Solved Why is a clean install so hard?

I just managed to do a clean install of Win 11 Pro, 2H22, thanks to help from people in this thread Unable to run oobe or msoobe on clean Win 11 install

But I hafta wonder. Why is Microsoft making a Win 11 clean install such a pain in the tuchus? Win 10 clean install was very straightforward.

I'm asking because I was doing the initial setup and just cruising from step to step, when I ran into the issue of not being connected to a wireless network.

• Why this requirement for Win 11, if not earlier versions???
• And why oh why oh why is there no link or box that I could click on to address this issue?
• What if I was just Joe SixPack, and I was excited to try out a clean install? What does Microsoft expect Joe supposed to do? Is Microsoft deliberately making this install so hard that Joe just gives up and installs Win 10? Or pay someone a day's wages to get the install done for him?

Hello to all the guys I know from TenForums. Glad to see you here.

Are you saying you are trying to clean install without connecting to wifi first?

If so, use oobe bypass method.

I don't understand. Did you want to install Windows 11 and...

• Didn't have an Internet connection?, or
• Didn't want to connect to the Internet?

I installed both Windows 11 Home and Pro last month and left the Internet connected the whole time. I was still able set each up with only a local account without using the command line bypass tricks normally used. The method I used was very simple. When asked to log into my Microsoft account I entered the following:
Username: username
Password: password

Windows setup responded with "Oops something went wrong". I was then asked to create a local account.

BTW, I used the regular Windows 11 Media Creation Tool to create the bootable USB flash drive.

x509 said:

Why this requirement for Win 11, if not earlier versions???

Click to expand...

"Security" Or at least that is the whole goal now. Device encryption, and file loss prevention with one drive backup.

x509 said:

And why oh why oh why is there no link or box that I could click on to address this issue?

Click to expand...

Because it is not an issue if you do what MS is instructing you to do.

x509 said:

What if I was just Joe SixPack, and I was excited to try out a clean install? What does Microsoft expect Joe supposed to do?

Click to expand...

You did not want just a clean install, You wanted to go against using an MS account.
The normal user just follows the setup instructions. You are not Joe Six Pack.

x509 said:

Is Microsoft deliberately making this install so hard that Joe just gives up and installs Win 10? Or pay someone a day's wages to get the install done for him?

Click to expand...

Joe just follows the instructions and uses an MS account and just uses the computer. Joe is also not on forums complaining about it or if they can not follow the simple setup prompts, and need to have someone do it for them I question the wisdom of owning a computer in the first place.

Full disclosure. I used to set up every computer before Windows 11 with local accounts. Now I do not bother doing workarounds as I no longer have the computer in front of me when setting up new computers for clients. It is all done remotely and I am not even going to try to walk them thru bypassing the MS account requirement.

x509 said:

I just managed to do a clean install of Win 11 Pro, 2H22, thanks to help from people in this thread Unable to run oobe or msoobe on clean Win 11 install

But I hafta wonder. Why is Microsoft making a Win 11 clean install such a pain in the tuchus? Win 10 clean install was very straightforward.

I'm asking because I was doing the initial setup and just cruising from step to step, when I ran into the issue of not being connected to a wireless network.

• Why this requirement for Win 11, if not earlier versions???
• And why oh why oh why is there no link or box that I could click on to address this issue?
• What if I was just Joe SixPack, and I was excited to try out a clean install? What does Microsoft expect Joe supposed to do? Is Microsoft deliberately making this install so hard that Joe just gives up and installs Win 10? Or pay someone a day's wages to get the install done for him?

Hello to all the guys I know from TenForums. Glad to see you here.

Click to expand...

Hi,
Well win-11 is all about selling new pc's really that are preinstalled more than anything they hide that behind "modern" tags which 11 isn't anything more than win-10 with a new UI skirt and rearranged settings, renamed gadgets platform/...

Most users of 11 are doing so using bypasses for the obnoxious new security requirements all my installs are of course I still have 10 on all of them to.
So yeah rufus makes it the easiest to prep the iso for mounting or clean installing and frankly you can make life a little easier just installing the pro versions not the wretched home version.

MS accounts are just another push for a closed garden just like android/ apple use I sure wouldn't do that for a pc because the worst thing you can do is tie a email account with your pc login password there are better easier options for people to use a ms email lol

Hell I wouldn't do this either because it would likely backfire later but it's a better option than default

x509 said:

Why is Microsoft making a Win 11 clean install such a pain in the tuchus?

Click to expand...

It's so you feel a much more significant sense of accomplishment.

Hi,
Think ms is also throwing bones to IT tech support businesses with the over complications by MS sponsors/ bestbuy/.....
With all things 11 they really want credit/ debit card info so they can subscription you for all premium services

x509 said:

thanks to help from people in this thread Unable to run oobe or msoobe on clean Win 11 install

Click to expand...

Did you see post #11?

Denis

I think part of it is that they want to standardize the installations of Windows 11 as much as possible. The less variation there is, the less likely problems will be, and if there is a problem, less variation means it is easier to fix. I agree, MS has made it much more difficult for an inexperienced user to get a nice, clean install set up the way the user wants it setup. You do have to know some "inside" tricks to make it happen.

Regarding oobe\bypassnro, I think a lot of people, including myself initially, are confused but they think, like I did, that oobe is the command and \bypassnro is an option for the command. In reality, though, bypassnro is the command and it resides in the C:\Windows\System32\oobe folder.

I am unsure what problems you exactly had to suffer while trying to install Windows 11. It has been quite painless and quick when I tried. (I run Win11 on VMs)

NavyLCDR said:

... standardize the installations of Windows 11 as much as possible. The less variation there is, the less likely problems will be, and if there is a problem, less variation means it is easier to fix.

Click to expand...

Speaking for myself, and as an average user, I welcome the quoted statement in bolded font. The number of OS customizations I really need can be counted on the fingers of one hand

To answer the question of the OP, that is also the title of this topic....
"It's NOT hard at all!". One of the simplest Windows I've ever installed.
The Trick is to let Rufus burn the ISO to a flash drive and then install from the flash drive. Piece of cake.
Rufus will present two screens. The first is pretty east to fill out.
Then you get an options screen, and it's recommended to just take all the options. Then Rufus will burn the ISO to the Flash Drive, removing all the MS-BS in the process.
So when you finally get down to the install, it just goes SLICK!
So far, I've done a Clean Install of Win-11/Pro/64 about 15 times.
Every one has been with NO MS Account and NO Password.
When I'm asked for a password, I just don't give it one.
And, I just leave the internet connected, so the installer can go out and find the correct drivers for the video, etc.

Then I shut off the Updates, and they don't get turned on ever again.

All together, Win-11 is a very easy OS to install.

Cheers Mates!
TM

I suggest just connect to a network and then enter a fake email and fake password which then creates a local account

because it is microsoft $$$ !
now I gave up insiders and i play only stable !

bfunke said:

I suggest just connect to a network and then enter a fake email and fake password which then creates a local account

Click to expand...

If you look at my post, #3, it is even simpler than you think. I tried just any fake usernames and passwords and found many would not work. I decided to simply use username and password because, 1. They worked and 2. They were very easy to remember. KISS applies here also.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question!
Windows 11 is the easiest OS to install of anything since DOS 6.22.
It's not a 12 step program, like AA.
It's only a three step process.
I've done it now at least 15 times (and counting) and it's a real piece of cake.

And I do it with NO MS Account, NO passwords, and no Keys.

TechnoMage2021 said:

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question!
Windows 11 is the easiest OS to install of anything since DOS 6.22.
It's not a 12 step program, like AA.
It's only a three step process.
I've done it now at least 15 times (and counting) and it's a real piece of cake.

And I do it with NO MS Account, NO passwords, and no Keys.

Click to expand...

MS did make it harder to install Windows 11 without having internet access. They also made it harder to install without using an MS Account and/or not putting the users folders on OneDrive. So far, they haven't made it impossible, just harder.

Winuser said:

MS did make it harder to install Windows 11 without having internet access. They also made it harder to install without using an MS Account and/or not putting the users folders on OneDrive. So far, they haven't made it impossible, just harder.

Click to expand...

You are right about harder. A lot more people would upgrade to Windows 11 if they hadn't done that. The worst is One Drive. The other two can be easily dealt with. One Drive will force itself on you even if you didn't wanted it. To remove it is a pain and you risk losing your some of your data if you don't remove it correctly.

I read Windows 12 beta will be out shortly with an expected target launch date in 2024.

If it was me I'd say forget Windows 11 (if you have the option). If in the future you need to reinstall Windows then stay with Windows 10. That's what I'm going to do.

TechnoMage2021 said:

I've done it now at least 15 times (and counting) and it's a real piece of cake.

And I do it with NO MS Account, NO passwords, and no Keys.

Click to expand...

Please share your secret for the benefit of others.

Additionally, for some brain surgery or rocket science is a real piece of cake too and egoists erroneously assume others feel the same way