Again in 2022, Microsoft launched a brand new variation of Home windows 11 named Validation OS. Whereas this working system is just not meant for the final consumer, it, because the title suggests, is designed to be utilized within the validation, prognosis and restore of recent {hardware}, guaranteeing software program compatibility, and for troubleshooting numerous points. It’s primarily based on command line interface (CLI).

This is how Microsoft describes it:

Microsoft Validation OS is a light-weight, quick, and customizable Home windows 11-based working system that you should utilize on the manufacturing unit ground to diagnose, mitigate and restore {hardware} defects throughout Home windows machine manufacturing.

Validation OS boots right into a Command Line atmosphere to extend reliability on the manufacturing unit ground and helps operating Win32 apps, smoothing the transition from early {hardware} bring-up to retail OS and apps growth.

Over time, Microsoft has been releasing updates for it, which have included help for Home windows 11 24H2. That was again in July of 2024. Nevertheless, again then, Microsoft didn’t publish any changelog or launch notes for the Validation OS updates.

Nevertheless, in direction of the top of final yr, the corporate began releasing month-to-month updates for it and has additionally been publishing corresponding launch notes.

The most recent replace was launched earlier right this moment with upgrades and enhancements for .NET and WPF (Home windows Presentation Framework) UI framework. It additionally has enhancements associated to USB booting for Home windows PE (preinstallation atmosphere) Ramdisk mode.

Microsoft writes (noticed by DeskModder):

The next launch notes establish the brand new options, open points, and resolved points for the 2504 launch of the Microsoft Validation OS. … This text applies to the Validation OS 2504 launch, comparable to the ISOs with the prefix “26100.3916.250422-2254”.

What’s new

• Home windows {Hardware} Lab Equipment on Validation OS enhancements:
  • Added Floor Dock particular drivers to the Microsoft-WinVOS-DriversPack-A bundle
• Added fundamental help to run some WPF functions together with ample help to run .NET (former “.NET core”) and WPF on .NET (former “WPF on .NET core”) through the Microsoft-WinVOS-WPF-Assist non-compulsory bundle (underneath the Extras CAB listing)
• Migrated to the most recent most safe and performant .NET implementation
• Cut up Chinese language, Japanese, and Korean TrueType help from Microsoft-WinVOS-Fonts into Microsoft-WinVOS-CJKFonts
• Added help to ‘DISM.exe /Picture: /Set-ScratchSpace’ on Validation OS when booting from USB to configure RAM-DISK dimension through the Microsoft-WinVOS-Provisioning bundle

Points Mounted

• Enhancements and bug fixes

Recognized Points

• When together with each Microsoft-OneCore-SerialConsole-Package deal and Microsoft-WinVOS-Bluetooth-Package deal on sure ARM64 techniques, the machine will grow to be unstable and may crash.

In case you’re questioning, the earlier two releases added help for OOBE (out of field expertise) and Inbox drivers, like that of the Ethernet. The changelogs are given beneath:

The next launch notes establish the brand new options, open points, and resolved points for the 2025.02 launch of the Microsoft Validation OS. .. This text applies to the Validation OS 2025.02 launch, comparable to the ISOs with the prefix “26100.3323.250220-1537”.

What’s new

• Added a the “Inbox Drivers” characteristic bundle that provides a restricted subset of inbox drivers, together with some ASIX ethernet adapters.

• When together with the Out of Field Expertise (OOBE.pkg) in a picture focused FOR USB boot, GenImage will mechanically filter out Microsoft-WinVOS-Setup-Package deal from the composition (this bundle is unsupported in durin USB boot).
• Contains an experimental script to transform a generated Validation OS WIM file to a customized sized VHDX: GenImageCustomVHDX.cmd

Points Mounted

• Mounted concern the place kernel mode crash dumps have been solely created if the Energy characteristic was included within the composition. Now, there are not any choice bundle necessities for kernel mode crash dump creations.

Recognized Points

• When together with each Microsoft-OneCore-SerialConsole-Package deal and Microsoft-WinVOS-Bluetooth-Package deal on sure ARM64 techniques, the machine will grow to be unstable and may crash.
• The Microsoft-WinVOS-Setup-Package deal is situated in each the widespread bundle location and underneath OOBE (that is fastened within the upcoming March 2025 launch)
• Including the Out of Field Expertise (OOBE.pkg) bundle to arm64 units will end in an infinite reboot cycle (this will likely be fastened within the upcoming March 2025 launch)
• Picture era is just not attainable if the enter (base) WIM/VHDX is compressed. It is a limitation of dism.exe and regarded by design.

[….]

The next launch notes establish the brand new options, open points, and resolved points for the 2503 launch of the Microsoft Validation OS. .. This text applies to the Validation OS 2503 launch, comparable to the ISOs with the prefix “26100.3624.250321-2034”.

What’s new

• Home windows {Hardware} Lab Equipment on Validation OS enhancements:
  • Added built-in help for Out of Field Expertise (OOBE.pkg)
  • Added help for sure {hardware} units through the Microsoft-WinVOS-DriversPack-A-Package deal
  • VHDX pictures at the moment are bootable in Hyper-V with no extra updates
• Added takeown.exe and driverquery.exe utilities to the Functions and Utility Assist (apps.pkg) characteristic bundle.
• Added Validation OS particular DirectML samples to Github:Validation-OS/Samples/DirectML

Points Mounted

• The Microsoft-WinVOS-Setup-Package deal.cab file is now solely situated within the OOBE bundle location
• Including the Out of Field Expertise (OOBE.pkg) bundle to arm64 units won’t end in an infinite reboot cycle anymore
• Mounted ApiSet Schema for Microsoft-WinVOS-Connectivity-Gadgets

Recognized Points

• When together with each Microsoft-OneCore-SerialConsole-Package deal and Microsoft-WinVOS-Bluetooth-Package deal on sure ARM64 techniques, the machine will grow to be unstable and may crash.

To obtain the most recent Validation OS launch, head over to this web page on Microsoft’s official web site.