UnattendedWinstall

Introduction

UnattendedWinstall leverages Microsoft's Answer Files (or Unattend files) to automate and customize Windows installations. It allows uninstallation of Windows Apps and Features and changes to Windows Settings during the Windows setup process.

Why Use an Answer File?

• Provides transparency by allowing inspection of all changes in the answer file.
• Runs directly on official Windows ISOs from Microsoft, eliminating the need for unofficial sources.
• Utilizes a Microsoft-supported feature designed for streamlined mass deployment of Windows installations.
• Enables automated configuration across multiple devices, saving time and effort by eliminating repetitive manual setups.

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[!NOTE] UnattendedWinstall has been tested and optimized for personal use. For those unsatisfied or interested in customizing further, consider creating your own answer file using: </br> - Winhance Unattend Generator following this video guide. </br> - Schneegans Unattend Generator following this video guide.

Versions

Support the Project

If UnattendedWinstall has been useful to you, consider supporting the project, it really does help!

Feedback and Community

If you have feedback, suggestions, or need help with UnattendedWinstall, please feel free to join the discussion on GitHub or our Discord community:

Requirements

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • (Tested on Windows 10 22H2 & Windows 11 23H2, 24H2 and 25H2)
  • (32-bit, 64-bit and arm64 is supported)

What Does UnattendedWinstall Do?

The UnattendedWinstall answer file comes with detailed descriptions for nearly all configurations and registry tweaks, which are available for inspection here on GitHub. For customization, download the answer file and open it in editors like Cursor or VSCode.

Key Features

• Ability to choose Windows Edition (Unless Windows setup detects key in UEFI BIOS)
• Bypasses Windows 11 system requirements
• Skips forced Microsoft account creation during Windows setup
• Removes all preinstalled bloatware apps except Notepad, Calculator, Paint and Snipping Tool.
  • Copilot, OneDrive and Edge are removed along with all other UWP apps.
  • Recall is disabled.
• Applies the following Optimizations:
  • Privacy & Security (Disables telemetry and ads)
  • Power Settings (Imports and applies the Winhance Power Plan for better performance)
  • Gaming & Performance (Applies settings and visual effects to improve performance, sets unneeded services to manual, disables unneeded scheduled tasks)
  • Windows Updates (Disables auto updates and configures Windows Update to notify of available security updates only)
  • Notifications (Disables all notifications except if related to privacy and security)
  • Sound (Disables startup sound during boot, sets audio ducking preference to 'Do Nothing')
• Applies the following Customizations:
  • Windows Theme (Sets Dark Mode by default, disables transparency effects)
  • Taskbar (Hides search, task view and widget icons, aligns to the left on Windows 11)
  • Start Menu (Unpins all items from start menu, Disables Bing search results in start)
  • Explorer (Applies Classic Context Menu, opens File Explorer to this PC, shows file extensions, hides Home and Gallery folders in Navigation Pane and much more)

[!TIP] Use Winhance once Windows is installed (can be installed using the 'Install Winhance' desktop shortcut) to install software, re-apply or revert settings and manage your Windows apps and settings.

It can also be used to achieve the same experience UnattendedWinstall provides on an existing Windows installation without reinstalling Windows, see this video for more info.

Usage Instructions

To use an answer file, include autounattend.xml at the root of your Windows Installation Media to be executed during Windows setup.

[!IMPORTANT]
Ensure the answer file is named autounattend.xml; otherwise, it won’t be recognized by the installer.

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Using Memory's WIMUtil in Winhance (Highly Preferred)

To use WIMUtil, follow these steps:

1. Download and install Winhance from Winhance.net or GitHub.

2. Launch Winhance, click on the "Advanced Tools" navigation button (bottom left) and select WIMUtil.

Once launched, WIMUtil guides you through a wizard:

1. Select or Download Windows ISO
2. Add Latest UnattendedWinstall Answer File Automatically, create one with Winhance or select your own file
3. Extract and Add Current Device Drivers to Installation Media
4. Create New ISO with Customizations Included

Once the ISO file is created:

1. Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive with Ventoy
2. Copy the New ISO File to the Ventoy Flash Drive
3. Boot from the USB flash drive, choose your ISO & Install Windows

For more info, check out the full video guide.

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Other Methods

Method 1: Create a Bootable Windows Installation USB

• Video Tutorial

<details> <summary>Click to Show Instructions</summary>

1. Download the autounattend.xml file and save it on your computer.

2. Create a Windows 10 or Windows 11 Bootable Installation USB drive with Rufus or the Media Creation Tool.

   Important

   • Some users have reported issues with the Media Creation Tool when creating the Windows Installation USB. Use it at your own discretion.
   • When using Rufus, don’t select any of the checkboxes in “Customize Your Windows Experience,” as it creates another autounattend.xml file that might overwrite settings in the UnattendedWinstall file.

3. Copy the autounattend.xml file you downloaded in Step 1 to the root of the Bootable Windows Installation USB you created in Step 2.

4. Boot from the Windows Installation USB, do a clean install of Windows as normal, and the scripts will run automatically.

</details>

Method 2: Create a Custom ISO File

• Video Tutorial

<details> <summary>Click to Show Instructions</summary>

1. Download the autounattend.xml file and save it on your computer.
2. Download the Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO file depending on the version you want.
3. Download and install AnyBurn
   • In AnyBurn, select the “Edit Image File” option.
   • Navigate to and select the Official Windows ISO file you downloaded in Step 2.
   • Click on “Add” and select the autounattend.xml file you downloaded in Step 1, or just click and drag the autounattend.xml into the AnyBurn window.
   • Click on “Next,” then on “Create Now.” You should be prompted to overwrite the ISO file; click on “Yes.”
   • Once the process is complete, close AnyBurn.
4. Use the ISO file to install Windows on a Virtual Machine OR use a program like Rufus or Ventoy to create a bootable USB flash drive with the edited Windows ISO file.

Important

• When using Rufus, don’t select any of the checkboxes in “Customize Your Windows Experience,” as it creates another autounattend.xml file that might overwrite settings in the UnattendedWinstall file.

5. Boot from the Windows Installation USB, do a clean install of Windows as normal, and the scripts will run automatically.

</details>

Method 3: Use Ventoy Auto Install Plugin

• Video Tutorial

<details> <summary>Click to Show Instructions</summary>

1. Download the autounattend.xml file and save it on your computer.
2. Download the Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO file, depending on the version you want.
3. Download and install Ventoy to your desired USB flash drive.
4. Prepare the folder struct