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Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account
(www.theverge.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
I can add that in my experience, switching to Linux tends to have a positive impact on performance and keep the laptop usable for longer, I highly recommend you try it with your current laptop.
I've got machines that are obsolete for even Windows 10 that run Linux just fine. The best time to start is now.