Windows 10: No user account computer

Is there a way to run Win10 without any user account, a completely open computer? There seems to be no way to complete an install of windows without a phone number or e-mail account. Isn't there a way to run a computer with Win10 that doesn't require any user, a "public" computer.

:)

 

User accounts missing in the computer

I added a visitors account to my start up screen. After rebooting both my login account and a visitors account appeared. I selected Visitors to confirm that it was working ok and then logged out. Now when I start up only a the visitors account appears on
the start up screen and can find no way to access my own account. My account is password protected but the visitors was not - can any body help?

Original title: Log in screen

 

User accounts missing in the computer

Hello Gerry,

Thank you for keeping us posted and we are glad to know that you were able to able to access the visitors' account.

Feel free to write to us for any further queries in Windows operating system and we would be happy to help you.

Thank you.

 

You never have to provide an email account like any MS account or provide a phone number. You can even skip assigning a password but will still end up seeing a new admin account other then the System Administrator being created during the installation. You simply log into the local account. And even if you have something like an email account assigned that can be removed while booted into the user admin account initially set up. That by the way can later be changed to a standard account for public access and automatic boot into it as a local account. You simply name the account as Public.

In fact that was precisely what happened to a friend's laptop when one of the sons set up a Skype account and somehow the owner's admin status was changed to standard and the kid's password was then required for every little thing while trying to clear that one up! The owner's status was restored as admin while the other MS account for Skype had to be left as is. The boot was simply then set to the local account not the owner's own MS account for logging onto the desktop.

 

When installing win10, I can't find a way to complete the installation beyond the query for a user account. I'm selling this computer and don't want any history on it, but I also want the new owner to be able to create their account and have access to the "public" software.

 

The admin account can be renamed at any time. You simply delete any personal email information or other stuff you put on it. With a new laptop just bought as a replacement for the 7 upgraded to 10 laptop that went suddenly the preinstall only went so far and you had to fill in the rest as well as make your choices during the final part of the installation. You might want to consider a fresh install of 10 but leave off just before arriving at the part for deciding things to allow the new owner to complete the process.

 

Windows 10 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep - Windows 10 Forums

 

See, that's the problem with Microsoft, I'm going to sell this computer, so I clean everything by doing a clean install. The new owner wants Libre Office and a few other programs up and running as part of the sale. But, the only way to accomplish this is for the new owner to register, then 2 or 3 hours later, while windows does it's "install" thing, I can start to set-up the new programs. We're talking all freakin day just to get me off this computer. That's why I hate Microsoft, they're stuff is impeccable, when it works, but you end up spending all day just to get it running, and that's after joining god-only knows how many forums to find the answer.

NavyLDCR, thanks, I believe you provided the answer.

 

and you up the price of the computer by $40/hr installing THEIR software for them.

 

Don't forget besides transferring the Windows license you are also tranferring the licenses for these other programs the intended buyer wants already installed as well unless he already has his own or you are providing the media/download along with keys.

Actually MS is much easier in that area then with programs still running on the 7 side of the dual boot. If I go to see an overdue clean install of 7 even if I unstall some of those softwares first to see them back after a fresh copy of 7 goes on I have exceeded the number of times those can be activated. With Windows on the other hand you can reinstall Windows on the same machine an endless number of times!

Another thing I would add here is I doubt the intended new owner would want the machine wide open as a public pc but his own admin account which is where you would need to go over things with him as how 10 itself is set up. As far as the softwares goes often the installers will have the options for current user or all users where you would select the All users option as far as seeing the programs made available to all users.

As far as modifying a system image you may want to have both the admin account and name of pc changed before trying to cut the fat out an image made first. Otherwise you would only be restoring an image of your present account in it's edited form.

 

Libre Office is free, open source, a breath of fresh air. You know, I wonder what some poor slob who doesn't have a phone or e-mail address is supposed to do. Guess he's out of the running for windows. What the hell is MS thinking, that everyone has a phone and internet access. I know it seems impossible, but the vast majority of humanity is without those things. And riddle me this batman, someone buys a computer so they can set-up their e-mail account but they can't get their computer to work because they don't have one yet. Ubuntu is looking better every day.

 

Absolute tosh mate (even assuming anyone in the world would get a PC before a phone).

You don't need an email address to set-up Windows. For the parts that require a MS account you need a MS account. You absolutely are not required to do it and you don't require an email to install Windows.

If you are re-installing you may have to phone them but again, who is going to be re-installing for the 3rd time and not even know someone who has a phone? Perhaps you mean people who earn $1 or $2 a day (who may find buying a $100 windows license beyond their means).

If you sell your Ubuntu Pc to someone who wants you to install something that isn't installed by default then you'd have to install that if it is included in the price. I have - I sold an old laptop for 40 and then had to take it home and learn how to change the language. Why? Because I said I would.

I was slow and I had to get them to come around the next day and pick it up. The kid was pleased with Ubuntu and the mother brought us some rice. Everyone was happy.

 

lx07, well I figured out that you can just skip the query where they ask for your name and country, etc. Funny, I never thought it would be that easy. Some one could have just said that I could skip this by hitting the enter key. Anyway, I figured this out after the 4th re-install today, it was a good thing I checked because the Bluetooth had quit working and I just happened to check it. Took the better part of the day to figure out that a specific driver for asus needed to be installed. I'm now a member of probably 4 or 5 more forums in seeking that answer. The new owner can log in, use all the installed software and everything's hunky dory. Had to look up "tosh," mate.

 

You were making things harder for yourself by listening to what people were trying to explain. As for "tosh" that could easily mean Comedy Central or Orthopedic there! But I think what Ix07 was meaning was simply put "rubbish"! as far as any Windows or even installations for other OSs requiring an email account or phone number with the exception of smart phones, IPhonies, netbooks, etc. where the carrier is the ISP.

Now for either laptop or desktop internet access at least temporary since XP is required for activation and updates only unless downloaded on another machine and transferred over that is connected for a totally stand alone once activated. That would certainly rule out the need for having any email account!

As for softwares I wasn't specifying Libre Office but the total number of programs you were leaving on or putting back on when going to sell that laptop. That was a general statement about how licensing varies between software companies. With paid programs already registered you would likely need to contact support while with most a new license would be required for the new owner to continue to be able to run each. You have to go by the EULA for each software as well with Windows.

 

I think this tutorial I wrote on our sister site the Seven Forums is better in this case, showing how to do exactly what the OP wants to: Windows 7 Installation - Prepare PC to be Sold - Windows 7 Help Forums

It applies to Windows 10, too, only difference being in Phase Two, Step 2; In Windows 10 you need to enter the Audit Mode with CTRL + SHIFT + F3 when after the last reboot Windows 10 installation arrives to Settings screen, the one shown in screenshot below:




Other than that you can follow the instructions in that Seven Forums tutorial to install Windows on your PC without any user accounts which when booted first time will look and feel exactly as a new computer, letting the buyer / end user start by creating the initial first admin user account.

If Windows 10 is already installed and you do not want to reinstall but would like to achieve the same, open the Run dialog and type %windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe and hit Enter to reboot to Audit Mode. As soon as you enter the Audit Mode, use the Settings app to remove all user accounts from that PC, apart of the built-in admin account, and reboot. When rebooting in Audit Mode, Windows automatically returns to Audit Mode. Now after a reboot to Audit Mode, follow the instructions in the above mentioned tutorial from Phase 2 Step 4​.