this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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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.

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[–] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 52 points 3 days ago (2 children)

"Linux is far too complex for the common person to use."

Installing windows without your data being harvested: 7 steps, then editing registry files, uninstalling most of the programs that come with it and get reinstalled with every update, use this command prompt, download this program from a random website you've never heard of before...

Installing Linux without your data being harvested: Click continue.

Linux is so difficult you guys, no one could possibly learn the command line.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.world 21 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Linux is so difficult you guys, no one could possibly learn the command line.

In the vast VAST majority of "normal" use cases, which I'd argue for most people it's :

  • Web browsing
  • watching videos or listening to music
  • editing text documents, spreadsheets, presentations
  • playing video games
  • managing files, e.g. moving them in directories, compressing them, etc
  • keeping the system up to date
  • using a printer

there are reliable ways to use a GUI. So... even though IMHO the command line is absolutely worth learning, one can perfectly use Linux my "just" clicking their way around.

[–] uniquethrowagay@feddit.org 17 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I work in IT (almost exclusively Windows) and have been using Linux on my private machines for 8 years now. I barely know anything about the command line. I don't have to be a Linux nerd because it just works with the GUI. (KDE Plasma. Can't speak for other DEs)

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[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I've swapped back and forth between Linux and Windows a half dozen times now, and I can honestly say, both are a bitch to set up from a clean install.

Even with guides and autoloading scripts and whatnot, it's still going to be a few days of pain while you try to figure out what else needs to be installed to use the computer the way you want to use it.

Or that's how it works for me.

I mostly just wish more games were linux native.

[–] mr_pip@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

can you explain why it takes you that long to set up a new linux install? for me a fresh install with a (really not complex) script to install my required software and copying over config files takes maybe one hour (excluding game downloads of course).

genuinely interested if your setup is that much more complex or where the difference comes from.

[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I'm counting game installations. Then there's the fact that NoScript seems to reset every time I swap operating systems, so now I have to figure out what I've allowed and blocked before...

Then there's the pruning of random shit that was auto installed. Some of that shit can take days to find.

But most of the pain is when I try to do X, and need to find a program that will do it. This happens in Windows and Linux, and either will have programs that work, but then I have to find the program and learn it, and then let enough time pass where I have to do it all over again.

The most recent example was a map making program for my Table Top RPG obsession. One program that's a go-to under Windows (with possible Linux capability?) is called AutoRealm. Which hasn't updated since 2013... But it's still one of the most powerful fractal mapping programs I've ever lightly used.

[–] anindefinitearticle@sh.itjust.works 115 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Yeah, it's called wipe the drive and install linux.

[–] Viri4thus@feddit.org 29 points 3 days ago

This guy fucks!

[–] mspencer712@programming.dev 25 points 3 days ago (4 children)

That’s right. Even if you have to use a windows app that Linux compatibility layers don’t support, you can banish Windows 11 to a virtual machine.

Oh, weird, even in a virtual machine it wants an account. Anyone know where I can find a bypass method? :-)

Just put Linux on the VM.

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[–] SayYes2Depress@slrpnk.net 73 points 3 days ago (13 children)

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.

[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 39 points 3 days ago (7 children)

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.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] Ofiuco@lemmy.cafe 8 points 3 days ago (2 children)

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.

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[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I agree. Lemmy is like. "Use Linux..."

"Oh you still want to use Windows? Why do you still drown puppies and club baby seals?"

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[–] Surp@lemmy.world 42 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (9 children)

Lemmy is the 1.45% user base on steam hardware surveys os section. https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Software-Survey-Welcome-to-Steam

By far most people want to use windows. The people that are loud on here about Linux are the only ones that don't so thank you for a solution that's not the constant post saying just install Linux. Its not intuitive for almost all users aside IT people and enthusiasts.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

By far most people want to use windows.

Do they though? I'd bet a significant share do not "want" to, but they are stuck there, convinced there are no viable alternatives.

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's not even viable for me. I simply cannot use Linux daily because all my jobs require software that doesn't have a Linux version, or it does but it's lacking necessary features, or there's an alternative but I have to burn extra hours making it work with their systems/setup - hours I don't have.

Or I have to use internally configured Remote Desktop profiles over a VPN (not to be confused with RDP), and you can't do that specific use case on Linux because it requires using the company's internal Windows Store with specific Remote Desktop installation.

Or I have to use a specific Outlook instance, locally installed, because somehow they've blocked web access (I still haven't figured out exactly how they set this up).

After a 12 hour day, sure, I can switch back to my dual boot Linux instance and spend 1-2 hours for personal use. But the ratio is still Windows-leaning no matter how you slice it.

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[–] BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

Windows intuitively making you jump through 7 steps to not have an online account. The reality sadly is most Windows users will just be pushed by Microsoft to use a Microsoft account to access their own PC.

Only 1% of Windows users who are IT people and enthusiasts will find out how to avoid being forced into internet based accounts.

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Install. Linux. Mint.

My sarcasm has less steps than this workaround. A linux install has less steps than that.

[–] barnaclebutt@lemmy.world 15 points 3 days ago (2 children)

LINUX. Jesus it's fucking Linux.

[–] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I use linux for everything except for one critical app that does not yet work on linux outside of a virtual machine. But, my computer is not powerful enough to run it in a virtual machine.

There are also no alternatives to it either. So, I have a second computer to use windows for just that, but the day it works on linux is the day I say bye to windows forever.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

There are also no alternatives to it either

Just curious, what is it?

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[–] tvbusy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 3 days ago

Bought an old laptop for my daughter's first computer. She's going to just learn typing and some simple stuff. Not able to install Windows with a local account. Fedora KDE it is then.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 22 points 3 days ago

How to setup your desktop as a desktop: only 7 steps!

[–] kemsat@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

As a civilization, we need to accept that we can no longer continue to depend on Microsoft Windows to use our computers. Hopefully the transition will go through without Microsoft having the opportunity to try to save themselves.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 4 points 3 days ago

I don't think we are even close to getting critical mass but there gamers can be converted pretty easily now.

Each time micro-shit does a thing, Linux gets more users.

Prolly will take another decade or two but Linux will hit that critical mass.

Every day more people find out that Linux is part of the freedom tool set.

[–] RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works 22 points 3 days ago (4 children)

People like to complain that Linux is complicated to setup and use. In recent years, it's increasingly the opposite. Basic windows settings locations are shuffled around and hidden and you have to use the Windows Commandline/Powershell to get things done. And installing Linux is also much faster and most of all doesn't ask you a hundred questions how to best steal your data.

[–] LazerDickMcCheese@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Just turned a Win10 machine into Ubuntu not too long ago. It took all day, broke several times, and still has issues booting remotely. It is getting easier, but a 30 minute Windows install with a few button presses is still easier, unfortunately

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[–] nicerdicer@feddit.org 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You are right. From what I saw Linux-based OSs have come a long way. The issue with Linux is when it comes to professional environments, that are not IT-related: There are niche programs that are used in certain professions that were written to work on Windows computers exclusively. They are not availiable for other OSs, because they are not wide spread or popular with non-professionals. Also, Microsoft Office (especially Outlook and Excel) is very dominant within the professional field - up to a point that it can't be changed easily. All this does not apply to users who use Linux computers outside a professional enviroment, as there are alternatives for popular programs and services already.

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[–] jet@hackertalks.com 18 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

They are never going to totally kill local only accounts... Because corporate networks, automation, embedded systems, air gaped networks.. all exist in abundance in the enterprise and government worlds.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago

7 steps? I have it down to 3

  1. don't by will 11 home
  2. when at the account creation screen select This will be domain joined.
  3. create local account.
[–] Commander_Keen@reddthat.com 6 points 3 days ago

Let’s just not install windows?

[–] Franklin@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 days ago

fun fact Rufus already has all of this automated and even has steps to have the local account of your choice already as part of the image

[–] Cossty@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

People who can't or don't want to use Linux should just use Windows LTSC or IOT. It's honestly the next best thing. I just set it up for my brother. When you open up the start menu on the fresh install and there is nothing there out of the box, it's such a nice feeling. No ads, no games, no onedrive, nothing. The only thing LTSC has is Microsoft Edge but even that one you can uninstall.

Licenses are expensive, but you can easily activate it with mas.

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[–] heavydust@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

People say Stockholm syndrome is fake, but when I see Windows users, I know it's real. They have been suffering for years and never thought once about alternatives like Ubuntu.

"Oh Linux is too complicated, I can't do that." Yeah, you can't click on Firefox to open Firefox, or LibreOffice to write a document. That's too hard.

To rant a bit, the last time I helped my parents, I removed every icon from their desktop and installed Firefox with uBlock Origin. Only Firefox on the desktop, it was idiot proof. When I came back, Firefox had disappeared and on the desktop I saw: Edge, 2 copies of Chrome with the most scummy plugins ever, and one Chrome fork that came from an adware that they purposefully installed (WTF). I told them that they had a virus, and that from now on I wouldn't help them anymore. They like to suffer, I let them.

[–] Nelots@lemm.ee 18 points 3 days ago (4 children)

They have been suffering for years and never thought once about alternatives like Ubuntu

The average user is pretty unaffected by windows' enshitification. And if it doesn't fuck over their daily life, most people are more than happy to keep using the thing they're familiar with. Especially when switching would require not only learning one new thing, but a large number of new things. For example, do you use paint.net? Sucks to suck, time to find a Linux alternative and learn how to use it and hope it can do everything you need it for.

Linux fanatics like to pretend its as simple as installing a different OS and that's it, everything else in your workflow will work immediately with no research needed. But that's simply not true.

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[–] nicerdicer@feddit.org 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I can relate. It is like those tool bars that were installed automatically if you weren't attentive while installing software when Windows XP still was around.

They like to suffer, I let them.

Me too. I always suggest to them to install UBlock origin (or any ad blocker compatible to their browser), along with add ons that get rid of cookie consent banners. If they follow my advice, I will invest my time into helping them to make their OS a little bit less annoying (e.g. switching off telemetry data and uninstalling Copilot). If they can't be bothered with at least installing an ad blocker, I will not waste my time on them. They clearly want to suffer.

Edit: The screenshot displays a Windows Vista UI. These Toolbars must have been aorund also while Windows Vista was around. I didn't know that, because Vista made me settle into the other walled garden.

[–] m4m4m4m4@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

My parents are almost completely technological-illiterate (i.e. due to old age my father doesn't even have a cellphone nor knows how to use it, and my mother barely can know how to do calls in her phone - both of them don't know how to use a computer) but they know they don't know about stuff - so hearing stories like that kind of make me be thankful they're like that and that they will hear me when needing some advice or need to do something involving something tech-y

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[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Looks better than my solution which was to join the machine to a domain then add a local account after. I always add a local account of my machines then add them to a domain. Simple fact is they want to trap people in their walled garden and it isn't going that well for them.

[–] dan1101@lemm.ee 7 points 3 days ago

I'm sure it's going really well because the vast majority probably just give in.

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