Based on community discussion prior generation AMD pre-builts require drivers not included in the Windows 11 OS loaded on the pre-built laptop. So, it’s not just a matter of turning on the laptop for OS configuration and activation.
I’ve a pre-order for a batch 3 AMD AI 300 series. I’d expect that a pre-built laptop would be delivered with everything required to get the machine up and running.
If this also will not be the case with the AMD AI 300 series pre-built, then more clarity is needed, not just alternative suggestions how to proceed to getting the laptop up and running. I don’t want to choose between alternative suggestions. I want to get the laptop up and running out of the box.
Drivers, maybe a single downloadable executable, and a step-by-step instruction guide for the pre-built AMD AI 300 may be needed.
I’d love to learn more about this. Can you share your sources?
Across all generations, the prebuilt laptops have historically come with a fully prepared image of Windows that is ready for use.
I have not personally seen any indication otherwise, and have no reason to believe the new models will be any different in that regard. 
I think I got it right. There’s guidance for using Rufus in this forum. The Windows 11 image on the prior generation 7040 series, if I understood what I read, lacked drivers for chips used in the pre-builts. The drivers could be installed by prepping a Rufus stick and booting up with it.
Maybe what I read was for the D.I.Y. machines…
But Rufus is used to create new Windows install media from official unmodified images provided by Microsoft. You then use that media to perform a clean reinstall of Windows, preserving none of the preinstalled content.
Doesn’t creating new install media somewhat subvert the use of the preinstalled version of Windows on the prebuilt laptops?
If you were going to reinstall from clean media, yes, you would need to install drivers.
You may be right about the pre-builts. Maybe we’ll hear here definitively from a Framework person.
I think that the Windows 11 install image on the pre-built laptops must have all necessary drivers to complete configuration and activation out of the box.
This is a community forum. Framework employees pop in here and there, but this is not an official support channel for them. However, DHowett is correct. Pre-built systems come with Windows and the necessary driver pack already installed.
To load Windows on a DIY machine it has been necessary to load a driver package after loading the Windows download. This was because the standard Windows download did not contain drivers for the Wifi card that was fitted, along with a few other items. It may be that current downloads of Windows will contain the needed drivers as microsoft applies updates to the download.
Certainly if you get a machine with Windows already loaded that will have any needed additional drivers loaded as well.
If you are reinstalling windows on a pre-built, or installing fresh on a DIY edition you will need extra drivers to gain full functionality of the hardware as not all drivers are available on the official install media
However, this is for hardware not essential to the initial install, you will be able to install Windows and load the driver bundle after the install.
You should look up the current mechanisms to bypass the always online account checks in the current Windows 11 install, or make use of a USB->Ethernet dongle/dock to get online for the OOBE (if you don’t want to bypass the microsoft account “requirement” the OOBE tries to convince you is needed) as the wifi drivers are drivers that typically are not included in the install media. In either case once you exit OOBE you can use a USB drive to install the driver pack, or if you used a USB->Ethernet dongle/dock to get online in OOBE use windows update to get all drivers or use the driver bundle provided by Framework.