Windows 11 – is no@thankyou.com still a valid setup option

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[Kathy Stevens]

We will be setting up some new Windows 11 workstations shortly.

• We will be installing additional RAM and SSD drives in the machines. Should we install the new components before or after setting up Windows 11 for the first time?
• When setting Windows for the first time, when we get to the sign-in screen is using the email address no@thankyou.com still a valid option?
• Is it appropriate to use LapLink PCMOVER to transfer applications and data from the Windows 10 machine it is replacing?

• This topic was modified 6 months ago by Kathy Stevens.

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I would install the new components before beginning the Windows setup process.

If you install a new SSD you will be doing a clean install of Windows 11. See How to Install and Log In to Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account | Tom’s Hardware for details of how to setup without a Microsoft account.

Only you can decide if Laplink is appropriate. You need to ensure that the version of the software on the old PCs is still the correct version for Windows 11. Laplink should work for most apps. You should also consider which apps you really want to carry forward. This is a good opportunity for some housekeeping.

--Joe

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ClearThunder, Kathy Stevens

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Joep517

Thank you for your reply.

We will install the new components prior to initiating the Windows 11 setup.

Then our plan is to set up Windows 11 using the 256 GB SSD HP installed in the PC at the factory.  Then we will clone the 256 GB SSD onto a newly installed WD 2TB Blue SA510 SATA III 2.5″ Internal SSD.  We will also clone the original drive onto an external SSD as a backup.

After completing the cloning process, we will remove the original 256 GB and put it away for safe keeping.

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When I last did a clean install of 23H2, no@thankyou.com had been overused to the extent that it would not work at all.  I was asked for a different account or a Microsoft account setup.

I chose instead a <fakename>@mail.com, which it accepted.  If you choose to join a domain, the setup process adds some business-specific nuances to your installation.  If you choose join a domain, you don’t have to use a Microsoft account; you can use a local account instead.  To keep it simple/straight, <fakename>@mail.com will work.  When it offers to send a verification email to <fakename>@mail.com, just click “Not now” and move on.

After the installation was complete, I added an account to the Administrators group, rebooted to that account, deleted the <fakename> account, then added another account to the Standard users group, and proceeded from there.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Win7and10, Kathy Stevens

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Pro or Home sku?  If Pro, it’s easy to get around the Microsoft account mandate by just indicating that you want to do a firm or domain set up.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Kathy Stevens

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Susan

Thank you.

We will be setting up a number of new Windows 11 computers shortly.

We will use your recommendation to get around the Microsoft account mandate by indicating that we want to do a firm or domain set up.

I assume that the no@thankyou.com and similar approaches no longer work. Is that correct?

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It still works with 23H2, I haven’t had a chance to test with 24H2.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Kathy Stevens

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Hopefully our new workstations will be delivered 23H2 not 24H2.

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ok. be sure to post your setup results of your Windows 11 workstations whether they have either the 23H2 version or 24H2 version, Kathy

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EP

I will post our setup results.

However, we do not plan on setting up the new computers until sometime in December and possibly latter depending on our work load and computer and component delivery schedule.

We will be ordering a second round of workstations and components later this week and it takes a few weeks for before they are delivered.

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So for future use if I venture into Windows 11 following Windows 10 EOL at any point, use the words fakename@mail.com?

Win 10 Home 22H2

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I’m getting a new WIn11 (pro) desktop this weekend. Have no clue what version it will be.

If @joep517 is still monitoring this thread, I had a question about bypassing the MS account junk. I was reading the instructions on Tom’s site, but something is unclear;  Will simply unplugging the Ethernet cable before booting it up for the first time accomplish the same thing?   Or do I still need to type OOBE\BYPASSNRO to disable the Internet connection requirement after reaching the Region screen?

@Susan Bradley is welcome to chime-in on this.  All I want to do is eventually turn the thing on and let it boot to the desktop. I’m not interested in password protecting the thing, or having to type a username when the computer boots up (after setup).

Even if I type only a username, and omit the password, will it require me to enter that username after each restart?

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. And I say let us give them all they want" ----- William T. Sherman

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Microfix reported that the bypass still works.
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/microsoft-closes-the-door-on-windows-11-supporting-older-hardware/#post-2722795

cheers, Paul

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satrow

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Paul T wrote:

Microfix reported that the bypass still works.

Works with:-

Windows 11 Pro, which arrived ‘as requested’ with 23H2

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Microfix

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ClearThunder

You indicated that you were getting a new WIn11 (pro) desktop the weekend of December 7.

Did you get it and what was your experience setting it up?

Was it delivered with Windows 11 Pro 23H2 or 24H2?

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