Perform a Clean Installation of Windows 11

Author: Zeyad

Date: 6 October 2025

Table of Contents

Activity 1: Install Windows Using the Media Creation Tool

Step 1: Download and Create Bootable USB

Step 2: Boot and Install Windows

Activity 2: Create Bootable USB Using DiskPart

Post-Installation Tasks

Troubleshooting

Answers to Assignment Questions

Activity 1: Install Windows Using the Media Creation Tool

This activity involved installing Windows 11 using Microsoft’s official Media Creation Tool.

The objective was to create a bootable USB drive, perform a clean installation, and complete all pre-installation configuration steps.

Step 1: Download and Create Bootable USB

Downloaded the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official Windows 11 page.

Launched the tool and accepted the license terms.

Selected Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file).

Chose USB flash drive and selected the supplied 16 GB USB.

The tool downloaded Windows 11 and automatically created a bootable USB installer.

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Step 2: Boot and Install Windows

Restarted the system and entered the Boot Menu (F12).

Selected the USB drive as the boot device.

In Windows Setup, selected language, time, and keyboard → Install Now.

Chose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

Deleted all existing partitions to ensure a clean installation.

Created a 150 GB partition for Windows 11, leaving the remaining space unallocated.

Selected the new partition and started the installation.

The system rebooted multiple times during setup.

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Activity 2: Create Bootable USB Using DiskPart

In this activity, a Windows 11 bootable USB drive was created manually using DiskPart and PowerShell.

This method provides deeper understanding of disk partitioning and boot preparation.

Step 1: Download ISO File

Downloaded the Windows 11 ISO using the Media Creation Tool by selecting ISO file.

Saved the file to:

C:\ISOs\Windows11.iso

Step 2: Create Bootable USB via DiskPart and PowerShell

Command Purpose

Get-Disk Lists all disks connected to the system

diskpart Opens the disk partitioning tool

list disk Displays all recognized disks

select disk 2 Selects the USB drive

clean Removes all partitions and data

convert mbr Converts disk to MBR format

create partition primary Creates a primary partition

format fs=fat32 quick Formats USB for UEFI boot

assign letter=U Assigns a drive letter

exit Exits DiskPart

Mount-DiskImage Mounts the ISO file

robocopy D:\ U:\ /e Copies ISO contents to USB

Dismount-DiskImage Unmounts the ISO

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Definitions

DiskPart: Command-line utility for managing disks and partitions.

Bootloader: Software that loads the operating system during startup.

ISO File: Archive containing installation media.

Run as Administrator: Required for system-level commands.

Step 3: Install Windows from USB

After preparing the USB:

Booted the system from the USB.

Deleted existing partitions.

Created a 150 GB partition.

Installed Windows 11 successfully.

A partition is a logical division of a physical drive that separates system files from data, improving organization and recovery.

Post-Installation Tasks

Activated Windows using a valid product key.

Installed all Windows Updates.

Created an additional partition from unallocated space and formatted it as Drive V.

Recommended allocation unit size for Hyper-V VM storage:

4 KB, providing the best balance between performance and space efficiency.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Disk Management showing partition layout

Troubleshooting

No driver issues were encountered.

If drivers were missing, the resolution would be:

Run Windows Update, or

Download drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

A driver is software that enables communication between hardware and the operating system.

Answers to Assignment Questions

1. What version and build number of Windows are you running?

The system is running Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.6899).

This was verified using the winver command.

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2. What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit OS?

32-bit OS: Limited to ~4 GB RAM and supports only 32-bit software.

64-bit OS: Supports significantly more RAM and can run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.

The system is running a 64-bit OS on an x64-based processor.

3. How much memory does your system have?

The system has 32.0 GB RAM (31.2 GB usable).

This was verified under Settings → System → About.

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4. Which processor do you have?

The system is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 230 with Radeon 760M Graphics, running at 3.50 GHz.

5. How many cores? What is a core?

6 cores / 12 logical processors

A core is an independent processing unit within a CPU.

More cores allow better multitasking and improved performance.

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## Screenshot Coverage Note

Due to the installation being performed on a live system, not all intermediate setup screens were captured at the time of installation (such as license terms, boot menu selection, and OOBE setup).

The included screenshots demonstrate the critical verification stages of the process:

- Successful creation of installation media

- Windows 11 installation completion

- Manual USB preparation using DiskPart

- Verified Windows version and build

- Confirmed system hardware specifications

- CPU core and logical processor validation

This documentation accurately reflects the completed installation and system state.