Windows 11 Integral?

[916Area52]

Was curios to know if anyone here has had any experience with Windows 11 Integral? Thought I'd take Windows 11 Integral out for a test drive. I don't have a PC that will pass for the "official" Microsoft download.
https://zone94.com/downloads/software/operating-systems/160-windows-11-24h2-16in1-x64-...tegral-edition

In addition, I've read that individuals that set up capture work stations, that utilize older software/hardware are satisfied with the Xp Integral version?
https://zone94.com/downloads/software/operating-systems/123-windows-xp-professional-sp...tegral-edition

[Incorrigible]

These are obviously pirated versions of Windows.

I would not touch them with a 10 foot pole.

[916Area52]

@ Incorrigible...

Thanks, I get that. Was just curios as to the attraction of, or not, of Windows 11 and how my capture work stations would deal with it compared to the current Windows 10 setup. I'll try this Windows 11 install instead... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7oRJwTzOn8

[ProWo]

I don't have a PC that will pass for the "official" Microsoft download...

You can install windows 11 on incompatible old pc's. Read here.
https://www.xda-developers.com/install-windows-11-unsupported-pc/

[916Area52]

@ ProWo...

Thank you for the information. This should be a fun and informative project

[steptoe]

If you want Windows 11 and run it on older unsupported systems, have a look at Windows 11 x-lite


Takes about 10 minutes to install, and can be installed from USB stick or disc



I use it and have since I found it while banging my head on the table with MS Edge taking over my system and insisting nothing else exists. Impossible to uninstall, impossible to stop running



Windows 11 x-lite can run with genuine keys as its NOT activated but could be with other methods and is designed to run as light a possible. MS Edge is disabled and not installed by default. Windows Defender and other bloatware such as MS Media Player are also not installed by default


There is NO browser installed by default, which suits me as I know nothing it then trying to take over my system and demand its the only browser in existence



No TPC is required, and no MS account is forced on you to create when its a new install


https://windowsxlite.com/info/


https://windowsxlite.com/24H2ProV43/


If you want to remove everything not needed, say purely for gaming or will never use all the bloatware included, they do an ultralight release


https://windowsxlite.com/ultralight/

[916Area52]

@ steptoe...

Thank you. Forgot all about the “lite” version of operating systems. Will be checking them out as well.

[916Area52]

@ Thread...

Thank you for the feedback. Will be looking into all of the options here. Will report back...

[The_Doman]

For just installing the standard Windows 11 ISO/USB on "unsupported hardware" there are various easy options using the server switch option or the well known tool Rufus.
This video shows it all clearly:

CyberCPU Tech: Windows 11 24H2 Unsupported With Rufus Updated

One thing to take note of if you try to install on (really) older hardware:

Why doesn't Rufus create a Windows installation USB that can be booted in dual BIOS/UEFI mode?

If you are using a Windows ISO that can be dual booted in UEFI or BIOS mode, you may find that the USB created by Rufus does not preserve the dual UEFI+BIOS boot feature.

Especially, the Windows 8 or later installation ISOs, that support both UEFI and BIOS boot, will be converted to either one or the other mode, depending on the option you selected under Partition scheme and Target type: If you select MBR and BIOS or UEFI-CSM, the USB will be bootable in BIOS-mode only (even on UEFI systems), and if you select GPT then the USB will be bootable in UEFI mode only (and not bootable on a BIOS system at all).

This is done to avoid confusion, as it can be difficult for non-expert users to know whether they actually booted in UEFI or BIOS mode when a USB Flash Drive can be booted in both modes, and installation is meant to be a one-off operation, targeting a very specific machine and boot mode. You probably don't want to go through a full Windows installation, only to realize that it was installed in BIOS mode when all you really wanted was UEFI mode.

By ensuring that only one or the other can be used for Windows installation, there is no room for error with regards to which mode was used.

Note that this does not apply for Windows To Go and that you can also enable dual UEFI+BIOS boot by using the Alt-E cheat mode (see below) with Rufus 2.0 or higher. Also, if your UEFI firmware integrates an NTFS driver natively, then you may also find that you can dual boot a USB created in Rufus, even if only BIOS-CSM was specified.

[916Area52]

@ The_Doman...

CyberCPU Tech is one of my go to's when it comes to computer OS and such. When steptoe reminded me of lite OS versions, my first thought was Rich over at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gMJNQ3yWNE&t=989s

[916Area52]

@ Thread, FYI/Follow-up…

I’ve taken all the Windows 11 Pro(s) outlined here for a test drive. I’ve settled on the official Windows 11 Pro upgrade ISO download from Microsoft. The method of install used for my machines was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5mDUU9GCNo .

Not sure why it took me so long to make the switch from 10 to 11. Anyways, I’m finally back to capturing .

Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute this thread.