From 76b8455191c5973494b4c25dbeb39fcb2d31031d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Sean (ANGRYxScotsman)" <36518683+seanh1995@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:41:02 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] made Win 11 Creator page --- docs/content/userguide/_index.md | 9 ++ .../_index.md} | 0 docs/content/userguide/win11Creator/_index.md | 153 ++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 162 insertions(+) rename docs/content/userguide/{getting-started.md => getting-started/_index.md} (100%) create mode 100644 docs/content/userguide/win11Creator/_index.md diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/_index.md b/docs/content/userguide/_index.md index baf2cacfe0..51fb889c9e 100644 --- a/docs/content/userguide/_index.md +++ b/docs/content/userguide/_index.md @@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ New to Winutil? Start here: 2. **[Application Store](store/)** - Learn to install software easily 3. **[Tweaks Guide](tweaks/)** - Optimize your system 4. **[Features & Fixes](features/)** - Troubleshoot common issues +5. **[Win11 Creator](win11Creator/)** - Build a custom debloated Windows 11 ISO ## Main Features @@ -79,6 +80,12 @@ Automate Winutil configurations for: **[Read the Automation Guide →](automation/)** +### 💿 Windows 11 Creator + +Build a custom Windows 11 ISO with bloatware removed, telemetry disabled, and hardware requirement checks bypassed — then export it as an ISO file or write it directly to a USB drive. + +**[Read the Win11 Creator Guide →](win11Creator/)** + ## Quick Links | I want to... | Go to... | @@ -89,6 +96,7 @@ Automate Winutil configurations for: | Fix Windows Update problems | [Features - Fixes](features/) | | Automate setup for multiple PCs | [Automation](automation/) | | Understand what tweaks do | [Tweaks Guide](tweaks/) | +| Build a custom Windows 11 ISO | [Win11 Creator](win11Creator/) | ## Safety and Best Practices @@ -146,6 +154,7 @@ This User Guide covers everything you need to know: 2. **[Application Store](store/)** - Installing software, using presets 3. **[Tweaks](tweaks/)** - System optimizations and customizations 4. **[Features & Fixes](features/)** - Troubleshooting tools and utilities +5. **[Win11 Creator](win11Creator/)** - Build a custom debloated Windows 11 ISO 6. **[Updates](updates/)** - Managing Windows Update behavior 7. **[Automation](automation/)** - Scripting and batch deployments diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/getting-started.md b/docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md similarity index 100% rename from docs/content/userguide/getting-started.md rename to docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/win11Creator/_index.md b/docs/content/userguide/win11Creator/_index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..8ee0ddaf05 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/content/userguide/win11Creator/_index.md @@ -0,0 +1,153 @@ +--- +title: Win 11 Creator +weight: 5 +--- + +## Using Winutil's Win11 Creator + +Winutil includes a built-in **Win11 Creator** tool that lets you take any official Windows 11 ISO and produce a customized, debloated version — with telemetry removed, hardware requirement checks bypassed, and local account setup enabled out of the box. You can export the result as a new ISO file or write it directly to a USB drive. + +> [!IMPORTANT] +> You need a valid Windows 11 ISO before starting. Download one from [Microsoft's official site](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11) or use [UUP Dump](https://uupdump.net/). The process uses ~10–15 GB of temporary disk space, so make sure you have room. + +--- + +### Step 1 — Select Your ISO + +1. Open Winutil and go to the **Win11 Creator** tab. +2. Click **Browse** and select your Windows 11 ISO file (must be 4 GB or larger). +3. The file path and size will appear on screen once selected. + +--- + +### Step 2 — Mount & Verify + +1. Click **Mount & Verify ISO**. +2. Winutil mounts the ISO, checks for a valid `install.wim` or `install.esd`, and reads the available editions (Home, Pro, Enterprise, etc.). +3. Once verified, select your desired **edition** from the dropdown — Pro is selected by default if available. + +> [!NOTE] +> This step takes around 10–30 seconds depending on your drive speed. + +--- + +### Step 3 — Run the Modification + +Click **Run Windows ISO Modification and Creator** to start the customization process. Winutil will: + +- **Remove 40+ bloat apps** — Clipchamp, Teams, Copilot, Dev Home, new Outlook, Bing apps, Solitaire, and more +- **Delete OneDrive setup** from the image +- **Apply registry tweaks** — disables telemetry, advertising ID, tailored experiences, and cloud content features +- **Bypass hardware checks** — removes TPM, Secure Boot, CPU, and RAM requirement enforcement so the ISO installs on unsupported hardware +- **Enable local account setup** — injects an `autounattend.xml` that skips the Microsoft account screen during OOBE +- **Strip unused editions** — keeps only your selected edition, saving 1–2 GB per removed edition +- **Clean the component store** — runs DISM cleanup to reclaim another 300–800 MB +- **Remove telemetry scheduled tasks** — CEIP, Appraiser, WaaSMedic, and others + +A live log shows progress as each step completes. This stage takes **10–30 minutes** depending on your disk speed — the WIM dismount near the end is the slowest part, so don't close Winutil while it's running. + +--- + +### Step 4 — Export Your Result + +Once modification is complete, choose how to save your image: + +{{< tabs items="Save as ISO,Write to USB" defaultIndex="0" >}} + + {{< tab >}} + 1. Click **Save as an ISO File**. + 2. Choose a save location (defaults to your Desktop as `Win11_Modified_yyyyMMdd.iso`). + 3. Winutil builds a dual BIOS/UEFI bootable ISO using `oscdimg.exe`. + + > [!NOTE] + > `oscdimg.exe` (part of the Windows ADK) is required. If it's not found, Winutil will attempt to install it automatically via winget. If that fails, install it manually: `winget install -e --id Microsoft.OSCDIMG` + + **Typical output size:** 2.5–3.5 GB (down from 5–6 GB original) + {{< /tab >}} + + {{< tab >}} + 1. Click **Write Directly to a USB Drive**. + 2. Select your USB drive from the dropdown (click **Refresh** if it doesn't appear). + 3. Click **Erase & Write to USB** and confirm the warning — **all data on the drive will be permanently erased**. + 4. Winutil formats the drive as GPT with a 512 MB EFI partition and copies the modified Windows files. + + > [!WARNING] + > Double-check you have selected the correct drive before confirming. This operation cannot be undone. + + **Minimum USB size:** 8 GB recommended. Writing takes 10–20 minutes. + {{< /tab >}} + +{{< /tabs >}} + +--- + +### Step 5 — Clean Up (Optional) + +Click **Clean & Reset** to delete the temporary working directory (~10–15 GB) and reset the tool back to its initial state, ready for a new ISO. You'll be asked to confirm before anything is deleted. + +--- + +### What the Modified ISO Does Differently + +When you install Windows 11 from your modified ISO: + +- **No Microsoft account required** — create a local account directly during setup +- **No hardware checks** — installs on machines without TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or supported CPUs +- **Dark mode enabled by default** +- **Empty taskbar and Start Menu** — no pinned apps +- **Windows Update re-enabled automatically** after first login (it's paused during OOBE to prevent interruption) +- **BitLocker disabled**, Recall disabled, desktop shortcuts removed + +--- + +### Troubleshooting + +| Problem | Fix | +|---------|-----| +| "install.wim not found" | Not a valid Windows 11 ISO — download a fresh one from Microsoft | +| "oscdimg.exe not found" | Run `winget install -e --id Microsoft.OSCDIMG` then retry | +| USB drive not showing up | Plug it in, wait a few seconds, then click **Refresh** | +| Modification seems stuck | The WIM dismount step is slow — wait at least 10 minutes before assuming it's frozen | +| "Access Denied" error | Make sure Winutil is running as Administrator | + +--- + +A list of the best free and open source tools for downloading, creating and flashing Windows ISOs. + +## Download Windows ISOs + +| Tool | Description | Website | +|------|-------------|---------| +| **[UUP Dump](https://uupdump.net/)** | Download Windows UUP files directly from Microsoft's servers and convert them into a clean ISO — great for getting the latest builds | [uupdump.net](https://uupdump.net/) | +| **[Microsoft Media Creation Tool](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11)** | Microsoft's official tool for downloading and creating Windows 10/11 installation media | [microsoft.com](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11) | + + +## Customize Windows ISOs + +| Tool | Description | Website | +|------|-------------|---------| +| **[MicroWin](https://github.com/CodingWonders/microwin)** | A C# desktop app for building stripped-down, customized Windows ISOs — the original predecessor to Winutil's old MicroWin feature | [github.com](https://github.com/CodingWonders/microwin) | +| **[Tiny11 Builder](https://github.com/ntdevlabs/tiny11builder)** | PowerShell script that strips a Windows 11 ISO down to the bare minimum — removes bloatware and bypasses hardware requirements | [github.com](https://github.com/ntdevlabs/tiny11builder) | +| **[NTLite](https://www.ntlite.com/)** | Remove Windows components, integrate drivers and updates, and build a custom ISO before installation | [ntlite.com](https://www.ntlite.com/) | + + +## Flash ISOs to USB + +| Tool | Description | Website | +|------|-------------|---------| +| **[Rufus](https://rufus.ie/)** | The go-to tool for creating bootable Windows USB drives. Supports bypassing Windows 11 TPM/Secure Boot requirements and downloading ISOs directly | [rufus.ie](https://rufus.ie/) | +| **[Ventoy](https://www.ventoy.net/)** | Install once, then just copy any ISO files onto the USB — supports booting multiple ISOs from a single drive without re-flashing | [ventoy.net](https://www.ventoy.net/) | +| **[balenaEtcher](https://etcher.balena.io/)** | Simple, beginner-friendly ISO flasher with a clean interface | [etcher.balena.io](https://etcher.balena.io/) | + + + +--- + +> [!TIP] +> Already have a Windows 11 ISO? Skip the third-party tools and use Winutil's built-in **[Win11 Creator](#using-winutilss-win11-creator)** at the top of this page. + +> [!NOTE] +> Always download Windows ISOs from official Microsoft sources or trusted tools like Rufus/UUP Dump to avoid tampered images. + +> [!NOTE] +> Newer Windows 11 ISOs may not boot correctly on older versions of Ventoy — make sure Ventoy is up to date before use. If issues persist after updating, this is a Ventoy compatibility limitation outside of Winutil's control. \ No newline at end of file From 8d31044e25be9cee1c223ce12c6ade730a656eb7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Sean (ANGRYxScotsman)" <36518683+seanh1995@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:16:36 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] update store to application --- docs/content/userguide/_index.md | 8 ++++---- docs/content/userguide/{store => application}/_index.md | 2 +- docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md | 4 ++-- 3 files changed, 7 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) rename docs/content/userguide/{store => application}/_index.md (98%) diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/_index.md b/docs/content/userguide/_index.md index 51fb889c9e..e61871dd69 100644 --- a/docs/content/userguide/_index.md +++ b/docs/content/userguide/_index.md @@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Winutil is designed for: New to Winutil? Start here: 1. **[Getting Started Guide](getting-started/)** - Installation and first steps -2. **[Application Store](store/)** - Learn to install software easily +2. **[Application Store](application/)** - Learn to install software easily 3. **[Tweaks Guide](tweaks/)** - Optimize your system 4. **[Features & Fixes](features/)** - Troubleshoot common issues 5. **[Win11 Creator](win11Creator/)** - Build a custom debloated Windows 11 ISO @@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ New to Winutil? Start here: Browse and install hundreds of popular applications with a single click. No more hunting for download links or dealing with installer bloat. -**[Read the Store Guide →](store/)** +**[Read the Store Guide →](application/)** ### ⚙️ System Tweaks @@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Build a custom Windows 11 ISO with bloatware removed, telemetry disabled, and ha | I want to... | Go to... | |--------------|----------| | Install Winutil for the first time | [Getting Started](getting-started/) | -| Install applications quickly | [Application Store](store/) | +| Install applications quickly | [Application Store](application/) | | Speed up my computer | [Tweaks Guide](tweaks/) | | Fix Windows Update problems | [Features - Fixes](features/) | | Automate setup for multiple PCs | [Automation](automation/) | @@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ Want to help improve Winutil? This User Guide covers everything you need to know: 1. **[Getting Started](getting-started/)** - Installation, first run, basic usage -2. **[Application Store](store/)** - Installing software, using presets +2. **[Application Store](application/)** - Installing software, using presets 3. **[Tweaks](tweaks/)** - System optimizations and customizations 4. **[Features & Fixes](features/)** - Troubleshooting tools and utilities 5. **[Win11 Creator](win11Creator/)** - Build a custom debloated Windows 11 ISO diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/store/_index.md b/docs/content/userguide/application/_index.md similarity index 98% rename from docs/content/userguide/store/_index.md rename to docs/content/userguide/application/_index.md index 5937492f56..f4bf9d0966 100644 --- a/docs/content/userguide/store/_index.md +++ b/docs/content/userguide/application/_index.md @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ --- -title: Store +title: Applications weight: 2 --- diff --git a/docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md b/docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md index 42a4351332..d5b6c8d291 100644 --- a/docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md +++ b/docs/content/userguide/getting-started/_index.md @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ --- -title: Getting Started with Winutil +title: Getting Started weight: 1 --- @@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ If Winutil downloads but doesn't open: Now that you're set up, explore these guides: -- [Application Installation Guide](../store/) - Learn about installing software +- [Application Installation Guide](../application/) - Learn about installing software - [Tweaks Guide](../tweaks/) - Understand system optimizations - [FAQ](../../faq/) - Common questions and answers