Fresh Win11 Install ... A blow by blow encounter?

Evening All ... I am on Win10 in a x99 motherboard and am moving to a Z690 with all the trimmings. I am planning a fresh Win 11 install and keeping my Win 10 install (dual boot) so that I don't have to spend a few solid weeks installing everything I have on Win 10 onto my Win 11 machine.

Is there a guide re installing Win 11? I have an iso thumb drive ready to roll and a Win 11 Pro key ... after the initial install and the nagging that MS will give me about signing in, OneDrive, etc ... what is next? Patch update? Driver update? Other?

I know there are things about Win 11 that I will hate (no left task bar) ... is there some good guides on how to easy (or otherwise) yourself into Win 11? I did read (and will go back and read it again) the askwoody post about moving to Win 11.

Before doing anything, make a full system image as well as recovery media using the backup application of your choice.
This procedure is specifically for Windows 11 but procedure is same for creating Windows 11 to dual boot with existing 10.

You have to check first if your hardware meets Win 11 requirements. Otherwise, you will have to do a different method.
Also, shortcuts and skipping sign ins usually just creates more problem. You have to be patient when dealing with the installation procedures.
If you know whether your hardware meets the requirements or not, that's how you will know what step to do next.

His hardware definitely meets requirements-i9 12900/MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard with all the bells and whistles.

Thx for the replies. I've already tested my hardware (passed) and installed an older version of Win 11 (hence my knowledge about the MS nagging) on it. I am installing to a fresh nvme drive that is on a different pc to my Win 10 nvme so I don't have anything to backup. Once I have Win 11 installed and (relatively) stable, I will move my Win 10 drive over and set up the dual install.

Win 11 install started. I have my mb, ram on a mini-test bench with 1 NVMe drive available. Plug in the USB, reboot to the USB and ... options!

1. language, region, keyboard: US / US / US
2. Activate? No, not yet
3. Version? Win 11 Pro
4. T&Cs ... Ok
5. Install Type: Custom
6. Reformat major partition (drive had 3, P1: 299mb, P3: 594mb, P2: Balance

And the install is rolling.

Install complete (after a bunch of spinning circles and dots ... and reboots). Now for a bunch of MS hoops ...

1. Confirm country and
2. keyboard: ok
3. Check for Updates: didn't seem to find any because it moved on quickly
4. Name Device; ok
5. Set Up Option: Personal
6. MS Account: Do I have to? I want to keep rolling and add this detail later.

Time to google to see if I really, really have to.

Edit: That didn't take long ... How to Install Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account

Answer: Turn off the internet connection.

Ok, gave it my MS account and it threatened to sync to my existing PC. That is exactly what I did not want to happen. I told it I am setting up a new device. We'll see if it can handle that.

Next step ... create a pin as a sign on option. Why? Everyone says that your passwords have to be long, complex and difficult to hack. Don't write them down, make sure you mix letters, numbers, greek symbols and roman gods.

And MS suggests a numeric pin as a 'pass' to your new PC! Can someone explain how this isn't a retrograde step from a security point of view?

Yikes ... it doesn't want much, does it. First born? I turned on location and everything else is OFF. And I am not actively going to tell MS anything about my preferences.

Pair with phone? Oh, ok. Failed!

Games? No thank you.

And now it is really checking for updates.

Attempt #1 to Install a super fresh version of Win 11 failed. It cycled a few times and then up comes my Win 10 desktop (curtesy of OneDrive).

I am going to trash this version and start again. Any suggestions on how to set up a local version without a MS Account would be very welcome.

I am going to try the rufus method from How to Install Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account. The check boxes indicate that I can skip the MS account requirements AND the data collection questions (nice!).

Edit: It has a new option box ... Create a local account with username [username from my win10 machine] ... double check that one!

Zaaah-weee. Thanks for that video link. It answered most of my gripes re Win 11 and also showed me how to set up things like curser size on Win 11 (My Win 10 curser is big and greed )

RuffHi said:

I know there are things about Win 11 that I will hate (no left task bar) ...

Click to expand...

You can align the taskbar to the left

Thx for the info. I meant left side of screen ... running up and down. I recall a side app that allowed / did that.

RuffHi said:

Thx for the info. I meant left side of screen ... running up and down. I recall a side app that allowed / did that.

Click to expand...

Ah, okay.

I now have a Win 11 install using local account. Next step is to work out where I want to store my data. I definitely want to move my user account to a different drive ... I am thinking to my future OneDrive drive (NVMe drive, not cloud drive yet). I also have a NAS for longer term storage, manuals, software d/l, plex media, etc.

Time to do some research about moving user accounts for both Win 10 and 11, dual boots, having different desktop folders for two boots (one for Win 10, one for Win 11), etc.

Thanks all for the help ... I will be back with the continuing story.

RuffHi said:

I now have a Win 11 install using local account. Next step is to work out where I want to store my data. I definitely want to move my user account to a different drive ... I am thinking to my future OneDrive drive (NVMe drive, not cloud drive yet)....

Click to expand...

If you want to use OneDrive you need an MS account, but you can use one and still keep your local account for signing in on the PC.

Thanks for the info.

I have a OneDrive account but the data structure has got away from me a bit ... ok, a lot. I am planning on using a Fresh Build of Win 11 to reset my data structure ... and then fold in my OneDrive account. The longer term plan is to dual boot Win 10 and 11 and have them both using the same OneDrive setup.

If I create a Win11 SM account (and associated OneDrive install, can I merge the Win 11 account with my existing account?

OH the PAIN!!!
I've installed Win-11 at least six times now. I use an ISO that was pre-conditioned with Rufus, to eliminate most of the pain of the install.
Answer a few basic questions, DO NOT enter a password and "continue >" on to completion.
First thing after I get a desktop, is to right click on the Taskbar and in the resulting menu scroll all the way to the bottom and select "Left" as the icon position. See the picture in a previous post.

From there on, the rest of the install is just what I've been doing for many years and many versions of Windows.

Cheers Mates!
TM