Windows 11 Installation Guide: First Things to Do
Getting the Windows ISO
Grab an official Windows ISO.
Run as Admin
Worked for me on VM Win11 23H2 4GB RAM & no TPM
Install
Install Ventoy onto a USB stick.
Go HERE and create an autounattended.xml file & download the file.
Paste the Windows ISO & autounattended.xml onto the Ventoy drive.
Or
Get Win ISO
Rufus - run it
Check all the necessary settings and install to a USB stick
Rufus has all the bypass options: local account, bitlocker, etc.
Or
Traditional Install
If you need to manually bypass machine eligability checking
Disconnect Internet to avoid Microsoft account and allow local account.
shift + f10
netsh interface show interface
shows wi-fi for example
netsh interface set interface "wi-fi" admin=disable
netsh interface set interface "wi-fi" admin=enable
At the "Let's connect you to a network"
I don't have internet
Continue with limited setup
or
shift + f10
oobe\bypassnro
reboot
(Some say this no longer works - I just did it) (If not more options on bottom of this post)
It looks like you are starting over but answer a couple questions.
The new "Let's connect you to a network" has an added selection
"I don't have internet"
Now enter your name.
Blank password (set later) avoids the three security questions.
The options page
No to everything
"Hi"
1. Winget
go to "latest"
download and install the 8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle
Open Powershell as Admin and type this:
irm christitus.com/win | iex Do Minimal or Standard Tweaks
Set Windows update to security only if updated to point you want
grab some essential programs and/or run an apps.bat
Bottom right of tweaks tab creates shortcut for Chris's script on desktop.
3. UniGetUI
download and install
Or if winget is already installed . . .
winget install -e --id MartiCliment.UniGetUI
4. New Windows Installs can benefit from Winget/Choco/Curl bat files.
Simple to make and quick to install
winget install 7zip.7zip Notepad++.Notepad++
save as name.bat and run it
or (The kitchen sink)
winget install 7zip.7zip
curl -O -L https://patchmypc.com/freeupdater/PatchMyPC.exe
choco install RocketDock -y
save as name.bat and run it
winget install -e --id=winaero.tweaker
Eliminate "shortcut" labels
Right Click Context Menu
Add "take ownership" to right click
Add cmd as admin
Add powershell as admin
Add shutdown
6. Wintoys
winget install -e --id=9P8LTPGCBZXD
Open the tweaks section and turn off most things.
If Chris Titus was used most will me done already.
Check the other sections also.
7. RevoUninstaller remove Windows Apps
winget install -e --id=RevoUninstaller.RevoUninstaller
At This Point You Can Drop Down To Activation Section
Alternative Methods
Upgrading on Supported or Unsupported Hardware
Be sure version matches current language version ex. en-US, cmd admin "dism /online /get-intl"
Extract the ISO with 7zip
cmd admin cd newwindows\sources
run setupprep.exe /product server
Chris Titus Tech's MicroWin
I personally like Chris Titus Tech's MicroWin tool.
However, indexing options control was missing so, long term, it makes me wonder what else.
But if you need a quick, effortless, clean install, this is it.
You can run it using PowerShell with this command:
iwr -useb https://christitus.com/win | iex
While I haven't tested a MicroWin on physical hardware yet, it worked very well in VirtualBox.
Enter the user name you want during setup instead of the hassle of adding a user later.
When modifying the win.iso it may stop after the "Could not remove package" messages so click the Powershell window and hit Enter. It should rapidly finish from that point.
Negatives Found So Far
Indexing Options not accessible
Creating Your Own Unattended Installation
- Visit the Windows System Image Manager to create an unattended install file.
- For a detailed guide, watch this helpful video tutorial.
Important Note on Windows 11 24H2 (Maybe)
Windows 11 24H2 has introduced a new feature: Bitlocker is enabled by default during a clean install if you use a Microsoft account. I don't install using a Microsoft account but if it worries you . . .
Disabling Bitlocker During Installation
To prevent Bitlocker encryption during installation, you have two options:
Using Rufus: This tool provides an option to disable Bitlocker during the installation process.
Manual Registry Edit:
- At the Region selection page, press
Shift + F10 - Open Task Manager
- Run a new task:
regedit - Navigate to
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BitLocker - Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value
- Name it "PreventDeviceEncryption"
- Set its value to 1
- At the Region selection page, press
Activation
Crazy fast & permanent & can also change version
https://massgrave.dev/
Don't miss the Office install info. Works great.
My Office Deployment config file for Word & Excel install only is HERE
Win11 Recall feature???
To check the state run as admin:
Dism /Online /Get-Featureinfo /Featurename:Recall
to disable:
Dism /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:Recall
to enable:
Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Recall
Finish Below but More Software Info is HERE
Win + r sysdm.cpl > Advanced > Performance & turn off everything that moves.
Index Settings
Run Chris Titus Tool (Open PowerShell as admin "irm christitus.com/win | iex")
Might as will use Chris Titus to install . . . or use a .bat file
winget install 7zip, ShareX, Everything Search, Powertoys, TranslucentTB
UniGetUI (WingetUI)
winget install -e --id=MartiCliment.UniGetUI
Or from github
Wintoys
winget install -e --id=9P8LTPGCBZXD
If you did Chris Titus tweaks most will already be done but not all.
RocketDock From MajorGeeks I just can't give it up.
For portable just copy installed program to portable folder and RevoUninstall RocketDock.
Stack Docklet. Move it into Docklets Folder in RocketDock.
Symenu (needs user account now - It's always something)
curl -O -L "https://www.ugmfree.it/Download/SyMenu/SyMenu.zip"
Open Symenu
[If v8 high def monitor has scaling problems, go to "Options>General>Do this for high def screens]
Download:
PatchMyPC or from MajorGeeks.
curl -O -L https://patchmypc.com/freeupdater/PatchMyPC.exe
LaunchyQT or from Github
curl -O -L "https://github.com/samsonwang/LaunchyQt/releases/download/v3.1.7/Launchy-3.1.7-win-x64.7z"
UnigetUI gets it from Chocolatey and puts it in C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\UniGetUI\Chocolatey\lib
Win11 24H2 won't run LaunchyQt so just install original. I see little difference the way I use it.
winget install CodeJelly.Launchy
Ultra Virus Killer (portable version)
curl -O -L "https://www.carifred.com/uvk/UVKPortable.exe"
Belongs on every repair drive and system. Updates itself on startup.
Threat scanner gives a quick look at possible trouble.
System Repair has loads of fixes & virus scanners
User Manager is outstanding, clear and simple.
Managers for Processes, Autoruns, Services all show Virus Total ratings
WAU (Windows Update Manager) just works when Windows Update fails
May need Snappy Driver Origin if older PC. Get from Symenu or MajorGeeks.
winget install -e --id=GlennDelahoy.SnappyDriverInstallerOrigin
curl -O -L https://www.glenn.delahoy.com/downloads/sdio/SDIO_1.13.4.771.zip
Start as admin and download index.
If running in VirtualBox install Guest Additions and reboot to change display resolution.
The VM will be happy with 8 GB
On real PC 16 GB total RAM is enough but 32 is better.
Windows Sandbox
Best way to practice with Winget is in the Windows Sandbox.
Currently an easy way to install Winget in the Sanbox is Chris Titus WinUtil and install UnigetUI.
It will first install Winget. Using Chris's "Reinstall Winget" won't work. Maybe later it will.
Also currently WinUtil won't install UnigetUI (maybe later)
This Guy created a Powershell script to download everything winget and install.
Download this ps1 and run it.
curl -O -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HarmVeenstra/Powershellisfun/refs/heads/main/Create%20a%20development%20Windows%20Sandbox/Install_WinGet_and_Software.ps1
Fixing Windows
If you can run Windows:
Try an in place upgrade before trying reset. Open (mount) downloaded ISO and run setup.
Or move all the install files to a Win folder and run setup.exe from there.
If Windows can't run:
You should be able to boot to USB installer and install onto the existing Windows drive without formatting. It should see the original installation and save it as windows.old.
Be careful with this. Important files should be backed up before trying this.
Lock Screen Overlay (If you have irritating junk on your lock screen)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager
Set the DWORD value SubscribedContent-338387Enabled to 0
Target for old Control Panel
C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}
* Or just use Windows search :)
Block Windows Telemetry With Hosts File
Grab the Windows "hosts" info
Find hosts file here: "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
Copy it to desktop. Change original to "hosts.bak"
Paste the info into desktop hosts file and copy to "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
Stop Windows from limiting bandwidth
I haven't seen any big internet speed difference but this is how to do it in Group Policy
gpedit.msc
computer configuration
admin template
network
qos packet scheduler
enable
set 0
cmd
gpupdate
If OOBE\BYPASSNRO Doesn't work:
shift + f10
oobe\bypassnro
or
OOBE\BYPASSNRO
or
%systemroot%\System32\oobe\BypassNRO.cmd
or
Step 1: Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys together to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Click More Details.
Step 3: Go to the Processes tab, and find Network Connection Flow. Select it and click the End task button.
or
Shift + F10
taskkill /F /IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe
or
press the Alt + F4 keys at the same time on the Let’s connect you to a network screen. If successful, Windows 11 will skip the current screen and go to the next step.
At the OOBE screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE.
Add a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named BypassNRO and set its value to 1.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
or
Step 1: Type net.exe user yourusername /add and press Enter.
Step 2: Type net.exe localgroup administrators yourusername /add and press Enter.
Step 3: Type cd oobe and hit Enter.
Step 4: Execute the command – msoobe.exe && shutdown.exe -r.
The PC will restart and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup with a local account, without an Internet connection.
