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A comment on Windows 8.1’s user-hostile backup story. Parent comment

Re:Windows 8.1’s user-hostile backup story by MichaelGG on Sunday September 15, 2013 @03:04PM (#6389923)
I just installed it about 5 minutes ago. On the "setup your account" screen, there is no option for a local account. You must login or create a new account. Now, once you go to create a new account, there's a low-contrast option at the bottom to skip this step.

I think I'm fairly computer savvy, but had I not searched on how to bypass this, I probably would have set up an MS account. For "normal" people, I'd say this will be extremely effective at increasing their "conversion" to Microsoft Accounts.

It's extremely hostile.

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Re:Windows 8.1’s user-hostile backup story by AgentConundrum on Sunday September 15, 2013 @04:40PM (#6390246)
This is only true of the public beta. It bothered me as well when I tried it out, but after a few searches I found that the RTM will still have local accounts. I assume the decision was made to keep in contact with the beta testers or something, but my hotmail account is a glorified spam catcher at this point, so I've never bothered to check.

[1] http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-1-Preview-Won-t-Sup... (This isn't the article I read back then, but it's the first thing I found when I just searched.)

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Re:Windows 8.1’s user-hostile backup story by MichaelGG on Sunday September 15, 2013 @11:26PM (#6391443)
I just installed using the MSDN "RTM" version, not the preview. The option is there, it's just intentionally hidden, and the first page gives zero indication it's possible to use a local account. You have to start the MS Account creation step, then at the bottom of the screen you'll see the option to skip.
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