legowizardguy
Regular Freddie
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2024
- Messages
- 26
With the ongoing enshitification of Windows, I thought I'd share on how I do my installs. You may already have a "preferred" solution for yourself but these are some cool tools I have found.
I setup up all my win install post Windows 7 era using unattended.xmls which I highly recommend not only for remote deployment, but also for a streamlined experience.
A really good tool for generating these .xmls I have personally found and really enjoy is this website: Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11 This is so useful and really helps me with fresh installs and is very customisable. TL
R once your done generate and download your .xml and put it in the directory of your install USB - you can create one either by using RUFUS or the installation media tool from Microsoft (I'm not covering Ventoy but reply if you need). Another way is to make use of MicroWin by CTT which uses the same thing but is more configured to how WIndows 7 SP! would of come to you from Microsoft all those years ago. Or you can do a few changes with RUFUS but I find RUFUS limited in that regard but is still a good option.
Once I am in WIndows I make use of NInite or a cool toolbox by again ChrisTitusTech this can install apps via winget or chocolatey as well as being able to save your app options with a .json and import any time for the selected list of your options. Microwin is inside the CTT toolbox utility. A link can be found here: GitHub - ChrisTitusTech/winutil: Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates Its a powershell script and doesn't install on your system.
I also use either Shutup10++ and the toolbox to remove spyware, telemetry crap.
I setup up all my win install post Windows 7 era using unattended.xmls which I highly recommend not only for remote deployment, but also for a streamlined experience.
A really good tool for generating these .xmls I have personally found and really enjoy is this website: Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11 This is so useful and really helps me with fresh installs and is very customisable. TL
R once your done generate and download your .xml and put it in the directory of your install USB - you can create one either by using RUFUS or the installation media tool from Microsoft (I'm not covering Ventoy but reply if you need). Another way is to make use of MicroWin by CTT which uses the same thing but is more configured to how WIndows 7 SP! would of come to you from Microsoft all those years ago. Or you can do a few changes with RUFUS but I find RUFUS limited in that regard but is still a good option.Once I am in WIndows I make use of NInite or a cool toolbox by again ChrisTitusTech this can install apps via winget or chocolatey as well as being able to save your app options with a .json and import any time for the selected list of your options. Microwin is inside the CTT toolbox utility. A link can be found here: GitHub - ChrisTitusTech/winutil: Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates Its a powershell script and doesn't install on your system.
I also use either Shutup10++ and the toolbox to remove spyware, telemetry crap.