Microsoft demands your mobile number when setting up Windows 10 Build 17063
0.phoneArenaposted on30 Dec 2017, 19:17
Windows 10 Build 17063 asks, nay, demands that you give your mobile phone number to Microsoft during the set up process. If you refuse to give the number to the gang in Redmond, you will not be allowed to finish installing the new build on your PC. The screen that demands your number says "Link your Phone and PC. Windows loves all your devices-get essential apps that help you work better across your devices."...
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This article is misleading. You can skip and not provide the mobile phone number. I went through the OOBE myself for Build 17063. The link to skip providing phone number is just invisible at the lower left corner of the screen, but it is still clickable. Microsoft has already pointed out that some buttons and links are invisible in the OOBE due to a known issue.
Just move your mouse to the lower-left corner of the screen and click on the random blue space. It will move to the next screen. I have tested this myself and it works.
27.skalamanga(Posts: 3; Member since: 05 Oct 2017)
I always use 01234567890, it's a valid number in the UK. Occasionally a filter will complain that it's not a valid mobile number, in which case I use 07234567890
30.Malaperdas(Posts: 39; Member since: 15 Apr 2013)
It's not a Bug, it's a Feature!!
After the first versions of Windows 7,
Microsoft became really aggressive about collecting personal data and monitoring every click you make through Telemetry and "user experience" techniques.
Even if you know the gathering servers' IPs you cannot block them in almost any way including adding them in hosts file like before.
It may be the time for another company or open source group to rise.
The only ones that can stop this data gathering madness (from phone numbers to fingerprints and irises) is us, by boycotting these products.
32.phaeidaeux(Posts: 1; Member since: 31 Dec 2017)
This is actually nothing new other than the fact that they're getting you to hand it over openly. They've been able to "back in" to your cell number for years by simply triangulating between your various recovery device numbers via SMS, online email accounts etc. They could easily drop the direct request and fall back on existing data and get about the same unique identity coverage.
