Custom Windows install

Question

What is the best way to implement a custom Windows install? By this, I mean a Windows installation that already has settings changed to my liking, instead of the default settings; examples would be taskbar configuration.

Gorfmaster1 · Accepted Answer

There are a ton of services that can do this. It really depends on how many you are planning on deploying. It is generally called a Golden Image that you would deploy to your computers. There are some Group Policy settings (If you're using Active Directory) that can modify or enforce some of those changes. I personally use Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) for my imaging. There are other ways like Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) that can create Packages for configuration.

Supaplex · Answer

Depending on what exactly is required to be changed, you can still go with the default installation image and run a Powershell post-installation script to get things changed according to your needs https://gal.vin/posts/old/start-menu-and-taskbar-customisation/. This approach has a huge benefit over most of the others proposed above since it does not require you to rebuild the image every time a new version or build of the OS arrives. Moreover, the customization script should work more or less similarly on any Windows version.

joseespitia · Answer

MDT can accomplish this and its free.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/deploy-windows-mdt/deploy-a-windows-10-image-usi...

delta-sierra_426 · Answer

Often called a golden image in the IT world.

Beyond ones already mentioned, I like to use a program called NTLite for image editing. Easy and intuitive GUI, although it isn't a free tool.

https://www.ntlite.com/

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molan · Answer

what toolsets do you have and work with now? what is best to you would be highly depended on your goals and existing systems.

Windows MDT and WDS are one way to go, but if you use MS 365 and are licensed for Intune, then I would suggest the Intune Autopilot route instead. but there are litterally dozens if not hundreds of options in this space

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IKECR262 · Answer

Hi there,have a look at this guide, hope it works for youhttps://www.techtarget.com/searchenterprisedesktop/tip/How-to-create-a-custom-ISO-for-Windows-10

Don.W · Answer

Your looking for how to create a reference image.Here  and here along with sysprep

Custom Windows install

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