Introduction
Required Tools: Microsoft Windows 11 v23H2, Microsoft Windows
Server 2022 v21H2
Programming Language: n/a
Intended Audience: I.T. Technicians
Date: January 2025
Windows 11 has the following minimum system requirements:
It would be a good idea to get a graphics card with a HDMI port and a motherboard that has onboard Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A DVD Drive would also be useful and of course, a keyboard and a mouse.
When specifying a Windows computer it's best to get as a fast a processor and as much RAM as possible.
An internet connection will be required to install Windows due to product activation and updates during the install process.
Step by Step for Windows 11
- Boot the Windows 11 DVD and choose the language, time and currency format, and input method.
- Click Next.
- Click Install Now.
- Enter the product key.
- Read and accept the EULA.
- Click Customised: Install Windows only (advanced).
- Click Drive 0 Unallocated Space.
- Click New, accept the default size, and click apply.
- Windows will create two partitions
Drive 0 Partition 2 126 GB type Primary
& nbsp; Partition 2 will become our C:\ drive.
- Click Next.
- Windows will now copy files and reboot.
- When the Install Wizard starts, choose United Kingdom as the country.
- Choose United Kingdom as the keyboard.
- Skip the second keyboard.
- Windows will check for updates and then reboot (can take an
hour).
- We can now name the computer, wksta42.
- Choose "Set up for work or school".
- Click Next.
- Click on "Sign in options".
- Click on "Domain join instead".
- Enter your name, "admin" (this will be the local user
account).
- Click Next.
- Set a password.
- Pick the 3 security questions and set the answers.
- Click No to "Let Microsoft and apps use your location".
- Click No to "Find my device".
- Click "Required Only" to "Send diagnostic data to Microsoft".
- Click No to "Improve inking & typing".
- Click No to "Get tailored experiences with diagnostic data".
- Click No to "Let apps use advertising ID".
- Windows will check for updates again (can take 97 minutes).
- Logon as the admin user.
- Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > Private Network to make this device discoverable.
- Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > Edit IP assignment (manual, IPv4 on).
- Example TCP/IP:
- IP 192.168.1.195
- Subnet 255.255.255.0
- Gateway 192.168.1.1
- Preferred DNS 192.168.1.194
- Alternative DNS 192.168.1.1
- Save changes.
- Restart the computer.
Step by Step for Windows Server 2022
- Logon to Windows Server 2022.
- Open Server Manager.
- Go to Tools then Active Directory Users and Computers.
- Find the relevant Organisational Unit for storing the computer account.
- Create a new computer account:
- Computer name wksta42
- Computer name (pre-Windows 2000) wksta42
- Domain Admins can join this computer to the domain.
Back to Windows 11
- Start menu > Settings > System > About >
Domain or workgroup >
Network ID > choose the option "This computer is part of a business network" >
"my company uses a network with a domain" > enter details of the Domain Admin
and set the domain name. - Click "yes" when an account for this computer had been found in the domain.
- Click "Do not add a domain user account" on this computer.
- Restart the computer.
- At the logon screen, click on "Other user".
- Logon with a domain user account, the pattern is user@domain name.
- Start menu > Settngs > Home > Activate Windows.
The default Windows 11 Start Menu:
Summary
We have now successfully installed Windows 11 onto a computer and joined it to a domain network. This computer can now be managed via Active Directory and Group Policy to provide access to network resources and to secure the computer.