Microsoft has been closing the loop more and more, forcing the creation and linking of online accounts during the installation of the latest Windows versions (in the environment known as OOBE - Out-of-Box Experience). If you are configuring a workstation that needs to operate in an isolated environment (air-gapped) or simply refuse the forced telemetry of a cloud account, you must have noticed that the “I don’t have internet” option has mysteriously vanished.
However, system architecture always has an alternative diagnostic route. Below, I detail the command-line protocol to cut communication with the servers and force the installation of a classic local account.
The Backdoor: The OOBE Protocol
This procedure must be executed at the exact moment the Windows installer “freezes” your progression, demanding an internet connection or login to a Microsoft account.
1. Invoking the Terminal in Setup
When you reach the “Let’s connect you to a network” or “Let’s add your Microsoft account” screen:
- Press the
Shift + F10keys simultaneously. - (Hardware note: On some laptops with overlapping action keys, you may need to press
Fn + Shift + F10).
2. The Surgical Connection Cut
A black Command Prompt (CMD) window will pop up overlaid on the installation interface.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
ncpa.cpl - This command will trigger the classic Network Connections window.
- Right-click on your active adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select the Disable option.
- You can close the network connections window after disabling it.
3. The Evasion Command
Back in the Command Prompt, it’s time to instruct Windows to ignore the mandatory network check on the next boot.
- Type exactly the following instruction and press Enter:
oobe\bypassnro - Your computer will automatically reboot after executing this command.
Isolated Installation and Return to the Grid
4. Creating the Local Identity
After rebooting, the system will return to the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen. Because the physical adapter was disabled and the bypass injected, the behavior will change:
- Click on the new option that appeared: “I don’t have internet”.
- On the next screen (where the system tries to convince you of the benefits of being online), select “Continue with limited setup”.
- Enter the desired username for your machine and set a password. You have just forced the creation of a pure local profile.
5. Restoring Communication
When you finally reach your clean Desktop, the computer will still be without network access. We need to revert the cut made in Step 2.
- Right-click the network icon (disconnected) in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and select Network and Internet settings.
- Navigate to Advanced network settings.
- In the Network adapters section, locate the adapter we had disabled.
- Click the Enable button. The status will change and your internet connection will be restored immediately.
Proceed with the installation of your drivers and tools. Your system is now online and functional, but operating under your rules and with a root profile totally under your control.