You could always just install Linux Mint and then install the Mint XP theme. No Microsoft Account required.
this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2026
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Been using Mint since last April. Haven't missed a thing.
To all Linux users. Help out the new ones, explain calmly and make them feel welcome so that they can contribute back later too.
Dear Microsoft,
Could you please squeeze your users a little harder yet.
We're eager for the year of the linux desktop.
Microslop*
Remember when you activated software with a key on the back of the CD case?
FCKGW?
How did you get MY key?!
Your key‽ That’s MY key!
I remember key generators.. :)
those had the BEST music for some reason.
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I installed Mint on my main computer yesterday. ^_^ Super done with Windows! Now I just have to convince my husband to let me install it on his computer, too. 🤔
microsoft kills official
was gettin excited there
This is the dumbest decision for one reason alone: some laptops and desktops that lack updated drivers cannot connect to the internet.
It literally happened to me with a lenovo laptop, where I had to find a way to bypass the internet requirement or else I'd have a $800 paperweight.
If I didn't need Windows for a specific reason I'd be on Linux, believe me. But this decision is ridiculous.
I don't see how this particular thing is an issue. You don't need to activate Windows during the setup. You can skip activation, update the driver, and then activate windows afterwards
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Activation scripts can be put onto a USB drive, so if nothing else, there's always a way to keep using the hardware you paid for (assuming you want to stay hostage to these fucks)
I moved three Win 10 boxes to linux mint cinnamon this week. Twenty more and I'll have made good progress on my little nonprofit. But I'm probably at least a decade from being able to go 100% away from windows and Mac's. Fuck em both.
Good on ya.
This alone is enough for me, to consider Windows a bad choise.
I've said that line so many times.
I would note that every single time I've tried to reactivate windows after a mobo or CPU upgrade, it has failed.
I guess it's supposed to work better if you sign into your Microsoft account ever, which I don't, because I see literally no reason they would need me to expect to advance spyware and adware.
The phone activation is the only thing that has worked. Good thing I've been dual booting a Ubuntu fork for the past six months. I guess after my next hardware upgrade I'll be Linux only.
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FUCK MICROSOFT
Microslop*
Couldn't you theoretically download an ISO for an older version of Win 11, install that offline without an account, then update it to the latest version?
Well.....here's the thing. Step 1 of your plan is to install windows 11.
In the words of Manny Calavera:
"I don't really want to do that...."
Probably. I think the update will ask for your account at some point though (I don't really use windows though, so you probably want a second opinion on that).
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Such a fucking PITA, as a small IT shop, I don't want to have to full on fucking go enterprise to keep my users from needing to make Microsoft accounts.
This garbage makes me so glad I switched to Linux Mint. Gaming has been just fine. Sure there have been a few hurdles, but they were well-worth spending time on as Microsoft continues this foolishness.
I've been perfectly happy on Mint since switching over a year ago. The few games I play run just fine (FO4, FOLON, Portal, and such), and the other apps work too, GIMP, Inkscape, LibreOffice, Blender, etc.
In spite of the recent post about which Linux distro to recommend, and seeing many no longer recommend Mint, I'll stick with Mint. It just works.
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"official"
"What else can we do that's hostile to our customers?"
The next move will be bringing back Clippy and then a full-screen ad that you have to dismiss every ten seconds.
It was only a matter of time. Surprised it took this long.
My last Windows will officially be the Win10 IOT I have installed in a Virtual Box, just so I can run a couple of little programs that aren't available for Linux, and don't work in Wine.
I had a copy of windows Xp that I used to call to get activated.
The moment I needed Microsoft’s permission to use my computer after installing a graphics card, I made an image of the drive, wiped it and installed a Linux distribution. That was 2008, and I’ve been a very happy computer user since.
I know not everyone can make that switch, but it’s easier than ever before, and Valve has really changed the calculus with Proton. Gaming was the biggest thing holding back Linux adoption (IMO).
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There are offline environments that cannot do it online, this is bullshit. Working with critical infrastructure in OT networks, Microsoft is basically saying that Windows should not be used anymore in those.
Problem is that OT is full of legacy shit, so switching to Linux is more easily said than done.
Microsoft is basically saying that Windows should not be used anymore in those.
I would agree with them.
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