Solved Debloated Windows 11 Home or Pro Installation


dacrone

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i had put this together for @Hazel123 in a reply on page 3 of the ltsc thread, but figured i would create its own thread for easy access/searches by new users:

  1. download the newest 24h2 iso:
    .https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
  2. burn it to usb with Rufus *DO NOT CHECK ANY OPTION BOXES - everything is baked into the xml*
  3. open usb (just to the root - see image >)
    1740023590760.webp
  4. drag and drop the attached xml to the root
  5. boot from usb
  6. click "i dont have a product key"
  7. choose version of Windows to install (Home, Pro, etc)
  8. install
* installs with a local admin named "Owner" and skips internet connection setup (you can setup internet and change to Microsoft account post-install if desired)
* applies dark theme by default
* places url shortcuts to download Google Chrome, RevoUninstaller Portable and WinaeroTweaker on desktop
* sets windows update to notify prior to download and install for all updates
* turns off device encryption by default
* turns off widgets service by default
* optimizes microsoft edge (turns off sidebar, etc - look at all the tweaks winaero allows, it's those)
* allows Edge to be uninstalled *i had this work 2x and not work 2x during tests. have attached a zipped txt with powershell commands to make it uninstallable. just launch powershell as admin and copy/paste the commands all at once and press enter (credit: github comment somewhere)*
* disables ads/web in start, settings, search etc.
* adds Disk Cleanup, Restart Explorer, Take Ownership to context menu
* Restores New > Rich Text Format (i have attached wordpad original files if you want it back in 24h2 easily, just extract the files to C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\ and overwrite the folder "en-US" that is already in there)
* Could not get Focus Assist & Do Not Disturb to turn off programmatically. will have to go into settings and uncheck those boxes manually.
*IF PowerShell progress hangs at all once on the desktop - just click inside the window and press Enter*

here are screeshots of whats left after the post-installation modifications:

1740015094244.webp


1740015107191.webp

1740015155726.webp

1740023362087.webp

1740023485321.webp



Attachments​

 

Attachments

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
In this video, we explore how to debloat and optimize your Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems using the powerful WinScript application.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
i had put this together for @Hazel123 in a reply on page 3 of the ltsc thread, but figured i would create its own thread for easy access/searches by new users:

  1. download the newest 24h2 iso:
    .https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
  2. burn it to usb with Rufus *DO NOT CHECK ANY OPTION BOXES - everything is baked into the xml*
  3. open usb (just to the root - see image >)
    1740023590760.webp
  4. drag and drop the attached xml to the root
  5. boot from usb
  6. click "i dont have a product key"
  7. choose version of Windows to install (Home, Pro, etc)
  8. install
* installs with a local admin named "Owner" and skips internet connection setup (you can setup internet and change to Microsoft account post-install if desired)
* applies dark theme by default
* places url shortcuts to download Google Chrome, RevoUninstaller Portable and WinaeroTweaker on desktop
* sets windows update to notify prior to download and install for all updates
* turns off device encryption by default
* turns off widgets service by default
* optimizes microsoft edge (turns off sidebar, etc - look at all the tweaks winaero allows, it's those)
* allows Edge to be uninstalled *i had this work 2x and not work 2x during tests. have attached a zipped txt with powershell commands to make it uninstallable. just launch powershell as admin and copy/paste the commands all at once and press enter (credit: github comment somewhere)*
* disables ads/web in start, settings, search etc.
* adds Disk Cleanup, Restart Explorer, Take Ownership to context menu
* Restores New > Rich Text Format (i have attached wordpad original files if you want it back in 24h2 easily, just extract the files to C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\ and overwrite the folder "en-US" that is already in there)
* Could not get Focus Assist & Do Not Disturb to turn off programmatically. will have to go into settings and uncheck those boxes manually.
*IF PowerShell progress hangs at all once on the desktop - just click inside the window and press Enter*

here are screeshots of whats left after the post-installation modifications:

1740015094244.webp


1740015107191.webp

1740015155726.webp

1740023362087.webp

1740023485321.webp



Attachments​

Thanks that's really helpful :-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 14-ce3514sa
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 evo plus 2TB
    Cooling
    Could be better
    Internet Speed
    200mbps Starlink
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    Originally installed with a 500gb H10 Optane ssd
@dacrone "burn it to usb with Rufus *DO NOT CHECK ANY OPTION BOXES - everything is baked into the xml*"

I would do it differently.
The default for rufus 4.6 is : and that is how I would run it - seems mindless.

Screenshot 2025-03-17 150516.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    win 11Pro 24H2 current
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    I9-13900k
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E Gam wifi-6E, latest AMI BIOS 2801
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB Kit DDR5 6000. 6000.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti VISION OC 8G (rev. 2.0)
    Sound Card
    "Realtek USB Audio", ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ALC4080, Bose Computer Music Monitor/ Desktop Computer Speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S3221QS
    Screen Resolution
    4K but I usually display at 1K
    Hard Drives
    Sam 980 Pro 1T M.2, 990Pro, WD 570, others(all NVMe)
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e fully modular
    Case
    CoolerMaster TD500 mesh white case
    Cooling
    CPU:Thermalright aio A-E-360 V4 TOP(Thermalright anti-bend plate), CASE:3 front fans IN, 1 back fan OUT.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K55 Core RGB (install iCue, install all firmware, uninstall iCue)
    Mouse
    Logitech M510. - (retired the Corsair Harpoon RGB wireless - double clicks)
    Internet Speed
    220Mbs Starry; I226-V NIC
    Browser
    Firefox current, Tab center Reborn, etc etc etc.
    Antivirus
    BitDefender AV Free
    Other Info
    WuMgr, StartAllBack, Terabyte Image for Win, Revo Uninstaller Pro Portable.
    Time Spy Extreme 6239, VRMark Orange Room 16430, etc.
    Been doing computers since '62(IBM 7070/4(just missed their 650!!!). Managed a bunch of 360's. My first PC I think was one of the RS puters (I tried them all), a commodore, an IBM PC w DOS 3.11, and others mainly DIY (COMPUTER SHOPPER!!!) w 95, 98, xp, vista, me, 7!!!, 8, 10!!!, 11.
    I use Wondershare Filmora Basic to process my vlogs. Pocket 2
  • Operating System
    win 10, Mint
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo P15s
    CPU
    i7-10510U 1.8-4.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel SoC
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P520 2GB DDR5 supports 4K external via HDMI or USB-C
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3287 HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1K
    Hard Drives
    NVMe various
@dacrone "burn it to usb with Rufus *DO NOT CHECK ANY OPTION BOXES - everything is baked into the xml*"

I would do it differently.
The default for rufus 4.6 is : and that is how I would run it - seems mindless.

View attachment 128509
no dont check any options. all of that is baked into the xml file.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
no dont check any options. all of that is baked into the xml file.
Who made the xml file. Who has edited it. Where is it from. How often is it updated. By whom.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    win 11Pro 24H2 current
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    I9-13900k
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E Gam wifi-6E, latest AMI BIOS 2801
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB Kit DDR5 6000. 6000.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti VISION OC 8G (rev. 2.0)
    Sound Card
    "Realtek USB Audio", ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ALC4080, Bose Computer Music Monitor/ Desktop Computer Speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S3221QS
    Screen Resolution
    4K but I usually display at 1K
    Hard Drives
    Sam 980 Pro 1T M.2, 990Pro, WD 570, others(all NVMe)
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e fully modular
    Case
    CoolerMaster TD500 mesh white case
    Cooling
    CPU:Thermalright aio A-E-360 V4 TOP(Thermalright anti-bend plate), CASE:3 front fans IN, 1 back fan OUT.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K55 Core RGB (install iCue, install all firmware, uninstall iCue)
    Mouse
    Logitech M510. - (retired the Corsair Harpoon RGB wireless - double clicks)
    Internet Speed
    220Mbs Starry; I226-V NIC
    Browser
    Firefox current, Tab center Reborn, etc etc etc.
    Antivirus
    BitDefender AV Free
    Other Info
    WuMgr, StartAllBack, Terabyte Image for Win, Revo Uninstaller Pro Portable.
    Time Spy Extreme 6239, VRMark Orange Room 16430, etc.
    Been doing computers since '62(IBM 7070/4(just missed their 650!!!). Managed a bunch of 360's. My first PC I think was one of the RS puters (I tried them all), a commodore, an IBM PC w DOS 3.11, and others mainly DIY (COMPUTER SHOPPER!!!) w 95, 98, xp, vista, me, 7!!!, 8, 10!!!, 11.
    I use Wondershare Filmora Basic to process my vlogs. Pocket 2
  • Operating System
    win 10, Mint
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo P15s
    CPU
    i7-10510U 1.8-4.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel SoC
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P520 2GB DDR5 supports 4K external via HDMI or USB-C
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3287 HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1K
    Hard Drives
    NVMe various

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 13700
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime B760-Plus
    Memory
    2x DDR5-7200 16G0
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics
    Keyboard
    logitech
    Mouse
    mx vertical
    Internet Speed
    1Go Up and Down
another option. but point of the xml is to make zero user input during install. all runs auto. you could bake the .bat into the iso using ntlite or manual modification, but not just drag/drop it onto the install media (usb).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i9 14900k
    Motherboard
    MSI Z790 Gaming Plus WiFi-AMZ Gaming Motherboard
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32gb DDR5 6000Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3080 Ti 12gb
    Sound Card
    Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Headset , Astro A50 Gen 5 Wireless Gaming Headset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x34 UWQHD 165hz 1ms
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440p 165hz 1ms
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P3 Plus 500gb NVMe M.2
    WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD 1TB
    Crucial MX500 1TB
    WD Blue 1TB SSD
    PSU
    Corsair RMx Series RM1000x ATX 3.1 PCIe 5.1
    Case
    MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ
    Cooling
    ID-COOLING FX360 Pro Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CORSAIR - K70 RGB PRO Cherry MX Speed Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Glorious Model O 2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
just an easy way to create the autounattend file. can be done without the site, but the interface makes it simple for speed purposes (unless you've been doing it for a while and its second nature... which i have not)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Once you've figured out his nifty hack for extending the unattended file, by adding a "junk" XML block that Windows ignores, — you can just write your own version without the site. Which results in shorter, more readable unattended files.

Just remember, by default WinPE doesn't have PowerShell. But it's available from specialize pass onwards.
Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- Extensions adapted from https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/ (christoph@schneegans.de) -->
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Description>Create 'invisible VBS' script</Description>
                    <Path>cmd /c @echo off &amp; (echo Dim Args^(^):ReDim Args^(WScript.Arguments.Count - 1^):For i=0 To WScript.Arguments.Count - 1:Args^(i^)=""""^&amp;WScript.Arguments^(i^)^&amp;"""":Next:CreateObject^("WScript.Shell"^).Run Join^(Args^),0,True) &gt; %TEMP%\hide.vbs</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <Description>Extract scripts</Description>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs powershell -NoProfile -Command "$xml = [xml]::new(); $xml.Load('C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml'); $sb = [scriptblock]::Create( $xml.unattend.Extensions.ExtractScript ); Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb -ArgumentList $xml;"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>3</Order>
                    <Description>Bypass MS Account requirement</Description>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs cmd "/c powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\BypassNRO_Task.ps1 &gt; C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\BypassNRO_Task.log 2&gt;&amp;1"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <DynamicUpdate>
                <Enable>false</Enable>
                <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
            </DynamicUpdate>
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Description>Create 'invisible VBS' script</Description>
                    <Path>cmd /c @echo off &amp; (echo Dim Args^(^):ReDim Args^(WScript.Arguments.Count - 1^):For i=0 To WScript.Arguments.Count - 1:Args^(i^)=""""^&amp;WScript.Arguments^(i^)^&amp;"""":Next:CreateObject^("WScript.Shell"^).Run Join^(Args^),0,True) &gt; %TEMP%\hide.vbs</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <Description>Bypass HW requirements</Description>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig" /v BypassTPMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>3</Order>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig" /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>4</Order>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig" /v BypassRAMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>5</Order>
                    <Description>Create diskpart script, 800 MB Recovery</Description>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs cmd "/c @echo off &amp; (echo select disk 0 &amp; echo clean &amp; echo convert gpt &amp; echo create part efi size=260 &amp; echo format quick fs=fat32 label="System" &amp; echo create part msr size=16) &gt; X:\UEFI.txt"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>6</Order>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs cmd "/c @echo off &amp; (echo create part primary &amp; echo shrink minimum=800 &amp; echo format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows" &amp; echo create part primary &amp; echo format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery") &gt;&gt; X:\UEFI.txt"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>7</Order>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs cmd "/c @echo off &amp; (echo set id=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac &amp; echo gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001) &gt;&gt; X:\UEFI.txt"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>8</Order>
                    <Path>wscript %TEMP%\hide.vbs cmd "/c diskpart /s X:\UEFI.txt"</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                    <InstallTo>
                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                        <PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
                    </InstallTo>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key></Key>
                </ProductKey>
            </UserData>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <Extensions xmlns="https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/">
        <ExtractScript>
param(
    [xml] $Document
);

$scriptsDir = 'C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\';
foreach( $file in $Document.unattend.Extensions.File ) {
    $path = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables(
        $file.GetAttribute( 'path' )
    );
    if( $path.StartsWith( $scriptsDir ) ) {
        mkdir -Path $scriptsDir -ErrorAction 'SilentlyContinue';
    }
    $encoding = switch( [System.IO.Path]::GetExtension( $path ) ) {
        { $_ -in '.ps1', '.xml' } { [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8; }
        { $_ -in '.reg', '.vbs', '.js' } { [System.Text.UnicodeEncoding]::new( $false, $true ); }
        default { [System.Text.Encoding]::Default; }
    };
    [System.IO.File]::WriteAllBytes( $path, ( $encoding.GetPreamble() + $encoding.GetBytes( $file.InnerText.Trim() ) ) );
}
        </ExtractScript>
        <File path="C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\BypassNRO_Task.ps1">
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE' -Name 'BypassNRO' -Value 1 -Verbose -Force

$Trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogOn
$Action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'powershell' -Argument '-nop -Command "if ($env:COMPUTERNAME -notmatch ''^DESKTOP-'') { ipconfig /release; while (Get-Process WWAhost) {}; ipconfig /renew; Unregister-ScheduledTask BypassNRO -Confirm:$false }"'
Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName BypassNRO -Trigger $Trigger -Action $Action -User 'SYSTEM' -RunLevel Highest
        </File>
    </Extensions>
</unattend>
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
no dont check any options. all of that is baked into the xml file.

Well what happens if I (by accident) checked all those items anyway? Would something break?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
Well what happens if I (by accident) checked all those items anyway? Would something break?
doubt it but try it... not sure what'll happen since the xml creates a local admin named "Owner" and you set rufus to create one named something else... maybe create em both? never tried that. let me know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
The problem is Rufus wants to apply install options by creating its own \Windows\Panther\unattend.xml. If you provide an autounattend.xml on the same media, then Rufus' file wins based on search order. Which can lead to different results than what you're expecting.

Since nothing in Rufus' unattended file is magic and cannot be done by autounattend.xml, someone can just mirror all the expected changes and skip having Rufus duplicate the same tasks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
doubt it but try it... not sure what'll happen since the xml creates a local admin named "Owner" and you set rufus to create one named something else... maybe create em both? never tried that. let me know.

Yeah, I may do something like this in the future. I have a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop so it would be interesting to do something like this on a Microsoft-branded machine. Or do you know of any problems doing that?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
Yeah, I may do something like this in the future. I have a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop so it would be interesting to do something like this on a Microsoft-branded machine. Or do you know of any problems doing that?
read @garlin response right above yours. it wont break but wont work because Rufus unattend file will trump the other one
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Surface branded PC's aren't anything special in terms of Windows.

MS does provide you with a regularly updated recovery image, which is just some Windows build with your specific Surface model's HW drivers baked in, and along with a few Surface-specific support apps.

Presuming your Windows ISO has the right drivers, or the default drivers work OK enough to wait until Windows Update downloads better Surface drivers, then using the autounattend.xml works exactly the same on a Surface vs. non-Surface PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Surface branded PC's aren't anything special in terms of Windows.

MS does provide you with a regularly updated recovery image, which is just some Windows build with your specific Surface model's HW drivers baked in, and along with a few Surface-specific support apps.

Presuming your Windows ISO has the right drivers, or the default drivers work OK enough to wait until Windows Update downloads better Surface drivers, then using the autounattend.xml works exactly the same on a Surface vs. non-Surface PC.

Basically and essentially, I'm looking to de-bloat Windows 11 on supported hardware.

When I bought it early last year, the Surface Pro machine already came with a Windows 11 Home license (Pro was installed later) with a 21H2 build originally on it. I've since updated to 23H2 Pro but I don't want all the crapware that comes with 24H2.

And, it's a machine that I've already removed all my personal files from, so there's nothing else on there. I will at some point need to install Office 2021 Student Edition home and business later, but for now it's off the machine.

That's my situation. I suppose de-bloating it with the automated script would be better than overwriting it with an LTSC image. Yes? No?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB

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