Using a local account on Windows

[PJ03]

"If you let me know what model Wi-Fi adapter your notebook has, I will post the link to the W10 driver for it just in case."

______________________________________

Paul, how can I determine the model from this list attached since I'm not sure which is the one I need to look at the properties for?  😜

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I do not believe that W10 will natively have the driver for the Mediatek Wi-Fi adapter, so here is the link to the W10 driver for it.

MediaTek Wireless LAN Driver

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp138001-138500/sp138257.exe

Now you should be all set.

[PJ03]

Okay, I'm trusting you, Paul (lol).  Seriously, I'm perfectly OKAY if this doesn't work.  You are so incredibly kind to help! 

I'm sure the MS Win Media creation tool will take quite a while to create, but I'm off to give this all a try.  (fingers crossed, lol). . .

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You can do it.

Good luck.

[PJ03]

Okay, Windows 10 is installed. YEA!   But it didn't ask for my drivers.  So now it's not reading my flash drive that has the drivers on it and so, it's not letting me connect to the Internet.  What now coach/ aka  Paul_Tikkanen?  😊

[PJ03]

Never mind,  Paul_Tikkanen,  I connected an Ethernet cable so I'm GOOD now.  😊            

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Glad you got W10 installed OK.

You only needed the storage controller drivers if Windows couldn't find the drive.

I have you the link to the Mediatek wifi driver which you can install now, if you haven't done so already.

Please let us know if you were able to upgrade from W10 Home>W10 Pro and then to W11 Pro.

[PJ03]

EVERY instruction you shared worked PERFECT,  Paul_Tikkanen, EXACTLY as you described it should!   Windows 10 begin doing the updates quickly via the Ethernet cable and I was quickly able to disconnect the cable after only minutes as Windows found all of the correct drivers. 

But as you hinted, my Windows 7 Pro license key would not allow an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro again.  I am now thinking that since I had used the Win 7 Pro product key on my older laptop to upgrade to Win 10 Pro, it simply could not be used on the new one.

Anyway, I went ahead and used my HP Victus flash drive (created previously via an HP link you had shared) and re-installed Windows 11.  And using the info you shared, the work around of NOT being FORCED to use a MS account during installation worked PERFECT!  What can I say, you are GOOD!  😊 Seriously, that work around worked INSTANTLY.  The laptop quickly rebooted and bingo, I had the clear option to click on a "I don't have internet" link and then a "Continue with limited setup" link. And now Win 11 has completed all updates and I updated all of my drivers via the official HP Support area.  All of that was accomplished on my LOCAL account instead of being FORCED to use a MS account.  YEA! 

I may now bite the bullet and purchase the upgrade to Windows 11 Pro via Microsoft.  But first, I think I should go ahead and get all of my programs, etc. installed and make sure everything works properly prior to possibly upgrading to Win 11 Pro.  Don't you think that would be best?  I'm sure the upgrade will merely be a MS product key for the upgrade and that should be an easy update. 

I just need to make sure the plugins for my PaintShop Pro will all work on Win 11.  I'm a bit nervous with that since those didn't work with my first install of Win 11.  But I sincerely think those errors were due to MS using One Drive when I installed the PaintShop Pro software program and the plugins.   But since I was not forced to use a MS account during this installation I don't think that will be a problem this time, especially since I am going to pay more attention during those installations this time.

Thank you again, Paul! 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Glad everything went well (except that you couldn't get another free upgrade).

Yes, I would install what you need to do first and then upgrade to W11 Pro.

Here's how to do that...I think the upgrade costs $99.

Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro - Microsoft Support

Cheers,

Paul