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Installing Windows 11 (from ISO) on real hardware (without SB and/or TPM 2.0 support)

Created: June 20, 2021 Last Update: June 20, 2021
Authors: Gustave Monce, Daniel Kornev
Status: Draft
Supported Windows 11 Version: 21996.1

WIP

Overview

Here's some quick notes on installing Windows 11 on real hardware from ISO in case when hardware doesn't support TPM and/or SB (Secure Boot). For this example, we're assuming a system with no other critical disks installed, and a helpful host system being around to set up the initial image.

This guide has been created for the 21996.1 version of Windows 11.

Prerequisites

Host

  • Windows 10 Iron or Cobalt (20279 or 21xxx+) - though 20H2 can also work just fine
  • Utility USB flash drive of ~8GB+

Target

  • Boot drive larger than 50 GiB

Common: Files & Tools

Workspace

  1. Download Windows 11 ISO
  2. Download Windows USB/DVD Tool
  3. Install it

Prepare USB Drive for Flashing

  1. Get an empty USB Flash drive (with size at least 8GB)
  2. Use Windows USB/DVD Tool
  3. Follow its instructions to flash your Windows 11 ISO onto the USB Flash drive

Apply Your Image

Apply Your Image on Machine Without Windows 10X Installed On It

  1. Boot from USB Flash drive
  2. Open diskpart
  3. Type this:
list disk

Take a note of the name of your device's main disk drive, e.g., disk 0 4. Type this (where disk 0 is your device's main disk drive):

select disk 0
clean
  1. Follow the instructions in the file from docs.microsoft.com to properly lay out your device's main disk for Windows 10/11 installation:
rem == CreatePartitions-UEFI.txt ==
rem == These commands are used with DiskPart to
rem    create four partitions
rem    for a UEFI/GPT-based PC.
rem    Adjust the partition sizes to fill the drive
rem    as necessary. ==
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
rem == 1. System partition =========================
create partition efi size=100
rem    ** NOTE: For Advanced Format 4Kn drives,
rem               change this value to size = 260 ** 
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter="S"
rem == 2. Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition =======
create partition msr size=16
rem == 3. Windows partition ========================
rem ==    a. Create the Windows partition ==========
create partition primary 
rem ==    b. Create space for the recovery tools ===
rem       ** Update this size to match the size of
rem          the recovery tools (winre.wim)
rem          plus some free space.
shrink minimum=500
rem ==    c. Prepare the Windows partition ========= 
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows"
assign letter="W"
rem === 4. Recovery partition ======================
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery"
assign letter="R"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
list volume
  1. Mark your Windows partition as active in diskpart:
list partition
note the name of your Windows partition (e.g., "partition 3")
select partition 3
active
  1. Type exit to leave diskpart
  2. Check which OS SKU you want to install:
dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:D:\Sources\install.wim <— here D:\ is the drive name of your USB drive
  1. Remember its index and use it to apply its image to your Windows partition (e.g., "W"):
dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:D:\Sources\install.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:W:\
  1. Create boot records:
W:\Windows\System32\bcdboot G:\Windows

If you'll see "Failure when attempting to copy boot files" error message then use this command instead:

W:\Windows\System32\bcdboot c:\windows /s s: /f ALL
  1. Type exit in the Command Prompt window

Load Windows 11

At this time, your Windows 11 will boot. If everything is correct you should see the OOBE.

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