Tech mogul Elon Musk recently reached out to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, expressing his reservations about the mandatory Microsoft account requirement on his newly purchased Windows laptop. Musk shared this interaction on his platform “I just texted him,” he replied.
I just texted him
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2024
In a direct text message to Nadella, Musk expressed his annoyance with the mandatory Microsoft account setup for Windows computers. This exchange was revealed after Nadella announced Microsoft's collaboration with Mistral AI. However, Mr Musk steered the conversation towards more everyday concerns, saying: “Satya, I don't mean to be a pest, but please allow people to set up a new Windows PC by skipping creating a Microsoft account.”
He added that “this option disappears if the computer is connected to WiFi” and complained that “even if you want to register, it won't let you use a work email address and I *only* have work email addresses!”
Satya, I don't mean to be a malicious person, but please allow people to set up a new Windows PC by skipping creating a Microsoft account.
This option disappears if your computer is connected to a WiFi network.
Also, even if you want to register, you won't be allowed to use a work email address and I…
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2024
This line of conversation left many users amused.
“This will go down in history as the most popular tech support post ever,” one user commented.
This will go down in history as the most popular tech support post ever.
– Min Choi (@minchoi) February 26, 2024
“Be so rich you can treat the CEO of MS as a consumer service representative,” another wrote.
Be so rich that you can treat the CEO of MS as a customer service representative.
– The Social World (@socially321) February 26, 2024
Another comment said: “Complaints from clients of the richest man in the world.”
Complaints from customers of the richest man in the world.????
— Beast_ETH_ (@X_Beast_ETH) February 26, 2024
While one said: “You know you're getting old when you ask Microsoft for troubleshooting instead of searching on Google.”
You know you're getting old when you ask Microsoft for troubleshooting instead of searching on Google
-Chand (@chandtailor) February 26, 2024
Elon Musk later revealed that he had successfully accessed his Windows laptop without having to create a Microsoft account. One user offered a suggestion for a workaround, which Mr Musk tried and later shared on X.
He posted: “Finally, thanks. My laptop automatically connected to a local WiFi network without asking for the password. I was able to skip by simply unchecking that.”
Finally I managed to do it, thanks.
The laptop automatically connects to a local WiFi network that does not have a password without asking. I was able to skip by simply unchecking that.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2024
Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014.
“Web specialist. Lifelong zombie maven. Coffee ninja. Hipster-friendly analyst.”