🖥️ Windows 11 OOBE Setup Checklist (GTH)

Before you start: Have the employee's name, their assigned username, and the domain credentials ready before you power on the device. 
 Live build checklist → use the IT Build Station section on Start.me to tick off items as you go. This page is the reference — the checklist is your companion. 
 
 
 🔌 1. Initial Setup 
 
 [ ] Plug device into power 
 [ ] Connect to network — Ethernet preferred 
 [ ] Power on device 
 [ ] Wait for Windows setup to load — this can take several minutes 
 
 
 🌍 2. OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) 
 Follow the on-screen prompts in order: 
 
 [ ] Select Language 
 [ ] Select Region 
 [ ] Confirm keyboard layout: US 
 [ ] Skip adding a second keyboard 
 [ ] Accept the license agreement 
 
 
 🏢 3. Setup Type 
 
 [ ] Choose: Set up for an organization 
 [ ] On the next screen, click "Domain join instead" — bottom-left corner 
 
 
 👤 4. Local Admin Account Setup 
 Create a temporary local admin account using the standard credentials: 
 
 [ ] Username: gth 
 [ ] Password: 20Since06! 
 
 Security questions: 
 
 [ ] City where born: Anaheim 
 [ ] Childhood nickname: Gene Autry 
 [ ] First pet: Taz 
 
 
 ⚙️ 5. Privacy & Setup Options 
 Work through each option carefully — do not just click through: 
 
 [ ] Activity history → No 
 [ ] Cortana → Decline 
 [ ] Privacy settings:
 
 Advertising ID → No 
 All others → Yes 
 
 
 [ ] Support & Protection → Leave blank 
 [ ] "Let Microsoft use my info" → Uncheck 
 
 ➡️ Continue to desktop 
 
 🖥️ 6. Rename & Domain Join 
 
 [ ] Press Windows Key → type This PC 
 [ ] Right-click → Properties 
 [ ] Click Rename this PC (Advanced) 
 [ ] Set computer name following the naming convention 
 [ ] Join domain: georgethall.com 
 
 ➡️ Reboot when prompted 
 
 🔐 7. Admin Login 
 
 [ ] Log in as: micsmiadmin 
 
 
 👥 8. User Setup 
 Navigate to: Control Panel → User Accounts → Manage another account 
 
 [ ] Add micsmiadmin 
 [ ] Add the assigned GTH staff user 
 [ ] Confirm both accounts have the correct permissions 
 
 
 🔒 9. Security Configuration 
 
 [ ] Enable Ctrl + Alt + Delete login requirement
 
 Path: User Accounts → Advanced tab 
 
 
 
 
 🔄 10. Switch to End User 
 
 [ ] Log off micsmiadmin 
 [ ] Log in as the assigned user 
 
 
 🖨️ 11. Printer Setup 
 
 [ ] Install all required printers 
 [ ] ⚠️ Disable color printing on Sharp printers 
 
 
 📦 12. Software Installation 
 Install the following — in this order where possible: 
 
 [ ] Chrome 
 [ ] PDF reader 
 [ ] FortiClient (if required for this user) 
 [ ] Antivirus (AV) 
 [ ] OneNote 
 
 
 ✉️ 13. User Configuration 
 
 [ ] Configure email signature 
 [ ] Apply any user-specific environment settings 
 
 
 ⚡ 14. Power & Display Settings 
 
 [ ] Configure screen saver 
 [ ] Configure sleep settings 
 
 
 🔽 15. Final Security Step 
 
 [ ] Remove user from local admin group (if they were added during setup) 
 
 
 ✅ Completion Checklist 
 Before handing off, confirm every item below is done: 
 
 [ ] Device is domain joined to georgethall.com 
 [ ] Assigned user can log in successfully 
 [ ] All required apps are installed and working 
 [ ] Printers are working — B&W only where Sharp printers are involved 
 [ ] No unnecessary admin access remains on the machine 
 
 
 *Page maintained by IT. Last process review: (add date when you publish this)