this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2026
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In November last year, we reported on the removal of an unofficial KMS-related Windows activation, something which the company was planning to do for a while. The method worked by helping to activate Windows without an internet connection.

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[–] sefra1@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

For once, internet is a subscription service which not everyone can afford, just because you and all your friends can afford internet doesn't mean everyone can, computers can be gotten for free, internet there's no way around it.

But for the biggest issue, windows is spyware, the only way to use it while warranting privacy is by airgapping it from the internet and running it standalone, it is also the only way to be sure to contain cracked programs to make sure they don't distribute illegal content from your IP.

It's the way I run windows (when I have to) and I don't like the prospects of not being able to run proprietary software securely when there aren't viable libre alternatives.

Also, software being dependent on internet and therefore some company's server means that eventually when said server or company shutsdown the program or device becomes useless.

[–] FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

computers can be gotten for free

Computers that don't already have windows activated, that can't work with an un-activated windows? Non-activated windows 11 is fully functional btw. You only need to buy windows if you need to use things like Hyper V and RDP. Windows is essentially free outside of pro features.

[–] sefra1@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Until the user tries the "reset your device" option in the control panel. Then he's stuck in the "please signup to your Microsoft account" screen.

And without internet, he's never going to figure out the obsomething/bypassnsomething command.

Also this isn't windows specific, samsungs phones also doesn't let me get pass the initial screen without connecting to the internet.

[–] FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 1 points 2 weeks ago

You can still create local accounts just by clicking in some of the other options during initial setup.