EU celebrate, free Win10 ESU launched today
EU celebrate, free Win10 ESU launched today
It seems you're wondering about accessing a Windows account and email from within the EU using a VPN, and you're curious about how M$ is verifying your location.
Yes, you can retrieve the ESU independently of linking your PC to an MS account. Many users have discovered methods to access it without that connection.
Saves me from the trouble of restarting both Windows and Linux at once, and I’m not interested in the latest Windows 11 issues or AI features.
Not everyone, just the ones you keep in the Windows folders, are completely removed from there.
However, if MS is the data mining firm you worry about, wouldn't you realize they likely track the IP or MAC address of the PC you used to log in? Once Windows—or MS—recognizes that your MS account is linked to a specific machine, they tend to remember it. Even if you believe they don’t routinely send your information using your MS credentials, wouldn’t it be reasonable to think they could perform a data extraction when you re-enter after 60 days to keep your updates? Even if you never logged into an MS account (as I did), I’d still think this leaves you vulnerable. Telemetry existed with XP and before. They didn’t know your name, but they did track your location, user profile, etc. If the problem lies with the MS account, using W11 with Rufus would have been a safer choice. The same applies if you don’t have OneDrive. What are your plans for next year? If you’re on Linux, you could have taken action then. If you’re using W10, you also had options without an MS account or OneDrive. And regarding AI concerns, fair enough, but all known AI capabilities in W10 can be turned off easily. But if you’re concerned about secret AI features (a reasonable worry), what would have prevented them from implementing them in W11 without publicizing it (if the aim was surveillance or something similar)? This is definitely speculative territory. But if W11 gives you concerns, don’t rule W10 out either. If AI is your main worry, I assume you haven’t used a smartphone five years or more? Unlike a PC, a phone has cameras and microphones that can’t be disabled. Compared to today’s smartphones, W11 offers a high degree of user control and privacy options. Just a quick perspective for assessing risks. Except Linux, W11 without an account or OneDrive remains the strongest privacy option. Better than W10 with an account/OneDrive (what you currently have) or Apple devices.