[German]Microsoft has published a new ISO installation file for Windows 11 23H2 on December 19, 2023. This ISO installation medium not only contains the latest security updates until December 2023, but the problem with the screen reader (Narrator) that became known in November 2023 is also said to have been fixed in this installation medium.
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I had not addressed it separately in the blog, but Microsoft had posted the article Narrator might not start if installing Windows 11, version 23H2 via ISO or media in the Known Issues of its Windows Release Health page on November 22, 2023.
There, the reader learned that when reinstalling Windows 11, version 23H2 from an ISO file with a fresh installation image, the integrated screen reader (called Narrator by Microsoft) does not work. It is said that the Microsoft Narrator may not start. They say:
Narrator is usually initialized using keyboard shortcuts, e.g. Ctrl + Windows key + Enter. Although Narrator is present in Windows when the installation process begins, it may open in an unresponsive state when initialized by any method.
This issue only occurs when physical media or ISOs are used for installation, and Narrator is only affected during the installation process. Once the installation is complete, it should continue to work as expected.
This issue does not occur when Windows 11 23H2 is installed as an upgrade from Windows 10 or an older Windows 11 build, Microsoft said in November.
An ISO refresh provides a fix
Our colleagues at neowin.net have noticed that Microsoft has now fixed the problem with the Narrator, which only occurs during setup from the previous ISO installation media. The support article Narrator might not start if installing Windows 11, version 23H2 via ISO or media, dated December 22, 2023, states that the problem has now been fixed.
neowin.net spottet it first, that Microsoft has now fixed the issue with the Narrator, which only occurs during setup from the previous ISO installation media. The support article Narrator might not start if installing Windows 11, version 23H2 via ISO or media, refreshed on December 22, 2023, states that the problem has now been fixed.
The solution is quite simple: From December 19, 2023, a new file will be available to create an installation medium for the update to Windows 11, version 23H2. This ISO installation file can be downloaded from this Microsoft page using various approaches (direct download of the ISO file, download via Media Creation Tool, MCT) and transferred to a USB stick for installation The Media Creation Tool supports transfer to a USB stick. If an ISO file is downloaded, it can be transferred to a USB stick using tools such as Rufus or Ventoy.
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Microsoft writes that the new medium, which is now available for download, does not have this problem with the Narrator. At the same time, the ISO installation image already contains the December 2023 security update. Microsoft writes: It [the ISO file] is available for download on the Windows 11 software download page in the "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices" section. This implies to me that the installation media created via Media Creation Tool (MCT) do not yet have a December 2023 refresh. Instructions for installing Windows 11 can also be found on the download page.
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