ISO injection
Inject the Atlas Playbook into a Windows ISO to create preconfigured installation media. Use this experimental method only if you are comfortable reinstalling and troubleshooting Windows.
Experimental
ISO injection is available in current Atlas 0.5.x Playbooks, but it is still experimental. Previous Atlas versions may not support it. Report any bugs on our Issue Tracker.
Support
We only offer support for Atlas Playbook on the latest, non-beta Windows 11. For older or unsupported versions, follow our installation guide to get the latest release.
Step 1: Download Windows ISO
Download the Windows ISO that matches your CPU architecture.
Which version?
- Visit Microsoft's Windows 11 download page
- Choose Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices (or ARM64 for ARM systems)
- Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO) then Confirm
- Choose your language then Confirm
- Click 64-bit Download (or ARM64 Download for ARM) to begin
- Download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool, then open it
- Click Accept to agree to the license terms
- Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC, click Next, and choose your language and Windows 11
- Choose the ISO file option, then choose the download location
- After the download completes, click Finish
- Go to atlasos.net , click Get started, then Already following the guide?
- Download Atlas Playbook and AME Beta, then extract both to your desktop
- Open AME Beta.exe from the AME Beta folder
- If SmartScreen warns, see AME Beta deleted. Click More info and Run anyway
- Click Updates at the top and ensure AME Beta is up to date
- Click More Options then Download ISO then Select Windows 11 then OK
This downloads the latest Windows 11 ISO.
Step 2: Inject the playbook
- Go to atlasos.net, click Get started, then Already following the guide?
- Download Atlas Playbook and AME Beta, then extract both to your desktop
- Open AME Beta.exe. If SmartScreen warns, see AME Beta deleted. Click More info and Run anyway
- Click Updates and confirm AME Beta is up to date
- Drag your downloaded ISO into AME Beta, then drag Atlas Playbook.apbx from your desktop
- Select the Windows 11 ISO from the left, click Select a playbook to modify, confirm AtlasOS is selected, then OK
- Click Next and configure options as you would for a normal playbook install. Keep Include additional network drivers selected when prompted
- When asked for username and password, enter them and click Next (leave password empty if you prefer none)
- Wait for the injection to finish
Step 3: Reinstall Windows
Back up all important data to external or cloud storage before you reinstall Windows.
Choose this method if: You already run Windows. This method does not work from Linux.
Windows.old
- Disconnect internet - Unplug ethernet, disable Wi-Fi. Do not reconnect until instructed.
- Mount the ISO:
- Right-click the injected ISO then Open With then File Explorer
- Open This PC and note the drive letter (e.g., H)
- Launch Windows Setup:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog
- Type: H:\sources\setup.exe (replace H with your drive letter)
- Press Enter then Accept UAC prompt
BitLocker message?
- Complete Windows Setup:
- Select No thanks when prompted for updates
- Uncheck "I want to help make Windows installation better"
- Click I don't have a product key (Windows should auto-activate later)
- Choose Windows Pro (or Pro for Workstations/Enterprise)
- Accept the license then Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
- Select your Windows drive then Next then OK (Windows.old warning)
- Wait for installation to finish
Choose this method if: You want a clean installation or currently run Linux. Create the injected ISO from Windows first.
- Create Ventoy USB:
- Download Ventoy and extract it
- Run Ventoy2Disk.exe
- Select USB drive then Install ( this destroys all data on the USB!)
- Copy Windows ISO to USB drive (labeled Ventoy)
- Disconnect internet - Unplug ethernet, disable Wi-Fi. Do not reconnect until instructed.
- Boot from USB:
- Restart then Enter BIOS/UEFI (usually F12 or Del)
- Select the USB drive as the boot device. Change the BIOS boot order if it does not appear
- In Ventoy menu: Select Windows ISO then Boot in normal mode
Security Violation error?
- Start installation:
- In the Ventoy menu, select the Windows ISO with arrow keys, press Enter
- Click Boot in normal mode, press Enter
- For Windows 11: Click Next twice, then Previous version of setup (bottom left)
- Select language then Next then Install Now
- Click I don't have a product key
- Choose Windows Pro (or Pro for Workstations/Enterprise)
- Partition selection:
- Keeping data (recommended): Identify your Windows partition by size, select it, Next, OK (Windows.old warning)
- Deleting data on one drive: Identify the drive, delete its partitions one by one, select unallocated space, Next
- Deleting data on all drives: Delete all partitions, select unallocated space for your target drive, Next
- Wait for Windows to install.
Step 4: Post-install
Complete Windows setup: Follow AME’s on-screen setup instructions. Connect to the internet when prompted, then wait for the new-user script to finish.
Remove Windows.old: If Windows Setup kept your previous installation, recover any files you need from Windows.old, then remove the folder:
- Open Windows Settings then System then Storage
- Click Temporary files and wait for the scan
- Select Previous version of Windows, then click Remove files