Press the Windows key +R to get the Run box.
Type cmd.exe do NOT press Enter or OK yet
Press CTRL+SHIFT+Enter
This will open the command prompt as Administrator.

 

Damn. You were onto something, but it still keeps giving the same error message.

"For security and performance, this mode of Windows only runs Microsoft-verified apps"
It does have a link that says "See how" on running unverified apps, but it just takes you to the Microsoft Store.
The Store mentions something about being in S mode and switching out of it, but i have no idea what that means

Isn't the S version of the OS an extremely stripped down version or something?

 

S-Mode was a limited /cut down version, originally for low-spec machines - I didn't know thy'd recycled the term/'Edition' for W10/11.

Try this recent write up, MS changed things a few weeks ago: Install Windows 11 without Microsoft account (2024) - Pureinfotech

 

So it looks like i need to just go ahead and reinstall Windows anyway. Well, as long as the key activates again afterwards like it says, that should be fine.

Also found out that the version of Windows i have is Windows Home, specifically saying it's in S-mode. lol. Probably should have checked that before buying it.

 

You should be able to remove an MS 'approved' account once you're in and logged into a Local account.

Home, S-mode, ouch, not the best combo. S-mode should be easy to exit from though.

 

I'm just going to reinstall/upgrade to regular Pro first before doing anything. I can't stand Home, let alone having it forced in S-mode.
I'll run through that guide after that.

 

Go to the Microsoft Store and search for
Switch Out of S Mode

Switching out of S mode in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how to switch out of S mode to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store or to upgrade to Windows 11.

support.microsoft.com

How to Turn Off S Mode in Windows 11: 2 Easy Methods

Switch out of S mode to install software from anywhere Windows 11's S Mode is a safety feature that only allows app installations from the Microsoft Store. While S Mode does a great job at preventing malware from infecting your computer,...

www.wikihow.com

 

When you re-install Windows, if you want to install W11 without using a Microsoft account, just do the following ....

Start to create an account as normal, and when prompted for a login account use ..... test@test.com .... when prompted for the password enter ... test .... microsoft will then say "OOPS", and you will be prompted to create a local account.

 

When you re-install Windows, if you want to install W11 without using a Microsoft account, just do the following ....

Start to create an account as normal, and when prompted for a login account use ..... test@test.com .... when prompted for the password enter ... test .... microsoft will then say "OOPS", and you will be prompted to create a local account.

It doesn't sound like that method works anymore according to @satrow's article from Pureinfotech above. And I didn't realize I had an S-mode version, which looks like it keeps you from running anything that isn't on the Microsoft Store.

 

The S Mode Product key is saved in the BIOS, When you reinstall to pro, you have to get to the window that asks for a Product key, type in your Pro Key. If it skips this screen you will get Home S Mode. Once you get the key typed in, you can follow the previous steps to get a Local Account

 

S-mode blocks Shift+F10.

If you bypass that - the11Pro installer should - maybe the method still works?

 

So just for the heck of it, i grabbed a Windows 11 ISO from microsoft's website to reinstall windows. I put it on a flash drive with a tool called Yumi and booted it up. I made a backup image of the drive with Clonezilla just in case. The install went through ok, except for the fact that I couldn't use my trackpad cursor during the install at all, so i had to use the keyboard keys to navigate.

Once i booted up to the new install of windows, it actually allows the Shift+F10 key combo to work. BUT, it's still not allowing me to see my trackpad cursor.
Worst of all, once i bring up the command prompt, I can't even type up anything. I can't type in OOBE\BYPASSNRO to try to bypass the microsoft account login.
My guesses are that there's some sort of trackpad driver issue that the install image doesn't have and that the new windows install didn't get until it connects to the internet and updates. That, or microsoft really did try to lock this down and disabled typing if the command prompt is brought up. The keyboard worked for Shift+F10, but doesn't seem to work after with the command prompt

Maybe there's some other windows images i can try that may actually have the right drivers for my touchpad and keyboard, or where microsoft hasn't nerfed the install already?

 

Does the Rufus method still work?

Latest, updated 4 days ago, article I found so far: Microsoft removes documentation for switching to a local account in Windows 11 - it's got a huge # of comments, so it started life a long time ago.

 

Does the Rufus method still work?

Latest, updated 4 days ago, article I found so far: Microsoft removes documentation for switching to a local account in Windows 11 - it's got a huge # of comments, so it started life a long time ago.

I'm gonna have to try Rufus. But it's the combination of the possible missing drivers for the trackpad cursor missing, plus the fact the keyboard works initially for Shift+F10, but then stops working right after where I can't type anything inside the command prompt.

 

Can you find the drivers on line ?? I seem to remember a similar problem with drivers for INTEL TPM, where I was having problems because driver wasn't being found. Downloaded from Intel and installed to cure problem. If it is during the install, perhaps F6 (IF that is still an option) to locate those drivers and get them installed during loading

 

This is for storage but might work for any other missing driver

How to Use the F6-Have Disk Method to Load Drivers During Windows*...

 

Historically, for Windows + 3rd party software like 'Ghost' backups, it was the USB drivers (most likely lack of correct drivers for all USB chipset/versions) that caused an awful lot of 'silent' failures.

A possible alt. to the above would be to connect PS/2, or much more likely, USB/BT? Keyboard/Mouse, though you'll likely hit the same stumbling block with the latter, as they'll probably be running through the same failing USB/BT? chipset.

 

If you can get into Windows using an external Mouse, Then you can download the drivers from the HP web site for your model

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-17-laptop-pc-17-c2000/model/2101006374?sku=9P521UAR

You can also download the HP Support Assistant

HP Support Assistant | HP® Support

For automated fixes, personalized support, and automatic updates, try HP Support Assistant today.

support.hp.com

This will scan your computer and list available drivers for your system, probably including a Bios update, if you want more of the Automatic response

 

So, it appears for some reason, for my specific model of laptop and a fresh MS Windows ISO, it doesn't have the drivers for the trackpad.
I was able to plug in a USB mouse to my laptop and that got it working.
Plus Rufus was able to give me options to skip the microsoft account login setup altogether, and skip a bunch of other stuff it looks like.
Then i was able to login to windows, transfer over the WLAN drivers and windows automatically updated all the drivers after that.
Trackpad and everything works, and i can get into Windows now.

 

I strongly suggest everybody reads this because this is very valuable information. The previous methods do not work to get a local versus a Microsoft account when installing Windows. This is also a ginormous warning about office and OneDrive when installing windows utilizing a Microsoft account versus a local account, which is preferable. I have been building a ton of virtual machines lately so I know what I am talking about.

I’m going to chime in here and give everybody some important information Regarding setting up windows with local account instead of a Microsoft account. All of the suggestions regarding the shift and the F10 as well as the use a bogus email account have been closed off 100% by Microsoft they do not work anymore. The only method that is working currently is to, choose setting it up like you would be joining a domain for a school or a business. That will bypass the garbage with forcing a Microsoft account down everybody’s throat.

There is an additional piece of information that nobody is talking about and I want to bring it out here to hopefully get the word out Microsoft in addition to forcing a Microsoft down everybody’s throat is forcing their office with one down everybody’s throat. Even if you say you do not want the extended storage for OneDrive, It’s still forcibly installing office and OneDrive when you install Windows; here’s where the big red flag happens .

If you wind up installing Windows utilizing a Microsoft account even if you uninstall office and also uninstall OneDrive afterwards, Microsoft has set it up so that once it detects a Microsoft account it will constantly keep putting a OneDrive folder in the user folder path so that your folder paths wind up having a OneDrive folder and then inside there will be your desktop folder, your documents folder, your music folder, etc. Even if you do uninstall office and OneDrive and you manually delete the OneDrive folder so that your user path is users and then your username without OneDrive being in there when you reboot the computer, it will re-create the OneDrive folder in the users folder so that you wind up having the path looking like users then your username, then OneDrive, then documents, desktop, music, etc. No matter how many times you delete the folder the moment you reboot the computer it puts the OneDrive folder back in there. It is not reinstalling the program. It is simply putting the folder back in the path.

I did a test on a virtual machine trying to go into the registry and do a keyword search for OneDrive and literally spent two plus hours gutting the thing like a fish and the end result was a destroyed operating system. If you do not want one in the path, do not install windows using a Microsoft account because once you do that you are doomed to that OneDrive folder being re-created.

 

Any chance of a simple HowTo ?

 

This is how I did it last time. I followed this person on YouTube and his videos are spot on.

 

It looks like Microsoft completely blocked being able to open the command prompt at all during initial setup now

 

G I thought I said something like those workarounds were no longer working because Microsoft killed them… hello?! Hello?! Is this thing on? Tap tap tap……

 

I just installed Windows 11 Home 23H2 to a Local account in a VirtualBox VM.
Once you boot off of the ISO Image Or Flash drive if doing a clean install, choose your Language, then press Shift +F10 this brings up the Command Prompt
X:\soureces
At this Command Prompt type this Bold command
oobe\bypassnro
The computer will restart. At this point Disconnect from the Internet, in the VM or if doing a Clean Install to an internal drive.
In the internet connection You will now see I don't have internet, click this Enter your Name you wish to use for your Local Account
You now can Enable the Internet and carry on.