New to Win 10 Home - more set/startup questions

fdm2000 · 14 Jan 2020

I am back with a couple of more questions that I encountered in my pre setup preparations:

1. Would like some opinions, pros/cons on setting up a Local Account vs the default Microsoft Account.

2. It seems that Microsoft has now made it more difficult to set up a local account and is doing everything it can to prevent its creation.

3. I read that System Protection by default reportedly is disabled and with it disabled, system restore points cannot be created. Is this true?

Thanks to those kind souls reading and responding to the thread.

Frank

Samuria · 14 Jan 2020

The key to using ms account is you can't get anything from me store without it and it also signs you in to other sites etc. One key thing is it can sync settings so if you login to another PC your settings are there. Not clear what protection settings you are referring to

Caledon Ken · 14 Jan 2020

Sure MS wants us to use an account. More accounts show developers the value in developing for Windows Store.

Samuria has mentioned that using an MS account allows you to sync settings and some information. Handy if you want to backup up Edge Favorites in the cloud. More details....

Enable or Disable Sync Your Settings in Windows 10

It also provides some protection if you forget your password. With any PC you can go to Accounts.microsoft.com and reset it. With a local account it is not as easy. I tell people to set up up a backup admin account if you are using a local account. This account should also be grant Admin rights. I refer to it as a second set of keys to the car.

Not sure about the comment you can't get stuff from Store. I do and I'm local. I do have an MS account which I use on some devices.

Yes they are making it difficult, just leave PC disconnected from Internet when you are setting it up. Getting an account is no different than what Apple or Android devices make you do. At that you can get an account and then switch.

You can use Restore points if you wish to but I would say that is a false sense of security. I recommend Imaging your system. Lots of tools out there, a lot of users here use Macrium Reflect. Free and reliable.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

I keep my data on a separate partition and have Macrium setup to backup my system drive each Tuesday as a full backup. As well if I'm go to do something major I create a backup. By splitting data the amount of data to backup is reduce. If you buy an Imaging tool you can run Incremental backups which are very fast indeed.

Ken

NavyLCDR · 14 Jan 2020

Start with a local account. Then switch it to a MS account later when you want to. That way you get to pick the exact user name for the account.

ThrashZone · 14 Jan 2020

Hi,
MS account treats your computer like a online email account security has.

fdm2000 · 15 Jan 2020

My thanks to all responders - one reason I have an interest in the local account (administrator) vs MS Account is I do not plan to sync any other devices or use the MS store, Edge and some other features available in 10. Hope to use many of the 3rd party programs and apps that I am familiar with from Win 7 (if available). Samuria mentioned System Protection and I mentioned it because in one of the articles I have read recently there was a discussion on using system restore and that Win 10 by default has System Protection disabled. System Protection is found in System from the start menu. Apparently according to this article is is necessary to activate system protection for its features to be usable?

Haven't yet fired up my new Dell Winn 10 desktop so not sure that this article is credible.

Frank

Caledon Ken · 15 Jan 2020

If you want to turn on System protection, aka Restore Points, still recommend System Imaging, right click Start, click Run, type in the box

sysdm.cpl

enter

Click on System protection tab. Find C: drive and set it up. This works local or MS account. Just turned mine on and I'm local.

Ken

TairikuOkami · 15 Jan 2020

fdm2000 said:

1. Would like some opinions, pros/cons on setting up a Local Account vs the default Microsoft Account.

I have tried it once, but I was unable to login, I use 100+ passwords and I can not use copy/paste at logon.
It is an online account, so you can have a trouble login in, whether due to internet problems or due to 2FA.
2FA is presented as a nice security feature, but it can also make you to loose access to your account.

fdm2000 said:

2. It seems that Microsoft has now made it more difficult to set up a local account and is doing everything it can to prevent its creation.

Yes, MS tries to force users to use an online account, so they could get more money from ads/bing/telemetry.

When installing 1909, user is not allowed to create a local account, unless the internet connection is cut. They tried to do the same in 2003, but decided to revert back for now. Eventually it will be mandatory.

fdm2000 said:

3. I read that System Protection by default reportedly is disabled and with it disabled, system restore points cannot be created. Is this true?

MS considers it sort of as a deprecated feature, full system backup is more useful.
There are alternatives like RollBack Rx Home Edition or EaseUS Todo Backup.

pparks1 · 15 Jan 2020

TairikuOkami said:

When installing 1909, user is not allowed to create a local account, unless the internet connection is cut.

That isn't true. You have an option at the bottom of the screen for creating an "offline account". It will be in the lower left corner of the "Sign into Microsoft Account" screen.

I installed 1909 on my son's new pc, then on his old pc which I am now using and I just installed a Windows 10 Pro VM to test the new Edge browser in. I've been able to use a local account with all 3 systems using this method.

TairikuOkami · 15 Jan 2020

Microsoft Made Major Setup Changes in Windows 10 Version 1909 - Thurrott.com