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How to install the new Windows 11 22H2 now

Windows 11 22H2 will be the first major update to Microsoft’s operating system and the latest information points to a release on September 20. The date is not officially confirmed, but it makes sense considering the company typically uses the fall season to release these updates and the RTM version was delivered several weeks ago to the OEMs.

Windows 11 22H2 will ship for free to upgrade PCs that have valid Windows 11 licenses above, for those still on Windows 10 (or others like 8.1) and will be the reference version for pre-installs on new PCs for release later this year and 2023 .

Microsoft has already announced the main news of the version and we have analyzed them in several specials. No possibility of making a ‘revolution’ Because the basic core remains the same as Windows 10 and earlier, the company has focused on adding some of the features promised at launch, revamping internal apps, and some necessary tweaking of various parts of the user interface. We’ll go over them in depth at launch, but today we wanted to review the installation possibilities with you.

How to install Windows 11 22H2 now

Microsoft will take a rolling release approach to gradually improve version stability and prevent serious bugs from reaching a mass audience. The deployment will last weeks/months and therefore the final version will not be available equally to all users. This does not mean that your installation cannot be brought forward, even before the release of the final version.

It must be said that Windows 11 22H2 has been in development and testing in the Insider channel for several months. We have been testing the version for a long time and have not noticed any critical bugs preventing it from being released. In addition, Microsoft published in May the hardware compatibility program and the RTM version that OEMs will use for preinstalls on new PCs and upgrade programs for existing PCs.

The RTM version corresponds to the compilation 22621 which is the one we are going to take as a basis to show you how to get the new version. As always in these cases, we must give due warning before non-final software versions. Although the development has already been completed and the final version will not differ too much except for bug fixes and security patches, its installation on computers destined for production should be avoided.

Previous step (optional) requirements

The minimum hardware requirements are known and we have discussed them in depth. If the increase in RAM memory or storage space is totally reasonable and necessary in these times, and the vast majority of current computers have much higher levels, the blocking for some series of processors, the obligation to have a graphic section support for DirectX 12, a UEFI BIOS with secure boot, and especially the need for a TPM chip to increase security, are more controversial.

To avoid any problems in the tests (although it can be easily install on computers that do not meet the requirements bypassing the Out of Box Experience checker) you can pre-run the official Microsoft ‘PC Health Check’ utility or alternative applications such as the free and open source ‘WhyNotWin11’ available on GitHub.

Any of them is simple to install. Examines the PC’s hardware and provides a clear indication if it passes the stated requirements, returning the compatibility results for installing Windows 11. In any case, you know, it can be installed without meeting the requirements.

How to install the new Windows 11 22H2 now

Installation from scratch

I personally prefer to do ‘clean’ facilities in this type of tests or when I jump from older versions. Of course, not without first making full backups of at least your personal files. You can also make a complete backup of the applications, but in new systems I prefer to do it manually later and check the behavior of the system well.

Step 1: Get the ISO

The process consists, as you know, of obtaining an ISO image of the operating system. Since the final commercial version has not been published, we have to go to the test channel. As follows:

  • We select the language and confirm.
  • We will already have the ISO “Windows11_InsiderPreview_Client_x64_es-es_22621.iso” available for download.

Step 2: Create the bootable media

Once we have the image in our possession, the process is similar to the one we use to burn the image and create a Windows media or any GNU/Linux distribution. We remind you:

  • We use our favorite app, Rufus, which is free and works great especially with Windows images. Download and install the latest version. (You can also use the portable version and even avoid the previous download step and do it in the same application)
  • Insert the media you will use for the recording. You can use a DVD, but we recommend a flash drive or USB disk, faster and safer. Its minimum capacity must be 8 Gbytes.
  • Execute Rufus. You will see a very simple interface where you will first have to select the downloaded Windows image by selecting the “Boot Choice”.
  • It only remains to configure the rest of the options. GPT in “partition scheme”, destination system “UEFI (not CSM) and NTFS or FAT32 as file system. Click on start to get the installation media.

* Remember that the latest versions of Rufus allow you to create an installation medium bypassing the TPM and Secure Boot checks.

Step 3: Install Windows 11 22H2

With the created installation medium you will be able to install the system from scratch on any computer (officially those that meet the requirements) and you will also be able to update third-party systems. The installation of Windows 11 is trivial and is done as in previous Windows. We are not going to repeat ourselves. It is simply a matter of accessing the BIOS / UEFI and placing the installation medium that we have created as first boot device. Restart your computer and the automated installation will begin.

Just remind you that you can also install Windows 11 keeping other systems you have installed, as long as you have enough disk space. If you are interested, you can review our Windows 10 and Windows 11 installation guide or the Windows 11 and Linux installation guide. The process is the same.

Install on virtual machine

For users who are attracted to the new version of Windows 11, but do not want to compromise their current configuration in any way, using virtual machines is the recommended option. And the fact is that the use of virtualization is a fast, convenient and secure method for running softwarewhether in production tasks with operating systems, applications or for general software testing without modifying the main system that acts as host.

Once the ISO image is obtained in the previous point, it is simply a matter of loading it into a dedicated application. You can use free or commercial solutions, such as VirtualBox, VMware or Parallels or the Hyper-V that Microsoft offers in the professional versions of Windows 10. And the good thing is that this option allows you to try Windows 11 from Linux or macOS, without affecting anything those systems.

A few months ago we offered you a complete tutorial to run the first version of Windows 11 in a virtual machine. The process with the new version is identical. If you want to keep your current operating system and don’t want any compromises, virtual machines are a great option for testing software, although they won’t give you the same performance as a standard installation.

updates

From the boot medium created from the ISO image that we have seen above, we can update our own equipment or others from third parties. Another possibility to do it directly from the same system is use the Windows Insider Program. You can do it both from previous versions of Windows 11 and from Windows 10 as you will see in this step by step.

  • Access the general Settings tool from the Start menu or with the “Windows + I” hotkeys.

  • Click on “Update and security> Windows Insiders Program”. Turn on optional diagnostic data if prompted.

  • Link a Microsoft ID account.
  • Select your account.
  • Sign in with the account and password.

  • Select the channel that you will use from Insider, to install Windows 11 you need to activate the “Preview version”.

When you restart, go back to the Settings> Update and security> Windows Update tool. There click on “check for updates” and you will see that the ‘Insider Preview’ version with build number 22621 is available, which is the RTM sent to the OEMs and the base for the final version.

Upgrading is trivial from the automated installer that will allow you to keep files, applications and user settings or perform a clean upgrade. Just follow the instructions and when you reboot you will already be using Windows 11 22H2. Go back to Windows Update because Microsoft has released bug fixes and security patches.

And if you don’t want to complicate your life, you know, virtual machines are a good option. In addition, the final version of general availability is expected very soon, by the end of September.

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