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One option is to install an older version and update after.
A better one is not use it because it's trash.
The hole they will never plug: Not using Windows.
In theory Pluton enforcement platform-wide, which also includes forced SecureBoot without the ability to install user-signed keys, as well as OTA updates for that super-TPM, could block alt OSes on PC though.
Fortunately, Pluton never caught on and that hasn't happened so far.
Use Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, problem solved.
Or, you know, that other thing.
The Enterprise/IoT SKUs, which of course include LTSC, still let you use a local account, for now...
I won't be surprised if they plug that at some point way down the line too though given they're already playing with Windows on the Cloud in the enterprise sector.
I would be surprised if they force the requirement on LTSC.
I could believe they force it into enterprise licensing, but LTSC's whole deal is that the environment doesn't change and only gets security patches. It's made to be used in kiosks, CNC controllers and the like. Machines that are supposed perform one task reliably.
This is also the reason it's the best version of Windows for the desktop, and why Microsoft makes it so challenging to acquire licences.
How many months away are we from Windows requiring a subscription to use, with a cheaper version for the OS + Office and a more expensive that also bundles AI?
Funny thing is, I would have paid for a more expensive version that's just the core OS and minimalist set of tools (and by tools I mean explorer, task manager, and maybe a browser to download firefox or something else).
Now? I'm happy to tell people "nope, can't help you, I don't do MS stuff anymore".
At this point I just net user /add it, which just creates the user manually and then you can reboot and just log into it.
It's not like you need anything from the OOBE at all, so might as well just skip it entirely.
I decided to make a customs iso. Not too difficult to do. Just add a unattended.xml file and boot and be done.
Germans got us covered:
https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/
Some crap I still have a Windows VM. Combine this with ShutUp10 for blocking telemetry.
