New X-Lite Optimum is out!

EchoJPR said:

How's it feeling? stable?

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mecanicogolf said:

These builds are always stable. Just download it, put it on a USB stick with RUFUS (it comes with the download) and install. The updates are turned off, but you can enable them if you wish. Some people do, some don't.

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EchoJPR said:

I meant the Dev build specifically, I've been using Optimum for a while

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OldNavy said:

This is the first version that did not have Terminal installed, probably a microsoft thing.
OO Shutup would not retart the computer either.

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S1l3nc0r said:

Good afternoon guys, never knew this was created.
Shoot out to the devs.

Quick question:

I have a Beelink Ser8 with W11 Pro installed on it.
I have been told on Reddit that it would be possible to run this install from a USB stick.What I mean is, install it onto a USB stick, and then boot this OS from a USb stick (or USB SSD).

Is it possible to install this from a USB onto another USb drive, or is there another route I must take?
I want to keep my current W11 Pro install the way it is.
So, preferrably it will be a dual boot, where I set the BIOS to boot USb drive first, and NVME as second.
When USb is attached, it will boot Optimum, when not attached, it will boot regular W11 Pro

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1. Plug in your USB (ideally a USB-C SSD; 64–128 GB+).
2. Open Rufus.
3. Device: pick your USB.
4. Boot selection: click SELECT → choose the ISO (your Windows X-Lite “Optimum 11 Pro”).
5. Image option: choose “Windows To Go.”
   
   • This is the key! If you pick “Standard Windows installation,” Rufus makes an installer (which can wipe disks). “Windows To Go” lays a full Windows onto the USB itself.
6. Partition scheme: GPT | Target system: UEFI (non-CSM).
7. File system: NTFS (default is fine).
8. Click START → if prompted to pick an edition, choose one → let it finish.

How to be sure it won’t install to the internal drive​

• The “Windows To Go” choice is the safeguard. It applies the Windows image directly onto the USB and writes its own EFI boot files on the USB.
• Use your motherboard’s one-time boot menu (F12/F11/Esc/Del) and pick the USB device. Don’t change the permanent boot order and don’t click anything that says “Install now.”
• (Optional belt-and-suspenders) If your BIOS lets you, temporarily disable internal NVMe/SATA or set Secure Boot off for the first boot (some modded builds require that). Re-enable later.

What you’ll see on first boot from the USB​

• No “Where do you want to install Windows?” screen. That page only appears with a standard installer.
• Instead you’ll get a normal first-boot experience: spinning dots → “Getting devices ready” → the Windows OOBE (region, keyboard, network, sign-in, etc.). Then you land on the desktop.
• If you ever see Language selection → “Install now” and then a disk list, stop—you accidentally made an installer. Power off, remake the USB with Windows To Go.

Will you have to reinstall every time?​

• No. It’s a full, persistent Windows living on the USB. Apps, settings, files, and updates stay on that USB.
• First time you boot it on a new PC, Windows will do driver setup again and may reboot once. After that, it behaves like a normal install.

Quick safety checks​

• After Rufus finishes (without booting it), remove the USB and reboot your PC—your normal OS should load as usual. That confirms nothing was changed.
• When running from the USB, open Disk Management and you’ll see the system partition on the USB; your internal disk will remain untouched unless you manually modify it.

Tips for a smoother experience​

• Use a USB SSD (night-and-day faster than a thumb drive).
• If it won’t boot, try disabling Secure Boot temporarily. Re-enable when done testing.
• To reduce wear and speed things up: open an elevated Command Prompt and run powercfg -h off to disable hibernation on the USB install.
• Modded builds can strip drivers/security—use only trusted sources and avoid signing in to sensitive accounts while testing.

RJARRRPCGP said:

Has anyone been able to download?

I saw a comment where the download link just leads to an ad, like those yucky web sites back in the early-2000s!

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