AutoUnattend.xml: Your Ultimate Windows 11 Installation Automation Tool 🖥️✨

AutoUnattend.xml is a powerful automation file designed to streamline the installation of Windows 11, making the process faster, more efficient, and completely hands-free. Inspired by and partially generated using tools from Schneegans Unattend Generator, it is packed with custom scripts, configurations, and optimizations that simplify setup while providing a clean, debloated, and optimized Windows environment.

🎯 Features at a Glance

General Installation Automation

• Automates user creation, partitioning, and regional settings.
• Automatically accepts the Windows license agreement (EULA).
• Configures the system to bypass user prompts during installation.

Bypassing Hardware Requirements

• Enables installation on systems that do not meet Windows 11's strict hardware requirements by:
  • Bypassing TPM checks.
  • Ignoring Secure Boot requirements.
  • Allowing systems with lower RAM than required.

User Account Setup

• Creates a local administrator account with customizable username and password.
• Enables automatic login for the first user session.

Removing Bloatware and Unnecessary Features

• Scripts embedded in the file systematically remove:
  • Apps: Xbox, OneDrive, Feedback Hub, Paint3D, Cortana, Weather, and more.
  • Capabilities: Internet Explorer, Fax and Scan, Windows Media Player.
  • Features: PowerShell V2, Remote Desktop Connection, Math Recognizer.
  • A detailed list of removed items can be found in the remove-packages.ps1, remove-caps.ps1, and remove-features.ps1 scripts.

System Tweaks and Optimizations

• Configures Windows Explorer to open to "This PC" and enables classic context menus.
• Disables unnecessary startup sounds and widgets.
• Activates long file paths and disables UAC (User Account Control) for smoother operations.

Windows Update Control

• Temporarily pauses Windows Updates to maintain system stability during post-installation configurations.

Customizing the Default User Profile

• Applies default settings such as enabling hidden files and showing file extensions.
• Silences system notifications and disables app suggestions.
• Ensures consistent preferences for all users created on the system.

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🛠️ How It Works

What It Does

1. Automates Installation: Removes manual inputs during the setup process for a smooth installation.
2. Bypasses Hardware Checks: Registry edits are applied during the windowsPE pass to bypass TPM, Secure Boot, and RAM checks.
3. Customizes Windows: Runs a series of embedded scripts (.ps1, .vbs, .xml) to remove unwanted apps, apply system tweaks, and finalize the setup.
4. Prepares the Default User Profile: Configures default settings to ensure a consistent experience across user accounts.

How It Does It

The process is divided into configuration passes:

• windowsPE: Handles initial setup tasks like hardware requirement bypass and user data configuration.
• specialize: Executes core customizations and scripts for removing bloatware, disabling features, and applying registry tweaks.
• oobeSystem: Finalizes the user setup, configures auto-logon, and applies first-logon commands.

Embedded scripts handle tasks like:

• remove-packages.ps1: Removes pre-installed apps (e.g., Xbox, Weather, OneDrive).
• remove-caps.ps1: Removes capabilities like Internet Explorer and Math Recognizer.
• remove-features.ps1: Disables Windows features like PowerShell V2 and Remote Desktop.

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🚀 How to Use 🔧

Prerequisites

1. Download Windows 11 ISO:
   • Obtain the latest ISO from Microsoft's official site.
2. Bootable USB Creation Tool:
   • Use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
3. Text Editor:
   • Use a text editor like Notepad or VS Code to modify the file.

Steps

1. Download and Clone:

   git clone https://github.com/Deffz-Finesse/Debloated-Windows-11-Install.git

2. Modify AutoUnattend.xml:
   • Open AutoUnattend.xml and replace the placeholders:
     • (CHANGE WITH NAME) → Replace with your desired username. Also make sure to remove the brackets!
     • (CHANGE WITH PASSWORD) → Replace with your password.
   • Save the file.
3. Prepare the Bootable USB:
   • Use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 ISO.
   • Copy the AutoUnattend.xml file to the root directory of the USB.
4. Install Windows:
   • Insert the USB into the target computer and boot from it.
   • The installation will proceed automatically, applying all configurations.

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🧙 What It Removes and Why

Bloatware Apps (via remove-packages.ps1)

• Microsoft Store apps like:
  • Clipchamp
  • Feedback Hub
  • Paint 3D
  • Sticky Notes
  • Xbox Game Bar
  • Weather
• Goal: Free up storage, improve performance, and reduce distractions.

Windows Capabilities (via remove-caps.ps1)

• Internet Explorer
• Windows Media Player
• Fax and Scan
• Math Recognizer
• Goal: Remove legacy features to modernize the system.

Optional Windows Features (via remove-features.ps1)

• PowerShell V2
• Remote Desktop Connection
• Snipping Tool
• Goal: Reduce resource usage and potential attack surfaces.

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💡 Tips for Best Results

• Test in a Virtual Machine: Before deploying to physical hardware, test the configurations in a virtual environment like VirtualBox or VMware.
• Backup Important Files: Always back up critical data before performing a clean install.
• Customize Further: Modify the included scripts to add or remove features as needed.

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🔗 Resources

• Download Windows 11 ISO
• Windows Answer File Reference
• Unattend File Generator

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🙌 Contributions

Feel free to fork, submit issues, or open pull requests to improve this repository. Together, we can create the ultimate Windows installation experience.

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Enjoy your journey to a faster, cleaner, and smarter Windows experience! 🚀