Thanks for the link Marian.

Question. Someday comes where I don't have an internet connection for some reason. Let's say I'm living in a garage and can't get or can't afford internet but I still have my computer and I have my DRM free GOG library of games on discs or an external drive or something. If I have Windows 11, I won't be able to play them because I don't have an internet connection?

Yes, you can play them as long as you don't have them set to require the GOG client to run.

Drac, that article Marian linked to says that Windows 11 requires an internet and a Microsoft account.

"If you're using Windows 11 Home, you must have both an Internet connection and a Microsoft account to run Windows 11 at all. No, Internet, no Microsoft account, no Windows 11. You can't set up a local user account or use your PC at all."

I see GOG is already showing Windows 11 compatibility in at least one game.

Yes, I know all that. But if you have your already downloaded games on your computer and they are set to not need the GOG client to run, it's no different than running a game from a disk that doesn't need an internet connection.

I hope you're right, not that I hope to ever be in that position, but that's not how I'm reading it.

If you don't need internet to play your games, I'm not sure where the question is?

Oldbroad, I think the quote is referring to the fact that you have to have the internet in order to install Windows 11. With Windows 10, you could install it without having an internet connection.

Okay Marian. That is something I did not know. I think they should adjust their wording then though. Where it says you cannot use your PC at all ?? I mean if I have an internet connection and download Windows 11 but then no longer have an internet connection, this sounds like the computer might as well go in the garbage then.

Not at all... it's worded to say you can use it off line quite nicely. You just can't install 11 without an internet connection and a Microsoft account.

I don't see that but I'll let it go since I don't see that scenario happening anyway.

Thanks for the link Marian, very interesting.

oldbroad, take the Wise words from Marian and Draclvr when they say You Don't need the Internet to Run the Operating system, as they said, You Need it to Install Windows 11 and of Course you would need the Internet to install Security upgrades, etc. BUT as Draclvr said: "You will Not need the Internet to play games that you have already saved to your Hard Drive or DVDs or External Hard Drive, etc. So again, do not worry about the Internet Thingy Magingy.

Regardless of whether they're right or not Starcom, the article clearly says (TO ME): "you must have both an Internet connection and a Microsoft account to run Windows 11 at all"

oldbroad, maybe this will help. It's from Ed Bott who has been writing about Windows operating systems for 25 years.

I take that to mean to get it running, as in the initial download and installation.

I think this is a question of semantics and just poorly worded, but I do understand why you would read that and think otherwise.

Thanks Drac and Marian. I don't read it the way you all are and think the wording should be changed if what you're saying is correct, but that is why I post some things and why I get in arguments with my brother. I like to present and to be presented with different interpretations and views. Sometimes I learn something; sometimes I don't. Sometimes the other person learns something; sometimes they don't.

And Drac, I read that before. To me, that person is saying something quite different from the one Marian linked to.

oldbroad, whether the wording is correct or not, even if MS states that you need an Internet connection to run Win 11, do you think people will go for that, it would not be long before people protest and keep their unprotected Win 10 or Switch to Mac or Linux. So I doubt MS would be that Stupid to Force people to stay connected to the Internet to Run their Win 11. So We all have 4 years of using Win 10 to let MS fix a possible Major Boo Boo if that is the case.

I can totally go along with what you're saying there Starcom!

Oh, so many, many reasons to not upgrade to Windows 11.

11 Most Annoying Things in Windows 11 and How to Fix Them

Thanks Drac! Other than the actual requirements for the OS, none of the features listed in that article look like they will bother me too much, though time will tell when I am forced to get a new computer with Win 11.

I am SO not interested in going to Windows 11. I cannot see anything changing that.

Me either, Marian. Every one of those things is a deal breaker for me. And I'm not one who needs things to always be just the same... I'm good with changes such as the ones from WIndows 7 to Windows 10. But these seem designed to be annoying at best and a PITA at worst.

I have tended to upgrade pretty quickly in the past but nothing about 11 makes me want to upgrade.

Same here, flotsam. I have always upgraded as soon as a new OS was available. Not this time.

Same here, the processor on my 6 year old computer is not compatible.

I'm going to wait and see. I know that I can download and install Win 11 on this laptop but it's way too early for me. I'd rather let them get the kinks out before committing.