please help with new computer!

please tell me there is a way to use my new computer without telling miscrosift my every move! I got thru almost everything but now I am trying to add some word documents and all I keep getting is YOU MUST SET UP A MICROSOFT ACCOUNT SO WE CAN TRACK EVERYTHING YOU DO!
What's the workaround so I can work offline with no contact with the mothership?

Essentially? No can do. If you don't sign up for a MS account you can't use their products. So, I just spent an extra $100+ on something I can't use. Wish I had known that before buying the suite, I would just have downloaded something free instead.
Good thing I'm not planning on giving up the old computer.

Here - This will help you. http://bgr.com/2015/07/31/windows-10-upgrade-spying-how-to-opt-out/
I use windows 10, I don't have a brand new computer ... but I shut off every spying app I could find as well as cortana. I also opt out of personalized ads. I do this on my phone as well. And on facebook.
Every once in a while, I check my settings because it seems to me, after updates, that these settings mysteriously change.
Good luck.

Morticia said:

Essentially? No can do. If you don't sign up for a MS account you can't use their products. So, I just spent an extra $100+ on something I can't use. Wish I had known that before buying the suite, I would just have downloaded something free instead.
Good thing I'm not planning on giving up the old computer..

Click to expand...

Look at "Open Office" it is a free download and offers word processor and spreadsheet, think it is compatabile with Word and Excel

Did you buy the software outright or just the yearly subscription to it. Personally I don't get the feeling my every move is watched and if it is I am not finding it obtrusive

I went through and turned a lot of things off. I only hope I did not turn off something I need.

seashanty said:

Here - This will help you. http://bgr.com/2015/07/31/windows-10-upgrade-spying-how-to-opt-out/
I use windows 10, I don't have a brand new computer ... but I shut off every spying app I could find as well as cortana. I also opt out of personalized ads. I do this on my phone as well. And on facebook.
Every once in a while, I check my settings because it seems to me, after updates, that these settings mysteriously change.
Good luck..

Click to expand...

I followed a couple of bloggers and their opt out diagrams. The actual physical computer setup was OK. It's the office suite I can't use. So, I pretended to make an account to get to the privacy policy which, in essence, says MS can use anything you upload to further their own ends. You give them an unlimited right to use your content. How can businesses agree to this? My biz info is proprietary.
And, yes, I realize email is not secure. And my email address is associated with everything l'm saying here, and I've said a lot! And my new phone tracks me everywhere I go. It's just a bit overwhelming.
The problem is, now this account is associated with this computer and it can never be used again. If I get a new computer, I need a new account, which kind of defeats the purpose of tracking me from cradle to grave.
I read 5 pages, out of 33, of complaints to MS from small computer company techs who cannot set up computers for clients without asking them for personal info, copying their passwords, or setting them up with accounts they'll never remember. Plus, MS says you cannot lie in setting up an account. Seriously? Back when this was my actual job, you think I would be asking for birthdays and zip codes from my hundreds of clients? Yeesh!
Ok, off the soap box. I created an account for a fictitious person who will be forever 21. Unlike me.

EmptyNest said:

Did you buy the software outright or just the yearly subscription to it. Personally I don't get the feeling my every move is watched and if it is I am not finding it obtrusive.

Click to expand...

I bought the software preinstalled. I thought it would be like what I have already, just software I use on the desktop. Nope. MS declares they have access and a right to use your content.
Not sure it's possible to protect it unless I stop going online.

JimBoone said:

Morticia said:

Essentially? No can do. If you don't sign up for a MS account you can't use their products. So, I just spent an extra $100+ on something I can't use. Wish I had known that before buying the suite, I would just have downloaded something free instead.
Good thing I'm not planning on giving up the old computer..

Click to expand...

Look at "Open Office" it is a free download and offers word processor and spreadsheet, think it is compatabile with Word and Excel
.

Click to expand...

I've been using Open Office for years now without any problems. I actually like it better than Word and Excel because it has more the look and feel of Word and Excel from years ago. Less cluttered and simple. It will read and write in Excel and Word formats. It also comes with a couple other programs too.

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

Did you buy the software outright or just the yearly subscription to it. Personally I don't get the feeling my every move is watched and if it is I am not finding it obtrusive.

Click to expand...

I bought the software preinstalled. I thought it would be like what I have already, just software I use on the desktop. Nope. MS declares they have access and a right to use your content.
Not sure it's possible to protect it unless I stop going online.
.

Click to expand...

Just download and install open office and forget about MS. You don't ave to use it. Sounds like you got the online version.

EmptyNest said:

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

Did you buy the software outright or just the yearly subscription to it. Personally I don't get the feeling my every move is watched and if it is I am not finding it obtrusive.

Click to expand...

I bought the software preinstalled. I thought it would be like what I have already, just software I use on the desktop. Nope. MS declares they have access and a right to use your content.
Not sure it's possible to protect it unless I stop going online.
.

Click to expand...

Just download and install open office and forget about MS. You don't ave to use it. Sounds like you got the online version.
.

Click to expand...

EmptyNest said:

Just download and install open office and forget about MS. You don't ave to use it. Sounds like you got the online version.

Click to expand...

No, I got the buy it once, not the rent it version. All versions require you sign in to use them.

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

Did you buy the software outright or just the yearly subscription to it. Personally I don't get the feeling my every move is watched and if it is I am not finding it obtrusive.

Click to expand...

I bought the software preinstalled. I thought it would be like what I have already, just software I use on the desktop. Nope. MS declares they have access and a right to use your content.
Not sure it's possible to protect it unless I stop going online.
.

Click to expand...

Just download and install open office and forget about MS. You don't ave to use it. Sounds like you got the online version.
.

Click to expand...

EmptyNest said:

Just download and install open office and forget about MS. You don't ave to use it. Sounds like you got the online version.

Click to expand...

No, I got the buy it once, not the rent it version. All versions require you sign in to use them.
.

Click to expand...

Awww come on join the rest of us robots with our every move being tracked.

They actually want an account to licence the updates with. You can simply set everything local and save locally. The online account is basically for the updates.
I use an older Office and don't bother updating, but when I share documents, it's via Google Office. Yeah, I gave in to the darkside

My solution:

JerseyBoy said:

JimBoone said:

Morticia said:

Essentially? No can do. If you don't sign up for a MS account you can't use their products. So, I just spent an extra $100+ on something I can't use. Wish I had known that before buying the suite, I would just have downloaded something free instead.
Good thing I'm not planning on giving up the old computer..

Click to expand...

Look at "Open Office" it is a free download and offers word processor and spreadsheet, think it is compatabile with Word and Excel
.

Click to expand...

I've been using Open Office for years now without any problems. I actually like it better than Word and Excel because it has more the look and feel of Word and Excel from years ago. Less cluttered and simple. It will read and write in Excel and Word formats. It also comes with a couple other programs too.
.

Click to expand...

I dislike the new MS Office as it is a time waster trying to find the pictures to do things that used to be so clear in a drop down list, but until retirement this year it was nice to be on the same program as my weekday job where I maintained the Access database, beyond that feature I am with you that Open Office is probably more like the older simpler versions that I enjoyed.

I guess you are saying you can't opt out of the tracking ... since I don't have a new computer I don't know. I use office that I installed on my computer it didn't come with it.... and at the time I was like WTF because I had to now buy word etc. ... but it's not got the built in tracking.
Where will it all end?? Not to add to your frustration but I don't want siri in my life, or halo or whatever. I don't want to be listened to or to check in and log in and be tracked and told where my friends are right now. My cell phone is constantly reminding me that I've got different services turned off and I say YUP.
I don't want my granddaughter playing with a doll that sends her questions into the cloud to be used by marketers or whatever the heck they are doing. All the young parents have baby monitors and they change their passwords right away but my son's friend suddenly saw someone else's baby in a nearby house on the baby monitor. Imagine if he saw the baby's father going into the room?? Crossed signals they said.
It reminds me of years ago when the garage door openers were opening the neighbor's doors and someone started up my minivan with their car starter ... that wasn't supposed to be able to happen. And old folks I knew who got in someone else's car and drove it home.

seashanty said:

I guess you are saying you can't opt out of the tracking ... since I don't have a new computer I don't know. I use office that I installed on my computer it didn't come with it.... and at the time I was like WTF because I had to now buy word etc. ... but it's not got the built in tracking.
Where will it all end?? Not to add to your frustration but I don't want siri in my life, or halo or whatever. I don't want to be listened to or to check in and log in and be tracked and told where my friends are right now. My cell phone is constantly reminding me that I've got different services turned off and I say YUP.
I don't want my granddaughter playing with a doll that sends her questions into the cloud to be used by marketers or whatever the heck they are doing. All the young parents have baby monitors and they change their passwords right away but my son's friend suddenly saw someone else's baby in a nearby house on the baby monitor. Imagine if he saw the baby's father going into the room?? Crossed signals they said.
It reminds me of years ago when the garage door openers were opening the neighbor's doors and someone started up my minivan with their car starter ... that wasn't supposed to be able to happen. And old folks I knew who got in someone else's car and drove it home..

Click to expand...

One big not so happy family, privacy is a joke these days, but sometimes we just hear more about it than in the past, back in 50's service shop picked up the car of my friends parents, same color as the one they were to service and the old fashioned key happend to fit, but no internet then so only a few knew.

PhineasSwann said:

My solution:

.

Click to expand...

SSDC

seashanty said:

I guess you are saying you can't opt out of the tracking ... since I don't have a new computer I don't know. I use office that I installed on my computer it didn't come with it.... and at the time I was like WTF because I had to now buy word etc. ... but it's not got the built in tracking.
Where will it all end?? Not to add to your frustration but I don't want siri in my life, or halo or whatever. I don't want to be listened to or to check in and log in and be tracked and told where my friends are right now. My cell phone is constantly reminding me that I've got different services turned off and I say YUP.
I don't want my granddaughter playing with a doll that sends her questions into the cloud to be used by marketers or whatever the heck they are doing. All the young parents have baby monitors and they change their passwords right away but my son's friend suddenly saw someone else's baby in a nearby house on the baby monitor. Imagine if he saw the baby's father going into the room?? Crossed signals they said.
It reminds me of years ago when the garage door openers were opening the neighbor's doors and someone started up my minivan with their car starter ... that wasn't supposed to be able to happen. And old folks I knew who got in someone else's car and drove it home..

Click to expand...

This computer has cortona which does the same thing as siri. I told Gomez he can tell MS what he needs help with and have it all stored somewhere. (Not that my typed questions aren't stored!) It's the whole idea of being put into a marketing box so the only info you start to see is info you've previously shown an interest in. It gets hard to expand your horizons if Google or MS or whatever only ever shows you answers that fit your preconceived notions of what the answers should be. Geez I'm old.

My 'new' car is 10 years old. It doesn't have all the tracking stuff on it, but when we brought it in for service, the dealership sent the info to OnStar and I now have a 3 month free subscription to that.