Windows 10 Release

Thu Jul 30 16:58:04 UTC 2015

> I was just thinking about my remaining Win 7 box _after_ I hit send and I
> believe you're correct (I have one still to upgrade).  Which means users
> upgrading from 7 to 10 will need to create an ID, but users of 8 and 8.1
> will use the one they already have.

This is incorrect.  While the Win 8{,.1} install process makes it 
appear as though you need a Microsoft ID, you can actually go into
the "create a new Microsoft ID" option and there's a way to proceed
without creating a Microsoft ID, which leaves you with all local
accounts.

It does appear to be designed to make you THINK you need a Microsoft
account however.

I have a freshly installed Windows 8.1 box here (no Microsoft ID)
that I then upgraded to Windows 10, and it also does not have any
Microsoft ID attached to it.  Activation shows as "Windows 10 Home"
and "Windows is activated."  There's a beggy-screen on the user
account page saying something like "Windows is better when your 
settings and files automatically sync.  Switch to a Microsoft Account
now!"

So, again, totally optional, but admittedly the path of least 
resistance has users creating a Microsoft Account or linking to
their existing one.  You have to trawl around a little to get the
better (IMHO) behaviour.

... JG
-- 
Joe Greco - sol.net Network Services - Milwaukee, WI - http://www.sol.net
"We call it the 'one bite at the apple' rule. Give me one chance [and] then I
won't contact you again." - Direct Marketing Ass'n position on e-mail spam(CNN)
With 24 million small businesses in the US alone, that's way too many apples.