does the computer she rented have wifi?
Does the cable provider have an internet service. Does she have the modem (connects to the cable)?

Does that modem provide a wifi Host Station?

once you have that information... find out what the wifi station name, account name, and password is plus the security scheme (like WPA2). Then navigate on the computer to the settings menu, select networks, and then wifi... and then the display available connections. Find the station name (there should only be a few). Enter the account name and password ( under the security type that matches the wifi station).

That should do the trick. She should not store anything on the rental... and when she returns it, erase the browsing history. They should scrub the PC and re-install Windows before they rent it again... but this is rental center we are talking about.

She opens the laptop and there is a microsoft screen with options. She read them to me, and one of them is create an account. She says the laptop won't go past that page.

The rental company and cable company both say they can't do it for confidentiality reasons. The cable company puts the wifi info on the back of the router. Not much of a secret!

Maybe I can call the local rent a center where I live and ask them what to do. I can try that tomorrow.

she will need to create an account... but it should be free. The the OS will load... but before that it needs to connect to a network to download M$. So you will need all of the information that I listed

Hoping they didn’t take that option away in win 11.

enter a bullshit account name, etc and when it asks to connect to a network see if there is an option to defer the connection.

Cross fingers.

it can be a little confusing to navigate because I think they are pushing you to have a Microsoft login.

maybe she is already online and just needs to sign up for microsoft and be on her way? If I stay with her, or take my tablet or phone with me, if I'm not on the person's wifi, it is pretty easy to get on. I've stayed with her a few times and was able to get my devices on her wifi. She has never liked computers, so it is never easy to talk her through.

auto connect to a wifi requires an open wifi (no security) as well as the ability of Microsoft to autoselect a wifi connection. Not impossible, but unlikely.

You are probably getting online without the wifi account and password by not using wifi. Your phone and tablet likely both have cellular data and they automatically switch to that mode when they cannot to connect to wifi,

Call the cable company and ask them how the cable internet works and what the wifi station name is, the account, password, and security type (there are I think 4 choices ).

The network name and other information was on the back of the cable modem and I typed the information into my devices. I got her last laptop online, too, when I visited. If I were up there, I could follow your guidance, which are very clear and well stated, but I was exposed to Covid on Christmas, and since she is a transplant survivor, I have to wait to go see her.

We've been friends for 66 years

I thought you didn't yet have the station name, etc.

Yes, so that confirms she had wifi... now she just needs to enter the fake Microsft account and when it asks for the network connection, see of there is a way to defer the connection. Once Windows has booted all the way to the "home" screen, find settings and proceed to connect to the network. She can then connect to DU or whatever web sites she likes..

66 years... that is great! This spring I will go to my first high school reunion and see my old best friend... from 50 years ago.

I will try to remember to follow up. She just let me know she talked to somebody at Best Buy, who said she can buy a computer, take the old one to the store, and they will transfer every, set it up, and she can bring it home, plug it in and viola! I hope she does it that way. I can't imagine life without a computer myself, but she is not such a fan

Hope you enjoy your reunion. I've never been to a class reunion. My sister has gone to hers and my friend goes to hers. They sound fun. I have a sign in my kitchen: The best antiques are old friends

Hooked up to my WIFI, downloaded MS 365, and have had no problems. Wouldn't do 3D modeling on my Intel I3 processor, but could watch a Netflix Video if I was so inclined. If she has internet, she should buy a laptop at Walmart....they are cheap and you connect to the net by WIFI.

The last one, the battery connection broke. Before she figured it out, she bought a new battery, and a new adapter/power block. The clerks she talked to said to just get a new laptop. She doesn't want to buy another one, because she doesn't use it much. When we talked last week, I thought if she rented one, it would help her pass the time until she is recovered.

the battery on AC voltage...correct? Power supply vs. battery failures can be hard to diagnose. Take the battery out and see if the laptop powers up on powersupply. If so, battery problem. If not, PS problem.

The plug itself broke, so that there was no connection. The battery wouldn't charge, and the computer wouldn't work if plugged in to a wall plug. I suggested (long distance) that she might need a battery, or she might need a new adapter. She took the laptop to Best Buy when those things failed and they discovered the connection was broken. I remember when something like that could be fixed, but now, just get a new laptop.

You need at minimum an account (user name) and a password to log on to your computer. But then the setup process would continue to ask you if you want to create your Microsoft Office 360 account and I believe some other stuff. Basically I suppose trying to suck you into the Microsoft universe of products and services.

The thing is to get an account and password set up and then exit the setup routine whenever you get the chance. At some point you probably have to click on something like not now and remind me again later.

After all these years, if I shut down my computer and restart, I usually see a message about continuing to set up my computer. It's annoying and the only options are to continue setup or "remind me later." I always just let my computer go into sleep mode so don't see that message often, but you might want to make your friend aware that she'll probably be pestered about "continuing setup" when she restarts. You just have to dismiss it.

I don't use the ms programs on my laptop, except Windows. I think I have Windows 10 or 11. I did the same thing as you, got the computer/software registered, and got out of the setup. If I have to reboot, or the system updates, I get messages about finishing set-up. I always choose remind me later.

It was so much easier without the layer upon layer of junky programs they keep tweaking. Miscrosoft wouldn't make any money of the don't remind me again feature!