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Since Starfield release day my PC windows feature log in pics and popup for it from MS without consent

Gaelyon

Gold Member
My windows 11 PC, which I use everyday for either gaming or any other stuff, feature this since Starfield release day :

KV1G5LG.jpg


And this :

L83pu3c.jpg


Every single day when I launch windows I get a Starfield image as log in background. I use to have random landscape for years, now without any warning or solicitation I'm stuck with this.
Then I get from time to time popup to install Starfield on Gamepass. Oddly enough this one is in spanish even though my windows is in french but whatever.

At first it didn't bother me too much but now I'm fed up. I don't want to play Starfield. I don't have gamepass on my PC (I only play on Steam). And these forced ads for a product I'm not interested in is intrusive after a month+ ...
Is this the same for everyone ? Did you think it's appropriate ? It could be any game or any product by the way, got nothing special against Starfield, just not interested.

EDIT : Just to clarify : I'm not upset, it's not a big rant nor a console warring thread. And yes there's an easy fix. I'm just annoyed on principle and wanted to share and read other people opinion about it.
 
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Gaelyon

Gold Member
It's weird. It's not a very big deal obviously but on principle alone it's a bit scummy. Also nobody else has the same issue ?
 

Three

Member
It's weird. It's not a very big deal obviously but on principle alone it's a bit scummy. Also nobody else has the same issue ?
Yes, a lot of people got those ads.

I imagine those who might have inadvertently consented to data collection and personalised ads more so. In a somewhat related note I had an Echo Show delivered today and when setup was complete the first thing it did was try to advertise to me. These fucking mega companies have started using our bought personal electronics as billboards in our homes.
 
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Crayon

Member
This is just windows to me. It's a tacky circus with bearded ladies and abused elephants. I have to use it for work. I get my work done on it just fine with IT maintaining it. It's not like it drives me nuts. It's just funny that people are on this shit cradle to grave no matter what it does.
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
It doesn’t bother me, but my PC has it as well. The art’s actually pretty cool, but I’ll probably switch it off for something else because I don’t need to see this stuff for future Xbox games.
 

A.Romero

Member
It did the same for me but I already have Starfield installed (Xbox App).

When on the lock screen you can let them know you don't like a particular theme of images and it will try something different.

Just checked mine and it shows a generic landscape again.
 
Disable Windows Spotlight, edit Group Policy or registry to disable the lock screen, and change the option in Settings to disable Suggested Content

You can also switch to Mac for your non-gaming use. My MacBook Pro never has any issues with this

It's unfortunate that Microsoft has a monopoly on PC gaming or I would have quit using Windows many years ago
 
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ReBurn

Gold Member
I have windows 11 on several of my machines and I use spotlight and bing wallpaper for rotating images on lock screens and wallpaper. All I ever get are portraits of penguins and oceans and coliseums and stuff, even on the PC I use for gaming. I have had notifications in my alerts for games, but not often. Might want to check your personalization settings and see what you're sharing.

 
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nemiroff

Gold Member
If it bothers you, just turn it off by disabling Windows Spotlight for the Lock Screen (AFAIK, never used it, never had ads in W11)
 

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
I get this too but it doesn’t bother me. What does bother me about me windows 11 are the nag screens to use their web browser whenever I accidentally open it and the absolutely dogshit Xbox app.
 

nemiroff

Gold Member
They've been spamming ads in Windows for a long time.

you dont own your computer anymore ever since windows 10, they can update and add things without your permission as well as put ads like you are seeing there.

I bought my desktop "gaming PC" pre-installed with a legit license for W11 two years ago, and still to this day haven't seen a single ad in the OS, it's squeaky clean. So idk wtf is up with you guy's computers..

..Are you talking about apps..? Because I saw something resembling an ad in the Windows weather app a few years ago.

Edit: No, there are no ads in the weather app either anymore.

Edit: Found one! It's under accounts, it's a "try for free" for MS365. But that's pretty much it, been searching for a while..
 
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I don't have this on windows 11, but then again I remove anything from windows I don't use, use a local account and don't consent to shit I don't personally need. I already paid for the product. I don't need a company making money from my usage of it and using my personal data for their financial gain.
 

X-Wing

Member
Welcome to the Microsoft ecosystem with constant data collection and taking choice and freedom away from its users hands. You will have the Starfield backgrounds, you will use Edge as your standard browser, you will use Bing Search and you will, without your permission, be used to train AI models and you will fucking like it.

Installed windows on your PC? Well it is Microsoft’s computer now.
 
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shaddam

Member
I have gamepass ads on my work pc (win 10). Thankfully the lockscreen picture is unaffected, its only text.
 

Zathalus

Member
Welcome to the Microsoft ecosystem with constant data collection and taking choice and freedom away from its users hands. You will have the Starfield backgrounds, you will use Edge as your standard browser, you will use Bing Search and you will, without your permission, be used to train AI models and you will fucking like it.

Installed windows on your PC? Well it is Microsoft’s computer now.
All of that can be disabled with a few clicks. Microsoft is not forcing anybody to use them.

Scummy companies shouldn't get our money.
Well shit, that means I have to stop gaming entirely.
 

Eotheod

Member
That's a bit of a stretch mate on it being without consent or scummy. You installed the OS, that's your consent. Also just turn Windows Spotlight off like others have stated, that's why you are also getting the Game Pass ads.

Sorry, but that really isn't as big of a deal as you make it out to be.
 

GymWolf

Member
That's nothing, my pc now has black loading screens everytime i open a damn folder and cortana assistant scold me everytime i watch porns.

The complete starfield experience.
 

Gaelyon

Gold Member
That's a bit of a stretch mate on it being without consent or scummy. You installed the OS, that's your consent. Also just turn Windows Spotlight off like others have stated, that's why you are also getting the Game Pass ads.

Sorry, but that really isn't as big of a deal as you make it out to be.
I've already said it's not a big deal. And yes turn off windows spotlight is easy. But I shouldn't have to. I'm just a bit annoyed that for a straight month Windows put a starfield ad on my face each time I login with no end on sight and I need to turn off a feature I was ok with to avoid that... Again not a big deal but each little cut can lead to a bigger wound.
Also I'm using words like consent or scummy but english is not my native language.
 

SappYoda

Member
I also have 2 permanent Gamepass ads in my lock screen

rDc68IE.jpg


And I already have gamepass so it's really annoying

And I also got that same Starfield notification when it released.
 
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Eotheod

Member
I've already said it's not a big deal. And yes turn off windows spotlight is easy. But I shouldn't have to. I'm just a bit annoyed that for a straight month Windows put a starfield ad on my face each time I login with no end on sight and I need to turn off a feature I was ok with to avoid that... Again not a big deal but each little cut can lead to a bigger wound.
Also I'm using words like consent or scummy but english is not my native language.
That's literally what Spotlight is for, ads. At one point it acts like a giant Bing ad with links to the spotlighted picture through Bing. Really though, are you actually on the lock screen for that long? Not much of a computer use at lock screen.

And totally get your language choice there, just stating that is a tad dramatic to what is actually happening.
 
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