Step 1: Create a custom ISO - gex581990/Ultimate-Windows-ISO-and-Optimizations GitHub Wiki

Preparation

  1. Download this whole repository by clicking on the green code button and choosing zip file. This should work too
  2. Merge this registry file so you can run my script as administrator using the context menu (right click menu)
  3. Run my script to download all the necessary and helpful apps to make a custom ISO (Also included a lightweight 7zip clone and Winmerge so you can merge and compress your files to backup because a clean install is definitely necessary for the best outcome). Make sure that the folder is unzipped with both Import AppX.ps1 and packages.json in the folder together because the script uses the packages file to import the Apps via Winget. Right-click Import AppX.ps1 and run it as administrator. It will then download everything you need.
  4. Backup your files. Use Winmerge if you got multiples of files or trying to compare folders to figure out what stuff you can delete to save space if you need to. Use Nanozip to compress what you are backing up so it doesn't take up as much space. Then either upload it to a cloud of your choice, put on a drive that isn't getting formatted for the Windows install, or a USB drive.

Everything needed for Custom ISO

NTlite- Tool to make custom Windows ISO's to debloat, customize your OS, alter online images, and remove any reinstalled bloat from an update. It's absolutely worth paying for the home edition, worth everything dollar. You can try the free version but I'm not sure how limited it is.

My Ntlite config- My configs were made with the goal of having the most debloated I could make the OS while also keeping compatibility in tact for gaming, general multi-tasking, VM's, and developing tools. Most debloated ISO's or configs are solely focused on gaming and break alot of OS features especially stuff like VM's, dev environments, or even stuff as simply as printing or using headphones. Some ISO's even break the start menu and Appx altogether making things really difficult. So I kept average useful stuff intact, somethings may be disabled but still intact just needing a setting changed. But even on high end systems my custom iso's alone make an enormous difference even before apply all my tweaks.

A Windows ISO- I recommend choosing "English International" for the language cause that alone debloats some of the garbage they try to force on us.

The appraiserres.dll-This is an empty dll file meant to replace the one inside a Windows 11 ISO in the Sources folder. This is the newest way to bypass the ridiculous requirements for Windows 11 since Microsoft has mitigated other methods.

Rufus- program to put Windows ISO's onto a USB drive. Open up Powershell and paste this in it to install it.

winget install -e --id Rufus.Rufus

Creating the ISO

First you need NTlite, you should have it installed if you already ran Import AppX. You should pay for the Home version, you can try it with the free version but I'm not sure how limited it is (Paid is worth every penny tho). Open NTlite, click on Add and choose ISO image then point to the Windows ISO you downloaded. Then mount/load the version of Windows you plan on using (usually Home or Pro). Now import my preset and load it. You can go through and make changes if you are an advanced user but beware there is plenty of things that can break Windows or break something you don't intend to. I recommend just jumping straight to Post Setup. Now add the template "Disable Hibernate" and add the zip file of this repository (otherwise you gotta use Internet Explorer or Edge to download it, or put it on a flash drive). Now create the iso. When it's complete open the ISO like a zip file with Nanazip to see it's contents. Open the "sources" folder and copy over the appraiserres.dll from this repository and overwrite the old one which then allows you to bypass requirements on install. If you don't and your system doesn't meet the requirements you will be stuck in a loop because other methods to bypass requirements won't work anymore.

Putting Windows ISO on USB Drive

Open Rufus and make sure your USB drive is the device chosen. There are other features and settings on Rufus but they aren't necessary in this case so leave them as is. Now select the ISO you just created, click start and Rufus will then put the ISO on the drive.

Now you a ready to go to Step 2 Installing Windows.