Installing Windows - alarwasyi98/dotfiles-win GitHub Wiki

There are many ways to install Windows on your machine. The most widely used is the conventional way of using a USB-Stick containing an ISO file of Windows. However, this way Windows will automatically install bloatware or built-in applications that take up enough space. For this reason, I use a utility in the Windows installation process, namely Unattend Winstall by MemtechTips

[!WARNING] Before proceeding with the installation or any major configuration changes, it is highly recommended to create a Restore Point. Make sure you understand the risks and benefits of this file. Do it at your own risk!

Creating Ventoy Bootable USB with Unattended Install

This guide explains how to create a powerful, multi-bootable USB stick using Ventoy, including Booting multiple ISO files, Using Windows Unattended installation file (autounattend.xml), Customizing GRUB themes.

Requirements

  • USB Flash Drive (8GB minimum recommended)
  • Ventoy (Windows version)
  • ISO files (Windows, Linux distros, etc.)
  • Optional: autounattend.xml (for silent Windows installs)
  • Optional: GRUB theme (for Ventoy interface customization)

Install Ventoy on Your USB

Download Ventoy from the official site. Extract the zip, and run Ventoy2Disk.exe as Administrator then select your USB drive listed. Click Install → (This will format the USB!). Once installed, your USB will contain:

├── Ventoy/
└── EFI/

Next step is Adding ISO Files to Your USB Drive. By simply drag and drop any .iso or .img files into the USB.

[!note] You can add multiple OSes (e.g. Windows10.iso, archlinux.iso, etc.)

Install Unattended Answer File to The Ventoy USB

Answer file is used for For automating Windows deployments across workstations. To automate Windows installation:

First thing you have to do is download autounattend.xml file. Otherwise, you can create create your own Answer File using Schneegans Unattend Generator Tool

Let's move on to the next step. Create a folder in your Ventoy USB.

  1. Create ISO folder in root, and put the downloaded Windows ISO File inside it
  2. Create Templates folder in root and put the autounatted.xml file inside it
  3. Run Plugson.exe inside extracted ventoy file. A new browser window should open up with a Ventoy web interface ready to go.
  4. Click on Auto Install Plugin menu and fill with absolute path to you ISO file and Answer File.
  5. Click "OK" and close the window.

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Customize GRUB Theme

  1. Download a GRUB theme (e.g. from Gnome-look.org)
  2. Extract the theme into:
Ventoy/theme/<your-theme-folder>/
  1. Create or edit the Ventoy/ventoy.json file with:
{
  "theme": {
    "file": "/theme/<your-theme-folder>/theme.txt",
    "gfxmode": "1920x1080"
  }
}

Example Layout

📁 Ventoy
├─ ISO/
│  ├─ Windows/
│  │  └─ Windows11.iso
│  └─ Templates/
│     └─ autounattend.xml
├─ Ventoy/
│  ├─ Theme/
│  │  └─ Theme_Name/
│  │     └─ Theme_Name.txt
│  └─ ventoy.json
├─ EFI/
├─ Ubuntu.iso
└─ ArchLinux.iso

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