Microsoft has recently updated the lite version of Windows 11 without any major announcement. Released last year, this lite operating system is not intended for the casual end user. Based on the command line (CLI) and called “Microsoft Validation OS”; It is designed to help hardware and software vendors, developers, and technicians diagnose and mitigate problems. Basically, it will help you build and test hardware and software based on a customized version of Windows 11 without all the bells and whistles.

Deskmodder noticed that Validation OS has updated the ISOs based on build 22621.1702, and it looks like this May Patch Tuesday release. Speaking of updated ISOs, Microsoft has also recently released updated ISOs for the Moment 2 22H2 feature update if you’re looking for it. They were also based on the same design.

Microsoft defines the new verification operating system as:

Microsoft Validation OS is a lightweight, fast, and customizable Windows 11-based operating system that can be used at the factory to diagnose, mitigate, and repair hardware defects during the manufacture of Windows devices. OS Validation installs in a command line environment to increase reliability in production and supports the launch of Win32 applications, facilitating the transition from early hardware launch to retail OS and application development.

As you can see in Microsoft’s description above, OS Checker supports Win32 programs designed to help diagnose a Windows 11-based project under development. This is because the Win32 API provides direct access to the system hardware and has various diagnostic tools.