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Installing AtlasOS

This guide will walk you through fully reinstalling Windows, installing Atlas on top of it, and completing other necessary steps. A full Windows reinstall is needed to ensure stability during the initial installation of Atlas.

Before continuing, we recommend reviewing our page to see who Atlas is for.

0. Prerequisites

Atlas requires a full Windows reinstall to uninstall

As of the current versions of Atlas, if you ever need to uninstall it, you'll need to reinstall Windows.

  • Meeting the system requirements for Windows 11 or Windows 10
    • We don't recommend bypassing Windows 11's requirements due to potential problems with updates and game anti-cheats
  • 64-bit CPU (you can check what you have)
    • If you have an ARM-based CPU, you can only use Atlas with Windows 11
  • Knowledge of general Windows troubleshooting and usage

1. Download an ISO

Before installing Atlas, you need to reinstall Windows. To fully reinstall Windows, you need to download your desired Windows version's ISO file, which will be used later in the guide.

The buttons below download an ISO directly from Microsoft's servers. It gets the latest version of your desired Windows version for Intel and AMD CPUs. ARM ISOs have to be built manually.

Which version should I choose?

If you meet the official requirements, we strongly recommend choosing Windows 11. If not, use Windows 10.

Alternative sources for Windows 11 ISOs

We unfortunately do no yet support Windows 11 version 24H2 on AtlasOS and plan to allow support for our next release.

At this time we do not recommend obtaining Windows 11 ISOs through Microsoft's Website and the Windows Media Creation tool as 23H2 will not be available to download through those sources.

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An error has occurred while processing your request. Try refreshing the page or using an alternative method.

Error: Unknown

A download should soon be started, if not, click here download the ISO.

Credit to the Microsoft Software Download Listing project

2. Network Drivers

By default, Windows may not have your computer's network drivers, meaning after reinstalling, your computer could have no internet connection.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that you do one of the following:

  • Download your network drivers beforehand and store them on external storage
  • Have the ability to download and transfer network drivers from another device later

Where do I get my network drivers?

You can find your computer's network drivers online by searching for your device or motherboard's official support page. If you can't find it, try searching online for your network device's name in Device Manager instead. If multiple of the latest network drivers are available, download them all.

3. Reinstalling Windows

Before continuing, we strongly recommend you back up any valuable data to an external drive or a cloud service.

Only if you have enough free storage, after finishing the Windows reinstall, Windows.old will be at the start of your Windows drive, containing your old data. You can retrieve data from the folder and delete it afterward, which this guide covers later.

This method only works if you're already on Windows.

  1. Disconnect any cables providing internet to your computer, such as an ethernet cable. Do not reconnect any until instructed to do so

  2. Right-click the previously downloaded ISO file and select Open With -> File Explorer

  3. Open This PC in File Explorer, and remember the ISO's drive letter (e.g. H) for the next step. The drive should look similar to Windows Setup icon CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-GB_DV9

  4. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog

  5. Inside the Run dialog, type in the previously remembered drive letter, and then without a space, type :\sources\setup.exe after it. Example: H:\sources\setup.exe

  6. Press Enter on the Run dialog, and accept the User Account Control prompt

  7. Select No thanks when prompted for updates, then uncheck the box for I want to help make the Windows installation better

  8. If prompted, click I don't have a product key, as Windows should auto-activate later

    • If Windows doesn't auto-activate, you can enter a key later within Windows

  9. Choose your edition of Windows

    • Windows Pro is recommended. Windows Home is not officially supported
    • If the Windows Setup did not give a choice of edition and it installs Windows Home anyway, you can always change Windows edition later by changing your Windows product key once Windows has finished reinstalling, without having to reinstall anything

  10. Accept the license agreement and click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

  11. Select your Windows drive, click Next, click OK to the warning about Windows.old, and let the installation finish

This method works on Linux and Windows.

  1. Download the latest release of Ventoy and extract it wherever you feel comfortable.

    • Linux users can get it using a package manager

  2. Inside the Ventoy folder, run Ventoy2Disk

  3. In the opened window, select your USB drive and click Install

    • This will destroy all data on the USB drive!

  4. Copy your downloaded ISO file into the USB drive (labeled Ventoy)

  5. Disconnect any cables providing your computer internet, such as an ethernet cable

    • Do not reconnect to the internet until instructed to

  6. Restart your computer, boot into your BIOS' boot menu, then select the USB drive

    'Security Violation' Error
    Video Demonstration

    Credit to Ventoy for the video demonstration.

    vtoy-verification-error-0x1A

    If you get an error screen saying there was a 'Security Violation,' follow the steps below:

    1. Press Enter to load MokManager

    2. Press any key to begin key management

    3. Choose Enroll Key From Disk

    • The controls are arrow keys to move and Enter to select

    4. Choose VTOYEFI

    5. Choose ENROLL_THIS_KEY_IN_MOKMANAGER.cer

    6. Choose Continue, then Yes, and finally Reboot

    7. Boot from the USB again, as the issue should be resolved

    If it is still not working, try 'Hash Enrollment,' as detailed in Ventoy's guide.

  7. Once booted into the Ventoy menu, select the Windows ISO using the arrow keys, press Enter, click Boot in normal mode, and press Enter again

  8. Once booted into the Windows Setup, select your preferred language preferences, click Next, then click Install Now

  9. If prompted, click I don't have a product key, as Windows will activate automatically later (as long as you have previously activated Windows legitimately)

  10. Choose your Windows edition

    • Windows Pro is recommended. Windows Home is not officially supported
    • If the Windows Setup did not give a choice of edition and it installs Windows Home anyway, you can always change Windows edition later by changing your Windows product key once Windows has finished reinstalling, without having to reinstall anything

  11. Accept the license agreement and click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

  12. At the 'Where do you want to install Windows?' screen, choose one of the following:

    Previous Windows data

    Only if you have enough free storage, after finishing the Windows reinstall, Windows.old will be at the start of your Windows drive, containing your old data. You can retrieve data from the folder and delete it afterward, which this guide covers later.

    • Identify the disk partition you want to install Windows to by looking at the total sizes, then select it
    • Click Next, then click OK to the warning about Windows.old

    This permanently deletes data!

    Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure you don't delete the wrong partitions.

    • Identify the drive number you want to install Windows to
      • You can identify your drives by their total sizes
    • One by one, carefully delete your drive number's disk partitions
    • Select the unallocated space of your drive number
    • Click Next

    This permanently deletes data on all drives!

    • One by one, delete each disk partition in the window
    • Select the unallocated space of the drive you want to install Windows to
      • You can identify your drives by their total sizes
    • Click Next

  13. Wait for Windows to install

3.1. Initial setup (OOBE)

You can either watch the video or use the 'Written Instructions' for this section.

Written Instructions
  1. Once the setup starts, select your language and then your keyboard layout
  2. Press Shift+F10 to open Command Prompt
  3. Type in oobe\bypassnro, press Enter, and wait for your computer to restart
    • This step is not necessary if you are using Ventoy
  4. Continue through with setup, but:
    • Do not connect to the internet
    • Deny each option in the Privacy section

Written Instructions

Go through the setup, but make sure to:

  • Click I don't have internet when prompted to connect to the internet
  • Click Continue with limited setup or Domain join after the 'Internet' page
  • Deny each option in the Privacy section
  • Deny Cortana

4. Driver Updates

Drivers are essential software components that enable the OS to communicate with hardware devices. While Windows has fundamental drivers, some devices need external drivers to function correctly. On Atlas, there are two options for external drivers:

Installation & Updates from Windows Update Manual Installation & Updates
Easiest if you don't know how to get drivers Potentially less system resource usage
Best compatibility, especially with OEM apps Less potentially unwanted applications
Latest security & feature updates automatically Full control over your driver versions
Almost never having to manually get drivers You will likely need to get drivers for new devices

Choose the option you wish to install with and follow the instructions.

If you don't know, choose 'Driver Installation & Updates from Windows Update.'

  1. Connect your device to the internet

  2. Move on to the next section

Don't connect to the internet yet, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings -> Windows Update

  2. Temporarily Pause Updates for at least one week

  3. Connect your device to the internet

  4. Move on to the next section

5. Installing AtlasOS

AME Wizard suddenly closing or being deleted?

Especially when a new version of AME Wizard is released, you might need to add AME Wizard as an exclusion or turn off Real-time protection in Windows Security.

To read more about this, view our AME Wizard Deleted page.

  1. Open Microsoft Edge, search atlasos.net

  2. On the website, click 'Get started', then click -> Already following the guide? at the bottom of the pop-up, and download the Atlas Playbook and AME Wizard

  3. Extract both downloads to your desktop

  4. If you have chosen Manual Driver Installation, run Disable Drivers Installation in Windows Update.reg from the extracted Atlas Playbook download and restart

  5. Open Settings and update Windows, including optional updates, until no more updates are available. If paused, click Resume Updates to follow this step

    • If there's an error updating on Windows 10, see our page on Windows Update Errors for a fix, retry updating, and continue with the rest of the installation guide

  6. Open the Microsoft Store and update all apps

    • There might be a prompt to update the Microsoft Store first

  7. Restart after all updates are complete. After restarting, check again for updates repeatedly until there are no more available updates

  8. Open AME Wizard Beta.exe from the AME Wizard folder

    1. If there is a warning from SmartScreen that AME Wizard is an unrecognized application, bypass this warning by clicking More info and Run anyway
    2. Click on Updates at the top and make sure AME Wizard is up to date

  9. Drag Atlas Playbook.apbx from the Atlas Playbook folder into AME Wizard

  10. Follow the on-screen instructions from AME Wizard to install the Atlas Playbook

5.1. Your old Windows installation

If you previously followed steps that mentioned a Windows.old folder, you can find your previous Windows data at the start of your Windows drive in Windows.old.

When you're sure that you've retrieved any valuable data from it, follow these steps:

  1. Open Windows Settings -> System -> Storage
  2. Click Temporary files, and wait for it to scan your files
  3. Select Previous version of Windows, and then click Remove files

6. Getting your drivers

You've almost finished setting up Atlas!

  • Manual Driver Installation: If you previously chose this, we recommend seeing our post-installation driver guide to help set up the needed drivers.

  • Driver Installation & Updates from Windows Update: If you previously chose this, get drivers by manually checking for Windows Updates. To get them automatically, enable automatic Windows Updates.

7. All done!

If you need any help, you can find links below to a large community of individuals who are dedicated to helping others, as well as a few other areas of the documentation.

We hope you enjoy using AtlasOS! 😄