?