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

Created: JanuaryJune 18,20, 2021	Last Update: FebruaryJune 2,20, 2021
Authors:	NT Authority, Albacore, Gustave Monce, Rafael Rivera, Daniel Kornev
Status:	Draft
Supported Windows 10X11 Version:	2027921996.1

Disclaimer: Some drivers may fail to load, the guide will be updated with extra tips on extending driver compatibility laterWIP

Overview

Here's some quick notes on installing Windows 10X11 on real hardware from cabs.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 2027921996.1 version of Windows 10X.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

• Graphics card with DCHU drivers available
• UEFI system firmware with the ability to disable Secure Boot
• Boot drive larger than 10050 GiB
• Learn how to disable Secure Boot in your device, and change its boot order to allow booting from the USB Flash Drive

Peripherals

Note: If your device doesn't have a built-in Ethernet adapter, prepare an external Ethernet adapter (USB/USB-C/USB-C Hub with Ethernet). You won't be able to pass through the OOBE without internet connection.

Common: Files & Tools

Workspace

1. CreateDownload aWindows folder11 called 10X in the root of your drive, e.g, C:\10X ISO
2. Create a subfolder called Sources
3. Create a subfolder called DCHUDrivers
4. UseDownload v0.3.0.0.Windows releaseUSB/DVD Tool of the Gus's UUPMediaCreator(https://github.com/gus33000/UUPMediaCreator)) to download bits by typing this command in the Command Prompt (where dlfolder is the place to put downloaded bits, e.g., C:\10X\dlfolder, and amd64 specifies the architecture; you can specify arm64 for ARM64 build of Windows 10X):

uupdownload -o dlfolder -s Lite -t amd64 -r External -b Dev -a CB -c fe_release_10x -v 10.0.20279.1002

Note: you can use -z Test param to download Test build of Windows 10X which includes non-production components.

5. Put them into Sources folder (e.g., C:\10X\Sources)
6. Make sure that bits are in Sources folder directly (\10X\Sources\*compdb*.cab should be at this level)
7. Download overlay.zip from Rafael
8. Unpack it to your Sources folder (e.g., C:\10X\Sources)
9. Open command line in the Sources folder and run fixup.cmd in it
10. Copy the appx folder from it to the root of your packages folder (C:\10X\Sources)
11. Move FM folder from \10X\Sources to \10X
12. Move OEMInput.xml from \10X\Sources to \10X
13. Your resulting folder structure should look like this:

(disk root)
|
-----10X
     |
     ------DCHUDrivers
     ------FM
     ------Sources
           |
           -----appx (includes folders for each AppX)
           -----Retail
                |
                -----%Architecture_Name% (e.g., AMD64)
                     |
                     -----fre (includes the rest of the cabs)
           -----(several top-most cabs with compdb in the name, and .uupmcreplay file)
     ------OEMInput.xml

Install Tools

Note: Both ADK and WinPE should have the same or higher version as your Windows 10X Image.

1. [Optional] If you have previous kits (e.g., WP8 Tools), remove them
2. Download the ADK Insider Preview ISO for your host OS version (only tested with Windows_InsiderPreview_ADK_en-us_20279.iso)
3. Install Deployment Tools, ICD, Configuration Designer, and uncheck the rest if possible/as needed
4. Download the Windows Preinstallation Environment ISO for your host OS version (only tested with 20279 version)
5. Install Windows Preinstallation Environment it

Configure Your BSP

Board Support Packages (BSP) is a collection of drivers/settings required to run Windows 10X on a hardware platform. The BSP also includes a set of device drivers that are specific to the components/silicon used in the device, mostly in the form of .inf files and their associated .sys/.dll files.

You will need a BSP for your device if you want it to use all of its devices (WiFi, Cameras, etc.).

To configure your BSP, you need to obtain DCH (Universal) Drivers for your device, and then prepare the OEMDriversFM.xml feature manifest XML file with the links to your drivers.

Prepare DCHU Drivers for Your Hardware

1. Obtain DCHU Drivers for your hardware (especially GPU)
2. Find all infs that contain "firmware update" in them and remove them
3. Copy all remaining drivers to your DCHUDrivers subfolder (\10X\DCHUDrivers)

Form A BSP for Your Hardware

1. Use OEMDriversFM.xml example from Albacore

	<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
	<FeatureManifest Revision="1" SchemaVersion="1.2" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/embedded/2004/10/ImageUpdate">
		<Drivers>
			<BaseDriverPackages>
				<DriverPackageFile Path="C:\10X\DCHUDrivers\WcosGraphicsDriver.Intel\bin\Drivers\iigd_oc" Name="iigd_dc_base.inf"/>
			</BaseDriverPackages>
		</Drivers>
	</FeatureManifest>

2. For each of your drivers put a link to it in the form like one above.

Configure Your Image

1. Edit OEMInput.xml (remove VM_*, uncomment UEFI_Hardware line, add/remove features etc.)
2. Add a link to your BSP (OEMDriversFM.xml) to your OEMInput.xml like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<OEMInput xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/embedded/2019/06/ImageUpdate">
  <Description></Description>
  <DeviceLayoutType>GPT_SPACES_512</DeviceLayoutType>
  <SV>Microsoft</SV>
  <Device>GenericUEFIDevice</Device>
  <ReleaseType>Test</ReleaseType>
  <BuildType>fre</BuildType>
  <Languages>
    <Language Default="true">en-us</Language>
  </Languages>
  <AdditionalFMs>
	  <!--Windows 10X Feature Manifests-->
	  <AdditionalFM>c:\10X\FM\WindowsCoreProductionFM.xml</AdditionalFM>
	  <!-- Your BSMBSP -->
	  <AdditionalFM>c:\10X\OEMDriversFM.xml</AdditionalFM>
  </AdditionalFMs>
</OEMInput>

Build Your Image

1. Prepare your environment:

Start > open elevated *Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment

2. In that window, type this (where C:\ is the drive where your Windows 10 Insider Preview ADK is installed):

C:\> cd c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Tools\bin\i386

3. Run this command to unregister the imaging toolchain overrides (unless you use a non-production machine):

C:\> "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%\DISM\wimmountadksetup%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%.exe" /q /uninstall

4. Run IMGGEN in your Command Prompt window (give a name to your ffu, e.g., SurfaceGo.ffu if your device is Surface Go). Important: Use absolute paths both in files (OEMInput.xml & OEMDriversFM.xml) AND in the command line:

C:\> imggen c:\10X\SurfaceGo.ffu C:\10X\OEMInput.xml C:\10X\Sources AMD64

Prepare USB Drive for Flashing

Note: You can follow Microsoft docs (Part I: Create Multipartition USB Drive, Part II: Install WinPE), or you can follow these instructions (taken from the docs):

1. Get an empty USB Flash drive (with size at least 8GB)
2. InUse theWindows sameUSB/DVD Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment's elevated Command Prompt window open diskpart and press Enter Tool
3. Follow theseits instructions to create two disks:

List disk 
select disk X (where X isflash your USBWindows drive)11 cleanISO create partition primary size=2048 
active 
format fs=FAT32 quick label="WinPE" 
assign letter=P 
create partition primary 
format fs=NTFS quick label="Images" 
assign letter=I 
exit

4. Create Working WinPE files by using this command (where C:\WinPE_amd64 isonto the location of your choice):

copype amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64

5. Create bootable media with it (where P: is the letter of the FAT32 partition of your USB Flash drive):

MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 P:

6. Copy your Image (.ffu file) to the I: drive (the second partition of your Flash drive formatted with NTFS)
7. Download and add gdisk64.exe file to the root of your WinPE partition (P: in this example)

Apply Your Image

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

1. Boot from WinPEUSB 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Type exit to leave diskpart 5.
Use
8. Check thiswhich commandOS (andSKU specifyyou the correct pathwant to theinstall:
ffu that you created above, as well the id of your physical drive):

dism /apply-ffuGet-WimInfo /imagefile:C:WimFile:D:\YourDevice.ffuSources\install.wim /applydrive:<— here D:\\.\physicaldrive0 is the drive name of your USB drive

7. OnceRemember complete,its removeindex and use it to apply its image to your USB flash drive
8. Type exit in the Command Prompt window

Apply Your Image on Machine With Windows 10X Installed On It

1. Boot from WinPE drive
2. Type notepad to open notepad
3. Use File-->Open to find the name of your WinPE disk
4. Type this to identify the id of your physical drive:

spaceutil get-drive -poolname ospool

5. Type thispartition (wheree.g., D:\ is the name of your WinPE disk and 0 in the end of physicaldrive0 is the id of your physical drive):

cd D:\
gdisk64 -l \\.\physicaldrive0

6. Make sure that it contains OSPool and other partitions of Windows 10X
7. Type this to clean up the drive (where 0 in the end of physicaldrive0 is the id of your physical drive):

gdisk64 \\.\physicaldrive0
o
w

and press Enter

8. Use this command (and specify the correct path to the ffu that you created above, as well the id of your physical drive)"W"):

dism /apply-ffuApply-Image /imagefile:C:ImageFile:D:\YourDevice.ffuSources\install.wim /applydrive:index:1 /ApplyDir:W:\\.\physicaldrive0

8. OnceCreate complete,boot removerecords:
your

USB

W:\Windows\System32\bcdboot flashG:\Windows
drive

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

9. Type exit in the Command Prompt window

Load Windows 10X11

At this time, your Windows 10X11 will boot. If everything is correct you should see the OOBE.