Info Be aware: Installing Win11 with a Rufus USB-built media, with regard to subsequent feature updates

[mikeymikec]

Ever since Microsoft pushed the Microsoft account harder during setup, I've been doing Win11 23H2 installs with a USB stick install with assistance from Rufus to skip the annoying stuff.

In turn, this makes an option disappear out of Win11 which is in Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings, labelled (IIRC) "help me finish setting up my computer".

Then along comes a feature update (and I've seen seeing this with 24H2 installing onto systems that I've installed Windows on), the option reappears but is ticked by default. What I believe is happening is that 24H2 gets installed, the user gets one chance/session to go into the Setting app and untick that option after the update, and if they don't, the next time Windows starts, the "help finish setting up your computer" screen appears but includes a non-skippable "sign in with a Microsoft account" page.

On one occasion that I was present when this happened, my workaround in that situation was to do Ctrl+Alt+Del, restart, this allows you to get back into Windows without that screen appearing, untick the option in the Settings app, at which *hopefully* the situation doesn't happen again.

 

[Shmee]

That sounds like a big potential pain. Does Windows 11 tend to do this for both Home and Pro, or just Home?

 

[mikeymikec]

That sounds like a big potential pain. Does Windows 11 tend to do this for both Home and Pro, or just Home?

There's very little difference between Home and Pro so I assume it does the same for both.

I have Win10 Pro in a VM and it has the same three tickboxes as Home does.

 

[Shmee]

There's very little difference between Home and Pro so I assume it does the same for both.

I have Win10 Pro in a VM and it has the same three tickboxes as Home does.

Ah ok. My understanding was that Home officially requires a MS account, while Pro does not. Though in home there are some workarounds, they are unofficial.