WIndows 11 can be installed by hand on the computer by following a few simple steps: source:https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/qwneie/a_guide_on_how_to_install_windows_11_manually/ without pictures:
First of all, boot to the installation media.
Then, press Shift + F10. This will open command prompt.
Type
diskpart
list disk
This will show all your disks.
Now, choose which disk you want to install on. Now, I choose disk 0.
Type
sel disk [insert disk number of preferred disk]
clean (This will delete your files on the selected disk)
Look for an asterisk under GPT, because you can't install if there is no asterisk. Mine doesn't. So, I'm gonna convert it to GPT.
Type
sel disk [insert disk number of preferred disk]
conv gpt
It should be successful. Now, we're gonna create the EFI (Boot Partition) and the Primary partition (Windows install location)
Type
create par efi size=512
format fs=fat32
assign letter [insert a letter without brackets] I'm gonna go with S
create partition msr size=16
create par pri
If your going for a recovery partition, like stock windows would do the next, else, skip the schrinking part. I just say you should go for a recovery tho.
shrink minimum=750
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows"
assign letter [insert a letter without brackets] I'm gonna go with C
Now, you should add the recovery recovery partition, in the previous step, we asumed WinRE is smaller then 750 (520mb?)
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery"
assign letter="R"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
list volume
Annnd here I think we're done with diskpart
Type
exit
Now we're gonna apply the image. But first, we need to know what editions are there. (Pro, Home, etc)
Type
dism /Get-ImageInfo /imagefile:D:\sources\install.wim
Replace D:\ with your installation media letter
Choose which edition you want, and keep the index number in mind.
Now, I want Pro, so I'll choose 6.
Type
dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:D:\Sources\install.wim /index:6 /ApplyDir:C:\
Replace D:\ and C:\ with your installation media and your primary partition on the disk that you want to install Windows 11 on RESPECTIVELY. Oh, and replace 6 with the index/edition you want.
It will start applying the image.
I'll go and study till it reaches 100%.
Annnd finally it's complete
If you followed my advice:
mkdir R:\Recovery\WindowsRE
xcopy /h C:\Windows\System32\Recovery\Winre.wim R:\Recovery\WindowsRE
C:\Windows\System32\Reagentc /setreimage /path R:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target C:\Windows
Now we just need to copy the boot files. So, I hope you know which letter your Primary partition is, because that has the boot files, but we need to copy them to your EFI partition for Windows to boot properly.
So just type
bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f ALL
Replace C:\ with your Primary partition letter and S: with your EFI partition letter.
It will copy the boot files.
Now just type
exit
exit the installer, reboot system, dont boot cd.
Annnnd [inserts drumroll] it boots up to the OOBE
Aaaand it's gonna take a long time to "Get Ready"
If you DO want to use a MS account just continue as the OOBE experience guides you. To not use a Microsoft account, but create a local account you can basicly use 2 methods:
- An overly used emailadress
- Disconnect the internet and use some special commands (also handy if you dont have internet)
Upon microsoft account creation/login,
confuse Windows by inputting an email address that has been used too many times. The go-to email for this method is "[email protected]" which you can add on the Let's add your Microsoft account screen. Type a random password and done, profit.
If you can disable the network by hand, either a disconnected cable or wifi turn of switch, go to paragrapf @Continue with no internet
to disconnect the network and you do not have access or a way to disable it by hand:
Shift+F10 and typing ipconfig /release
This doesn't disconnect the network, it just releases the DHCP lease.
Shift+F10 and then type powershell
Get-NetAdapter -Name Ethernet | Disable-NetAdapter
Get-NetAdapter -Name Ethernet | Enable-NetAdapteruse Get-NetAdapter to check which adapter(s) you want to turn off. This should also persist through reboots (OOBE onwards).
Use the "Shift + F10" keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt on the Windows 11 setup or use the previously opened commandline prompt
Type the following command to disable the internet connection requirement to set up Windows 11 and press Enter:
oobe\bypassnroThe computer will restart. The installer/OOBE will (again) ask you for your region and keyboard layout But this time, it will detect no internet and you be able to
Now you can press I Don't Have Internet
press Continue with limited setup on the next page and now you will be able to create a local account with your preffered password and continue the OOBE experience
One commenter said he also wanted the recovery partition, dis is done by creating the small recovery partion right after the windows partition like so: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/oem-deployment-of-windows-desktop-editions-sample-scripts?preserve-view=true&view=windows-10#-createpartitions-uefitxt https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/deploy-windows-re?view=windows-11
Virtuio drivers, tpm and secureboot can also be done in a VM: https://github.com/infokiller/win10-vm
And someone at another reddit, shared their comments and notes here: https://gist.github.com/WinkelCode/b9193e091ed8bea3f729c7777c4700e2 Very helpfull and sugestions on disconnected local account creation
TLDR: activation is not required to use windows, there are ways to activate windows and safest method is to buy a license key from microsoft.
Spambots keep posting links to activation stuff. And not all of them are trustworthy. You DONT need to activate windows 10 or 11 to use it. You can use windows as long as you want without activation. But, sure, with activation you can customize the desktop more easily and how it was ment to be done.
If you dont want or can buy a license key from Microsoft here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-11-home/dg7gmgf0krt0
You can maybe get a school/university license from:https://onthehub.com/school (choose country, select your school, uni and you may be redirected to your countries webshop to buy a license)
Your hardware might already come with windows activation from the factory, which is often the case with OEM made hardware like laptops or prebuilds, activation would then be done automatically.
If for any reason this should have been done, or you feel like you should have a free activation. You may choose to use a project like https://massgrave.dev/ you can check out their source code here https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
And id like to tell you, you may even use their site to manually learn how companies activate windows using KMS services, and setup your own. And use microsofts volume license keys to activate. Be aware, using massgrave is not legal in many countries, however, their technique is publicly verifiable and reproducable locally.
To those spam posters, ill delete your comment if you dont explain why we would trust your silly site. You may contact me on my socials to verify but i think people who read this guide probably either dont need to activate or are very well aware how and where to get activation details