From: winstonmvp@gmail.com   
      
   VanguardLH wrote on 12/22/2025 9:24 PM:   
   > When I installed Windows 11 (into a VirtualBox virtual machine), I used   
   > a local (offline) account, not a Microsoft account.  I used Rufus to   
   > eliminate getting pushed to an MS account along with eliminating the   
   > requirements for TPM and Secure Boot.   
   >   
   > Now I would like to switch to a Microsoft account (after first saving an   
   > image backup).  The instructions below say to go to Settings -> Accounts   
   > -> Your info (or go to ms-settings:yourinfo), and select "Sign in with a   
   > Microsoft account instead".   
   >   
   > https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-from-a-loca   
   -account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows-395203bf-9f1b-eb24-b042-5b8dae6c1d20   
   >   
   > That link isn't there, but there is a "Sign in" link.  My concern is if   
   > a *new* Windows account along with a new user profile folder gets   
   > created for use with my MS account instead of reusing the existing local   
   > Windows account that gets linked to my MS account.  That is, will I get   
   > a new Windows account linked to my MS account, or do I get to keep using   
   > my existing Windows profile that gets linked to my MS account?  If I get   
   > a new Windows account and profile folder for use with my MS account,   
   > everything I've setup, so far, regarding program installs,   
   > configuration, and tweaks in my local Windows account is lost.  Well,   
   > the old profile may still exist, but maybe it won't be the one used when   
   > I switch to using an MS account.   
   >   
   > Once I get linked to my MS account, does my Win11 license get recorded   
   > in my MS account?   
   >   
   > While logged into my local Windows account, is there an oobe command I   
   > run to link *it* to my MS account instead of creating a new local   
   > account that links to my MS account?   
   >   
      
   That location:   
     Settings/Accounts/Your info/Account settings/Local Account/   
   ...is present here in my Local account on 25H2 Windows 11 Pro retail   
   edition(previously 24H2[and 23H2 clean install]. Device was clean   
   installed using 23H2 Iso(install.wim, not install.esd).  Installed  to a   
   256 GB SSD(new, wiped factory condition to 100% unallocated, then   
   Advanced Options for Diskpart to create all 4 required partitions -   
   System(100MB), MSR(16MB), Windows(all available space less 2GB shrink for   
   WinRE), Recovery[2GB].  The device was setup initially with an MSA, the   
   the Local Account created.   
     - i.e. no Rufus   
      
   It's been sometime since I've used or had the opportunity to look at a   
   Rufus tweaked Win11 install...   
     ...Is it possible that Rufus' routine to bypass the MSA impacted the   
   Local account option to switch the Local to an MSA found at   
     Settings/Accounts/Your info/Account settings/Local Account/ ???   
      
   Is there an existing MSA Windows logon on the device?   
      
   I don't recall an oobe command for switching a Local to MSFT after   
   Windows is installed(with or without Rufus tweaked setup).  Oobe is   
   primarily intended for initial setup.   
      
   A Local account switch to a MSFT account assigns the digital license to   
   the MSA and is stored on the MSFT servers assigned to your MSA.   
     - reinstalling Windows later(clean install or resetting the device) and   
   use of that same assigned MSA license activates Windows without the need   
   to enter a product key.   
      
      
   Post a picture(of what you are seeing) in a reply post.   
      
      
      
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