Windows 11 is almost here, and the internet can't stop talking about it. The new operating system from Microsoft recently leaked, and as expected, there's a huge interest in getting a copy. If you want to know how to download and install Windows 11, you're in the right place. Today we'll cover the process of getting the ISO image and the whole installation ritual up to the desktop.
Windows 11: The Legend Continues
"Windows 10 is the last version of Windows." That phrase dates back to May 2015, and six years later... Microsoft seems to have changed its mind. From a certain point of view, the idea that Redmond would abandon the "Windows" brand sounds like asking Disney to give up Mickey Mouse. However, the operating system hasn't exactly stayed "still". In fact, Windows is supposedly no longer an operating system, but a service.
Windows 11 is the latest from Microsoft, and at the same time symbolizes the continuity of its overall strategy. The leaked version confirmed several high-profile interface changes, but there's still a lot of Windows 10 in the background. Want to find out for yourself? If so, today we'll explain how to download and install Windows 11, the "leak" edition.
How to Download and Install Windows 11 in a Few Steps
1) Download the ISO image from this Russian mirror. Its total size is 4.5 gigabytes, so you'll have to wait a while. Also, it's worth mentioning that the image comes with no guarantees. Virus, malware, alien attack, asteroid, zombie apocalypse... anything could happen. Don't do anything 'valuable' with this Windows installation. The goal is to explore.
2) If you have a spare computer, you can install Windows 11 "on bare metal" (use Rufus or Etcher to write the content to a USB drive), but the leaked image has responded very well to the main virtualization tools, VirtualBox and VMWare. You can use either with a "Windows 10 x64" profile. VMWare Tools and VirtualBox Guest Additions work without issues.
3) The first installation phase is identical to Windows 10. The only available language is English, but you can customize the local format and keyboard layout. Product key entry (not mandatory), partition creation, and edition selection remain unchanged. From what we've seen, Windows 11 will keep the same editions as Windows 10.
4) The second phase shows us the new OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) of Windows 11. Region and keyboard layout appear first, followed by usage type ("personal" or "work/school"), and user account creation.
5) Obviously, Microsoft will try to convince you to use an online account and access its secondary services, but if you click 'Sign-in options' you'll find the 'Offline account' option. Microsoft calls this a "limited experience." Don't listen to it: use the offline account if you want.
6) Privacy section. You know what to do here.
7) The final wait lasts a few minutes, and when it's done, the installer will take you straight to the desktop, with its updated Start menu and its new Windows 11 wallpapers.
8) Before you ask, the answers are "yes" and "yes": the classic Control Panel is still there, and you can move the taskbar to the left as before... but since it's a desktop personalization option, Windows 11 must be activated first. The same goes for Dark Mode.
9) To wrap up, a right-click on the Start button opens a special menu full of advanced options, including Disk Management, PowerShell (with or without elevated privileges), Network Connections, Power Options, Task Manager, and the Run command.
In Summary
We're still far from the final build, and the operating system needs a huge amount of tuning, especially on the performance side (benchmarks place it a step below Windows 10)... but if Microsoft's plan was to move the needle with Windows 11, it has definitely succeeded.
Still, past experiences force us to take these new features with a grain of salt. Windows 10 has four years of support ahead, and our wish is to download and install Windows 11 when it's truly ready. Now, would you prefer some Windows 11 without installing it? If so, don't forget you can grab the wallpapers, and in this Mega link you'll find the official Windows 11 sounds.
