Microsoft has started deploying Windows 11 23H2, the only major version of its client operating system for this year, because as you know, the company has reduced the number of annual deliveries to improve the stability of the ecosystem. The version is free for computers with a valid license Windows 11 and you can also update computers with Windows 10 for free. There are several installation options: updating previous versions or “clean” installations with official ISO images.

Windows 11 23H2 It does not represent a revolution and even less so if you’ve installed “Moments 4” in the previous weeks, the latest version of the cumulative packages that Microsoft releases from time to time as Service Packs between major releases like the one available.

During the last months we have been offering you new features which the Redmond firm presents in the Insider test channel for Windows 11 23H2 and which we specify in this special with its main news, which basically includes the arrival of the new Copilot assistant; restoring some system tools such as file explorer or applications such as Photos; minor adjustments to the interface, Start menu, main panel and general settings; the new Windows Backup data backup application or the new Outlook e-mail client for Windows.

Also included are the usual known bug fixes and security patches released to date. Recommended update if you have Windows 11 PCs, although for those destined for production it is recommended to wait until you check its stability and limit the side effects of potential bugs.

Windows 11 23H2, installation

Installing the new version of Windows is trivial, as simple as the previous ones and can be done in several ways, from the system configuration itself, from the official website or using the ISO images that Microsoft has already published. Installations can be done from Windows 11 or Windows 10, but not from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, as Microsoft has recently blocked them. In any case, if you have an old device, you can also install it from scratch, because – as you will see – the requirements can be easily overcome.

Hardware requirements

The minimum hardware requirements are same as the previous version of Windows 11. They apply to both physical and virtual machines and are as follows:

• Processor: 64-bit CPU with 2 or more cores, included in this list.
• RAM memory: 4 GB.
• Storage: 64 GB.
• Graphics chip: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Firmware: UEFI compatible with “Secure Boot” function.
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0.
• Screen: 9 inches with HD resolution.
• Internet connection for Windows 10 Home.
• Windows 11 22H2 (preferred), although it can be upgraded from Windows 10.

We’ve already talked about them in depth. If increasing the RAM memory or storage space is reasonable and necessary these days, blocking for some series of processors, the obligation to have a graphics section supporting DirectX 12, UEFI BIOS with secure boot and, above all, the necessity of a TPM chip to increase security, are more controversial.

To avoid any installation problems (although there may be Easy installation on non-compliant computers bypass control Out of Box Experience) you can first run Microsoft’s official tool ‘PC Health Check’ or alternative applications such as the free and open source ‘WhyNotWin11’ available on GitHub.

Each one is easy to install. It examines the PC hardware and provides a clear indication of whether it meets the specified requirements and returns compatibility results for Windows 11 installation. In any case, you know, it can be installed without meeting the requirements, because Microsoft has taken a pragmatic position by not being able to control the huge Windows ecosystem and the interest that the adoption of the system (so far lower than expected) is going up.

Update

The easiest way to install is using Windows Update, because Microsoft provides an incremental update that is quick and convenient while preserving apps, files, and user data. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update and click “Check for updates”. Once downloaded, you can update immediately or schedule an update.

Since Microsoft has adopted a progressive release approach to improve the stability of the release and prevent critical bugs from reaching a mass audience, the release will not be available to all users equally.

Another way to update is to go to the Windows 11 website. Click “Download Now” in the Windows 11 Setup Wizard to start the process.

Finally, point to the Microsoft Update Catalog option. You download the corresponding version, manually run the downloaded file, and a process similar to the previous one opens from the website.

Clean facility

When moving to larger versions, I personally prefer to do installations from scratch, which also allows us to “clean” storage units, update third-party applications that we have installed, and generally leave the device “at zero”, with maximum security and performance. The process is known from other versions:

• Go to the Windows 11 download page.
• Select a version and click download.

• Select the product language and click confirm.
• You will get a link to the version.
• Download and save the ISO image to your storage drives.

Once we have the image in hand, the process is similar to what we are used to “burn” the image and create Windows media or any GNU/Linux distribution. We remind you:

• We use our favorite app Rufus which is free and works perfectly especially with Windows images. Download and install the latest version. (You can also use the portable version and even avoid the previous download step and do it in the same app)
• Insert the media you will use for recording. You can use a DVD, but we recommend a pendrive or USB drive, which is faster and more secure. Its minimum capacity must be 8 GB.
• Run Rufus. You will see a very simple interface where you will first have to select the downloaded Windows image by selecting the “Boot Choice” option.
• It remains only to configure the remaining options. GPT in “partition scheme”, target system “UEFI (not CSM) and NTFS or FAT32 as file system. Click start to get the installation media.

With the created installation media, you can install the system from scratch on any computer (officially those that meet the requirements) and from the created disc you can also update the computer or third-party systems. Note that the latest versions of Rufus allow you to create installation media without using TPM and Secure Boot if you are installing on computers that do not meet the requirements.

And on virtual machines

For users who are attracted to the new version of Windows 11, but do not want to jeopardize their current setup, the option of using virtual machines is recommended. And the use of virtualization is a fast, convenient and secure way to run softwarewhether in production jobs with operating systems, applications, or for testing software in general without modifying the main system that acts as the host.

Once the ISO image is obtained in the previous point, just load it into the dedicated application. You can use free or commercial solutions such as VirtualBox, VMware or Parallels or Hyper-V offered by Microsoft in professional versions of Windows 10. And the good thing is that this option allows you to test Windows 11 from Linux or macOS without affecting these systems.

A few months ago, we offered you a complete guide on how to run the first version of Windows 11 on a virtual machine. The process with the new version is the same. If you want to keep your existing operating system and don’t want any commitment, virtual machines are a great option for testing software, although they won’t offer you the same performance as a standard installation.

Several ways to install or test this Windows 11 23H2 that Microsoft has started to deploy, which may be the last major version before the launch of Windows 12, which we expect in 2024.