It is getting progressively more difficult to set up a new Windows laptop without a cloud account. Currently it's a pretty esotaric command line prompt if you know the keybinding to get a terminal open.
The worst it can get is having to reinstall windows with an image modified to run first setup with a local account. Though with a lot of manufacturers it's a good idea to do that anyway to also avoid all of the bloatware they preinstall.
For Win10, I had to keep it disconnected from the network throughout the install process. Once you're connected, you have to do it all over again.
Win7 was the GOAT
Win2k was the best Windows, only gotten worse from there.
Win2K was the best for the time, but it's missing too many useful features for people to want to use it today. Win7 is the best today but is artificially deprecated.
Let ask Claude to RE the Win7 and backport new feature to it /s.
Well I already told it to make Win10 shut the hell up about updating to Win11, that worked at least