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August 12th, 2025 15:34

isProTip

Dell XPS-13-Plus 9230 Erased/Formatted and Windows-11 Clean-Installed

With a Local Windows-Account
NVMe SSD switched to AHCI-Mode
No Dell-Branded Supplemental Software reloaded.

From microsoft.com download Windows-11 (v24H2) Media Creation Tool.
- Created it on a Lexar 8gb Flash-Drive (uses about 6gb of it). 
Getting ready to erase SSD and install it.

Restarted laptop. F12 on Boot. Rebooted to UEFI-Env
Clicked on BIOS Setup.
- No more problems yet (settings are how I left them, and want them)

Storage: CHANGED to AHCI/NVMe (NOT the BIOS-Default)
- In future Windows-11 "Intel Rapid Storage Technology App" (a UWP-App) WILL NEVER be installed by me.
You will get a Warning about needing to Reinstall. Click YES.
- Click Apply Settings at bottom of page, ("Custom User Setting" left un-checked). Just click OK.
Before leaving, click Boot Config: 
And be sure SecureBoot is still Enabled ON (and still in Deployed-Mode)
Click lower-right Exit to exit and reboot

It likely WILL NOT boot since we just sorta erased the SSD.
It might crash to a BlueScreen.
You can just hold-down power-button to force off.

Turn on and tap F12 a couple of time after XPS shows.
At UEFI-Env menu, click your Windows-11 Installer Flash-Drive in the left column.

Windows-11 Installer should start.
- Remember, you ARE NOT connected to network or WiFi
- - this is good and desired to get a simple Local-Account Windows Login later
Simple questions then select "Install Windows 11"
- Click "I don't have a Product Key" (ie, it's embedded in BIOS or Digital License)
Select Windows-11 Pro (as long as that is what it was running before)
Starting at the bottom and working your way-up
- DELETE ALL existing Partitions on Disk-0 (takes a few seconds for each)
- - Don't mess with Disk-1 (as that is likely the Flash-Drive you are installing from).

Select Disk-0 "Unallocated Space" and click lower Next button (to install Windows-11 to it)
Should say "Ready to install Windows-11 Pro. Keep Nothing." Click lower Install button.
Should start installing.
Phase-1 finished.
Says I need a Network Connection to continue (but no WiFi Access-Points are listed)

Press the “Shift + F10” keyboard shortcut (if this does not work try Shift + Fn + F10)
In Command Prompt, type the following command to bypass network requirements on Windows 11 and press Enter.
OOBE\BYPASSNRO
The computer will restart automatically, and the out-of-box experience (OOBE) will start again (just Phase-2)

You will need to select the region and keyboard settings again to get to the network connection page.
Click the “I don’t have internet” option.
Click the “Continue with limited setup” option.
Click the Accept button (if applicable).
Confirm the name of the local default account on Windows 11.
Click the Next button.
Continue the setup process.

Create simple-named Local-Account, and pick your security questions.

Privacy: Left all On, except Optional Diagnostics

Install Finishes 
Desktop is appearing (I think without even logging-in)
Some icons are ghosted. No Internet connection.
Says Windows-11 Pro (but not Activated yet)
Device-Manager has lots of (Missing Drivers) Errors.

Manually downloaded, Un-Blocked, and Installed these 4 Dell drivers (only)
- Intel-Chipset, Intel-Serial-IO, HID-Input, Intel-ax211-Wifi 
- Give each plenty of time to install, and each will notify when complete
- Reboot as required.

Now that you have WiFi connected again
- Windows now shows Activated
- Letting Windows-Update do it's thing.
- Device-Manager and Windows-Update are both clean now.
- Finally noticed that VBS has been on this whole time (must be on by Default)
- - Disabled it for now.

I saw some related Firmware updates posted at Dell, but since I'm NOT having any troubles with TPM, TouchPad, or OLED-screen, I DID NOT install or mess with them. :

Seems to be working fine.

Windows-11 Pro is v.24H2
BIOS is still v2.0.0 2-6-2023 (from Dell)
- UEFI Capsule Firmware updates is still OFF in BIOS.
- SecureBoot still ON. SSD is still in AHCI/NVMe-Mode.
- In Windows-11, Virtualization-Based-Security (VBS) Memory Integrity is still OFF
- Using Local Windows Account (Admin-class) but you can setup additional others if you like.

Hope this helps.

Dell Rockstar

Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
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3 Apprentice

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687 Posts

August 13th, 2025 09:05

Hi

I have W11 Tiny running, local account only, using Rufus for the install.

A little bit of a faff to run the Tiny11 scripts, but an acceptable outcome.

My reason was privacy, where possible/practicable.

Hence the dual boot with Linux Mint.

Your reason/reasoning?

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