If you are looking for a lightweight Windows 11 version, Microsoft Validation OS is what you need. Here, MiniTool Partition Wizard introduces the features, target users, and download & install steps of Windows 11 Validation OS.

What Is Windows 11 Validation OS

Microsoft Validation OS is a minimal, fast, and customizable Windows 11-based operating system. It is used by Windows device manufacturers as an aid during early design stages. It is capable of diagnosing, mitigating, and repairing hardware defects during the Windows device manufacturing process.

Like Windows Preinstallation Environment, Windows 11 Validation OS runs from a RAM disk and boots into a Command Prompt. This lightweight operating system is not suitable for ordinary users. Instead, it is built for hardware or software vendors, developers, or technicians. It is not limited to built-in tools. It supports Win32 apps.

Microsoft quietly updated Windows 11 Validation OS with a new ISO. The ISO holds lots of updates, including support for the latest Windows 11 features and updates, updated drivers for a variety of hardware devices, as well as new tools and utilities for troubleshooting and debugging.

Tips:
The new ISO file for the Validation OS has a build number of 22621.1702 – identical to May’s cumulative update for Windows 11 for Patch Tuesday. Besides, it lines up with the Windows 11 Moment 2 Update.

Furthermore, this updated Windows 11 Validation OS also includes many other improvements like a smaller file size, a faster boot time, and a more stable environment. These improvements make the Microsoft Validation OS more efficient and reliable.

Tips:
If you want to optimize Windows 11 Validation OS for better performance, MiniTool Partition Wizard is an ideal option for you. As a professional PC optimizer, it allows you to delete unnecessary files, extend partition, perform hard drive health checks, clone hard drives, and wipe disks to speed up the computer.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Other variants of Windows 11:

Rectify11

Windows 11 Lite

Nexus LiteOS 11

Ghost Spectre Windows 11 Superlite

Download Windows 11 Validation OS ISO

Before you start working with Validation OS, you need to prepare the following items.

  • A PC to run Validation OS: Please note that the PC’s hard drive will be formatted during the installation process when you apply a Validation OS image to your device’s hard drive.
  • A technician PC with these contents: The most recent Windows Assessment and Deployment KIT and Windows PE add-on installed. A folder with drivers for the Validation OS PC. The Validation OS .wim from MS Collaborate. Validation OS customization packages.
  • A USB drive: It is used to create bootable WinPE media and store collateral that you can use during the Validation OS deployment.

Now, navigate to this page and check the license agreement of Microsoft Validation OS. If you accept these terms, click the links below to download Windows 11 Validation OS for your device.

Download Windows 11 Validation OS for AMD64

Download Windows 11 Validation OS for Arm64

After you download Windows 11 Validation OS ISO, mount Validation OS .wim to a folder on the technician’s PC. Otherwise, you can’t customize it to make it bootable and compatible with your apps. Customize the Validation OS image by adding driver packages and Validation OS customization packages to grant support for .NET Framework 4.5, PowerShell 5.0, basic connectivity, etc.

Tips:
Since Microsoft Validation OS doesn’t ship with inbox drivers, you need to add drivers before you can apply the image to your computer. You can refer to this page to mount and customize Windows 11 Validation OS ISO.

Create Bootable Validation OS USB Drive

Once you customize Validation OS ISO, directly use it to boot a PC or create and use bootable USB media and then run Validation OS from RAM. Whatever choice you make, you need to create bootable WinPE media. Here are the steps for doing that.

Step 1: Create a set of Windows PE files on the technician PC.

  • Run the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment as an administrator from the search box.
  • Run copype to create a working copy of the Windows PE files (copype amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64).

Step 2: Plug the USB drive into your technician PC.

Tips:
If it’s not already open, run the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment as an administrator.

Step 3: Type the following commands and hit Enter after each. Create two partitions on the USB drive and format them as FAT32 and NTFS respectively.

  • diskpart
  • list disk
  • select disk n (replace n with the specific disk number)
  • clean create partition primary size=2048
  • active
  • format fs=FAT32 quick label= “WinPE”
  • assign letter=P
  • create partition primary
  • format fs=NTFS quick label=”Data”
  • assign letter=O
  • exit

Step 4: Use MakeWinPEMedia with the /UFD option to format and install Windows PE to the USB flash drive, specifying the USB key’s drive letter. Simply put, run the command below to make your USB drive bootable.

Tips:
P: refers to the drive letter of the USB drive you plugged in.

MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 P:

After the command is executed, the boot Windows PE USB drive is ready. Then you can use it to either boot Validation OS from a USB drive or boot to WinPE to apply a Validation OS to a device’s hard drive. To learn more details, go to this page.

Update: Oofhours Media Tool allows you to download Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 23H2 ISO file and make a bootable USB drive without using separate USB bootable software.

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About The Author

Amy
Amy

Position: Columnist

Having writing articles about computer tech for a long time, I am rather experienced especially on the aspect of computer optimization, PC enhancement, as well as tech terms explanation. The habit of looking through tech forums makes me a great computer issues collector. And then, many articles related to these issues are released, which benefit plenty of users. Professional, effective, and innovative are always the pursuit of an editing worker.