[SOLVED] clean install windows 11 from usb onto new m2 SSD does drive need to be formatted?

[Geforcertx2080]

Hello,
It is my understanding that because the main windows 11 installation files are greater than 4gb I have to start by deleting all partitions on my usb stick. Then I need to create a 1gb partition as fat32 and a second partition with the remaining usb disk space as ntfs. With the 1gb fat32 partition containing all of the files I need to boot. I hope this is correct.

I will be installing on a new m2 SSD and I am wondering if the windows 11 installation automatically formats the new SSD drive? Is there anything I need to do with the drive itself to prepare for the windows install?

 

[hotaru.hino]

If you have a blank drive and select it in the Windows Installer, it'll say it needs to create some partitions, which it will, and then you select the largest partition to install Windows on.

 

[tecmo34]

Use Windows Media Creation tool and it will setup your USB drive as required. I would just use a 8 GB flash drive and keep it just for Windows installs.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

As for the m2 SSD, @hotaru.hino is correct. when you go to install Windows 11, it will create the required partitions on the m2 and format it accordingly.