this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2025
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Preferably from 2020 onwards and without the need for a mandatory product key/Microsoft account, I've already had a lot of headaches because of these two "casualities"!

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[–] [email protected] 85 points 1 day ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago

Not a contributing comment but just wanted to say:

THIS IS THE WAY

For those that needed to hear that.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Massgrave also has links to installation media, notably the LTSC versions. The IoT LTSC is especially nice since it lacks lots of the bloat.

https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media

[–] [email protected] 1 points 19 hours ago

I run this one on my T480 and it was honestly refreshing. I don't believe the Microsoft store is even enabled by default which was a really nice change of pace from all the crap it's usually got. Just enable what you want... how it should be but instead, "muh CoPilot".

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Until you get this every single time:

We are unable to complete your request at this time. Some users, entities and locations are banned from using this service. For this reason, leveraging anonymous or location hiding technologies when connecting to this service is not generally allowed. If you believe that you encountered this problem in error, please try again. If the problem persists you may contact Microsoft Support

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah I've run into some issues with that page. This site has some direct links to MS servers maybe it'll work for you.

https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Click MSDL not "Microsoft"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Ah, it does generate actual MS links there. My bad.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Go to the download page on Microsoft's site, change users agent to macos or iOS and safari and you can download the ISO directly.

If you are upgrading from 10 you can just mount the ISO and run the setup file. If you need to make a bootable USB use Rufus.

DISCONNECT FROM THE INTERNET AND DO NOT CONNECT UNTIL YOU ARE ON THE DESKTOP LOGGED INTO A LOCAL ACCOUNT

For local account creation, when oobe setup starts hit shift f10 and in the cmd prompt type oobe\bypassnro and press enter. When it prompts for a network connection choose I don't have internet.

[–] Tinkerer 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

+1 to this, you don't have to activate. You get an activation watermark at the bottom right hand corner, not a big deal

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Just use the Microsoft Activation Scripts. Microsoft literally tells you to use them if there's a problem with your product key.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago

Just get it from Microsoft. You don't need a key. Use masgrave for activating

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10iso

For a regular install, use Rufus to make the USB media and it'll offer a Microsoft account bypass option.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The only once that are harder to get from the official Microsoft website are Enterprise , IoT, LTSC versions. Which IMO are better then the standard home,pro,workstation etc. Also server ISOs are a bit harder to get from their.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Enterprise is just a license level, the standard install will activate it just fine. You're right that the others are a bit harder to find, usually I go to the mydigitallife forums for those.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Well the install comes with a load less crap pre-installed as well.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

https://massgrave.dev/

All files are official Microsoft ISO files. This has everything you need including explanation and instructions how you can verify its legitimize. and how to activate windows

To bypass the forced Microsoft account you can create a unattend file and pre configure the ISO to make a local account.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

To bypass the forced Microsoft account you can create a unattend file and pre configure the ISO to make a local account.

I should have done this when I set up my computer, I had to manually change it after I set up Windows 11. I don't have anything against logging into my Microsoft account but having the actual account on the computer be a Microsoft account instead of a local account feels wrong. What if my account gets hacked, I'd just lose access to my computer!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Don't worry, as long as you don't use bitlocker or backup the bitlocker key it's trivial to bypass the login on Windows or Linux.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes and the better option if you do want to use a Microsoft account. Just login to the apps like onedrive on the local account.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Literally the only reason I log in at all is because I have the Master Chief Collection purchased through the Microsoft Store and Windows always picks up my Windows license once I login

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Microsoft bad. There I said it, so all the crazy Linux people won't. You're welcome!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 12 hours ago

Are we really still the crazy ones when Microsoft wants to keep a log of screenshots of your desktop?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thank you. My fingers started to itch real badly! I use Arch by the way

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

OMG here’s a five paragraph comment on how that’s the wrong distro for you

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Well actually the distro I'm using, EndeavourOS, has its benefits... Here's a link to my 1 hr rant on why you should switch from Arch link

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

ah yes my old friend! good ol' XcQ

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

We've been called out, but deservedly so.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Heeey ! Take that back !! We aren't crazy, just different. Thats cool, just enjoy what ever you think is good for your mental health !

Just like some people love healthy meals and other can't live without processed food 😏

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I know a lot of people like the LTSC version but just a warning, they are slightly different then the regular home and professional versions in terms of policy settings.

This can make it more difficult to use things such as https://github.com/HotCakeX/Harden-Windows-Security

If you are someone interested in trying to harden your windows device but are not familiar enough to change all these policy settings yourself.