WinMIX: Unattended Windows 11 Installation

An automated method for installing a clean, streamlined Windows 11 experience, even on unsupported (old) hardware.

If, like me, you are "responsible" for maintaining computers and tech for all your family, relatives, and friends, this project offers a solution to simplify the Windows 11 installation process. It provides a customized autounattend.xml file that automates the setup, delivering a consistent, bloat-free, starting point without relying on third-party tools that often require ongoing maintenance and are prone to failure. The solution leverages the native Windows setup mechanism for maximum stability and reliability.

Prerequisites

• A USB drive (8 GB or larger)

  Note that a few USB sticks out there may not support booting for some reason.

Customization

The following items in the unattended installation file can be customized if needed:

• Localization: To change the localization, modify lines 86 and 93-96 in autounattend.xml (By default it is set to Finnish).

  For a comprehensive list of available languages and input locales, refer to the Microsoft documentation.

• User Account: The default username for the initial user account can be changed on line 114.
• For more advanced modifications, refer to the generator URL provided at the end of this document.

Usage

The process is very simple, TL;DR: Create a bootable USB drive, copy the autounattend.xml file to it, and boot from the drive.

1. Use the official Windows 11 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive.

   The en-US x64 version is strongly recommended, as other versions may not function correctly. Additional language packs to change the display language can be installed later.

2. Place the autounattend.xml file in the root directory of the USB drive.
   Here is direct link: https://github.com/Knud3/WinMIX/raw/refs/heads/main/autounattend.xml
3. Boot the computer from the USB drive to begin the automated installation.

The installation process is almost entirely automatic; you only need to select the installation drive/partition.

Optional Post-Installation Tools

Language Pack

To install additional language packs, execute the following command in an administrative PowerShell console. For a list of available languages, refer to the Microsoft documentation. The example below installs the Finnish language pack.

Note that the command may take over 15 minutes to complete, during which it might appear unresponsive.

Install-Language -ExcludeFeatures:$true -CopyToSettings -Language fi-FI

Windows Package Manager

For a unified way to install, manage, and keep your applications up-to-date, you can install UniGetUI by running the following commands in an administrative PowerShell console:

Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force
Install-Script winget-install -Force
winget install --exact --id MartiCliment.UniGetUI --source winget --override "/NoAutoStart /ALLUSERS /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART"

Packages

For basic installations, I like to include the following packages. With the exception of the K-Lite Codec Pack (which is freeware), all are free open-source softwares.

Essentials:

• ImageGlass - Lightweight and versatile image viewer
• K-Lite Codec Pack - Collection of codecs for playing a wide range of audio and video formats
• LibreOffice - Powerful and private office suite compatible with Microsoft Office
• MPC-HC - Lightweight and highly customizable media player
• NanaZip - Modern file archiver based on 7-Zip

Nice-to-haves:

• FFmpeg - Comprehensive multimedia framework for handling audio and video
• FreeTube - Private desktop YouTube player without ads or tracking
• Greenshot - Snipping tool on steroids with extensive annotation and export options
• HandBrake - Video transcoder for converting videos to various formats
• Libre Hardware Monitor - Tool for monitoring computer hardware, including temperatures, fan speeds, and voltages
• LibreWolf - Custom version of Firefox focused on privacy, security, and user freedom
• MacType - Utility for better font rendering in Windows (must have on OLED screens)
• OBS Studio - Live streaming and screen recording
• OpenRGB - RGB lighting control for various components and peripherals
• PowerToys - Collection of utilities for customizing Windows and streamlining tasks
• Syncthing - Continuous file synchronization between multiple computers/servers
• VSCodium - Alternative to VS Code, without Microsoft's branding or telemetry
• Windhawk - Customization marketplace for Windows programs
• WinDirStat - Disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool

Key Features

This unattended configuration performs a wide range of modifications to streamline the user experience, enhance privacy, and remove unnecessary components.

Installation & Account

• Complete Hardware Check Bypass: Skips the checks for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU, RAM, and storage, allowing installation on older or unsupported machines.
• No Microsoft Account Required: The setup is configured to bypass the mandatory online account creation.
• Fully Automated OOBE: Skips all setup prompts, including the End-User License Agreement (EULA) and network connection screens (BypassNRO).
• Local Account by Default: Creates a passwordless local administrator account named user and logs in automatically on the first boot.
• No Password Expiration: The local user's password is set to never expire.

Privacy & Telemetry

• Comprehensive Telemetry Disabled: Disables system-level telemetry, data collection policies, feedback notifications, and the Customer Experience Improvement Program.
• Activity & Data Collection Disabled: Prevents tracking of app launches, user activities, and the advertising ID. Disables the location sensor and restricts inking/typing data collection.
• Cloud Content Disabled: Turns off "tailored experiences," cloud-optimized content, and consumer features.
• PowerShell Telemetry Opt-Out: Sets the system-wide environment variable to opt out of PowerShell data collection.

User Interface & Experience

• Classic Feel: Restores the classic non-combined taskbar buttons and the classic right-click context menu.
• Clean Desktop: The Start Menu and Taskbar are left empty, providing a clean slate for customization. The "Recommended" section in the Start Menu is hidden.
• Left-Aligned Taskbar: The taskbar is aligned to the left, and icons for Chat, Task View, and Search are removed.
• Dark Theme & Custom Appearance: Sets the system and app theme to dark, enables transparency, and applies a new custom accent color (#444759) to the Start Menu, Taskbar, and window borders. A solid dark wallpaper (#282A36) is also set.
• Sensible Defaults: Configures File Explorer to open to "This PC," show hidden files, and display file extensions.
• Reduced Animations & Sounds: Disables most UI animations for a faster feel and turns off all system sounds.

System & Performance

• Stable Updates: Defers Windows feature updates for 365 days and quality updates for 4 days, preventing you from being a beta tester. Crucial security updates are applied promptly.
• Hibernation & Fast Startup Disabled: Turns off hibernation and the Hiberboot feature for a more traditional shutdown process.
• Performance Tweaks: Disables filesystem last access time logging and prevents automatic device encryption (BitLocker).
• Wake Timers Disabled: Prevents devices and scheduled tasks from waking the computer.

Removed Components & Bloatware

• Core Components Removed: Uninstalls OneDrive, Copilot, and disables the new Recall feature.
• Extensive App Removal: Automatically removes a large number of provisioned AppX packages and bloatware, with a safe list to preserve essential apps like Calculator, Notepad, and Paint.
• Scheduled Tasks Disabled: Removes unnecessary scheduled tasks related to application compatibility, data updates, and error reporting.

Other Changes

Beyond the key features mentioned above, this configuration applies a large number of granular changes to the system for performance, privacy, and user experience. The following is a comprehensive list of those modifications:

• Updates & Servicing:
  • Sets Windows Update to automatically download and schedule installations, but disables automatic reboots if a user is logged in.
  • Disables the Delivery Optimization service, which prevents your PC from uploading updates to other PCs.
  • Removes the C:\Windows.old directory on the first logon to save space.
  • Removes the unattend.xml files from the system after setup is complete to ensure a clean state.
• Services & Features:
  • Disables the Remote Assistance feature.
  • Disables the telemetry uploader service (dmwappushservice).
  • Disables the location framework service.
  • Disables the Windows Ink Workspace.
  • Disables automatic map updates.
• Network:
  • Disables network access entirely until the first user logon is complete, then re-enables it.
  • Disables the system's active probing for internet connectivity status.
• Input & Accessibility:
  • Disables mouse acceleration for a more direct and predictable mouse response.
  • Disables the Sticky Keys accessibility prompt from appearing when the Shift key is pressed multiple times.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Prevents the automatic installation of Outlook and Dev Home.
  • Disables Automatic Restart Sign On (ARSO), which prevents Windows from automatically signing you in after an update.
  • Enables Auto Game Mode for better performance in games.
  • Disables audio ducking (the feature that lowers the volume of other applications when you are in a call).
• Network Privacy: Disables automatic connections to Wi-Fi Sense hotspots and the reporting of Wi-Fi hotspot data.
• User Activity:
  • Disables the Activity Feed feature.
  • Disables device-wide search history.
• Input & Personalization:
  • Prevents the preload of the Windows Input application.
  • Disables the Smart Clipboard feature.
  • Disables cloud-powered typing suggestions and online speech dictation for new users.
  • Resets suggested content and app recommendations for new users.
• Security & Prompts: Sets the UAC (User Account Control) to its default security level, prompting for consent on the secure desktop.
• Microsoft Edge:
  • Hides the first-run experience and welcome pages.
  • Disables the Hubs Sidebar.
  • Disables the startup boost and background running features.
• Desktop & Taskbar:
  • Hides most default icons (This PC, User's Files, Network, etc.) from the desktop, leaving only the Recycle Bin.
  • Enables the "End Task" option in the taskbar right-click context menu for new users.
  • Disables the News and Interests (Widgets) feature.
• Start Menu & Lock Screen:
  • Unlocks the Start Menu layout, allowing users to customize it after the initial setup.
  • Disables Windows Spotlight, tips, and slideshows on the lock screen for new users.
• Visuals & Sound:
  • Disables the Windows startup sound.
  • Increases the default cursor and text size for better visibility on HiDPI displays.

Disclaimer

This project modifies the standard Windows installation process. Use it at your own risk. The author is not responsible for any data loss or damage that may occur.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the unattend-generator project, which provided the excellent baseline and generator.

Unattend Generator URL

Note: This configuration includes manual adjustments that are not available through the web-based generator.

Here is the world longest URL to the generator.