Create Custom or Lite Version of Windows 11


blacxarea

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The full version of Windows 11 build in the form of ISO image actually can be copied to another new image with some customizations.
Say we are going to install Windows 11 on an old PC without TPM and SecureBoot, even worse doesn't have SSD and GPT/UEFI,
or for some people that don't really need the "full perfect" package that MS delivered, we can add and/or remove many components
from the full version build to just like what we exactly need.

First of all, get the newest full version ISO if you don't already have one:

0. UUPDump

One of the most popular software to edit the operating system ISO is NTLite. This tool have the easy-to-use GUI interface even for the
beginner. But be careful when removing the components, and make sure that you only remove what is not needed. I tried with deleting
all the Modern Apps, Hyper-V, WSL, and Microsoft Edge. Then add Mozilla Firefox, Classic Paint and Classic Calculator.

We can also add some new themes to replace the original Windows 11 themes, but make sure to install the new theme engine. When
it's Windows 10, UltraUXTheme is the most popular theme engine, but I had check that it's not working for Windows 11, so we can
use SecureUXTheme. The old themes from Windows 10 still can be used in Windows 11. Just make sure it's for the latest build of Windows 10.
Niivu from Deviant Art created so many excellent themes.

Check and re-check after finish adding and removing components, before compile the ISO to the new lighter image.
Why there's no detailed step-by-step instructions? Because I know most people here are more clever than me.

Here are the links for the softwares:

1. NTLite
2. Mozilla Firefox
3. Classic Paint
4. Classic Calculator
5. SecureUXTheme
6. Windows Themes

After carefully add and remove components, I have the new ISO that's only 1,9GB, added some registry tweaks including the tweaks for bypassing SecureBoot
and TPM requirements, also replace the Windows 11 explorer.exe with the one from Windows 11. Use Rufus to make a bootable USB drive for a clean install,
or you can directly install Windows 11 to a USB drive using WinToUSB.

7. Rufus
8. WinToUSB

That's all.
DON"T ever try to download some already made lite version of Windows (any build), because there's no trusted and official release for these custom versions.
I've checked some already made ISO, they mostly removed Windows Defender and included some suspicious new files inside.
So, it will be much better if you make it by yourself, make it and use it safely for your own need.

Go! Dig!
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Build 22000.71

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Unbranded
    CPU
    AMD Phenom(tm) II X2 555 Processor 3.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M4A785T-M
    Memory
    Kingston 16GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce GTX 650
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x LG 20" Display
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900 60MHz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue 1TB HDD
    ADATA 500GB SSD
    Midas Force 500GB SSD
    PSU
    Enermax 500W
    Case
    Unbranded
    Cooling
    Unbranded
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wired K120
    Mouse
    Logitech Wired B100
    Internet Speed
    20MB Download 1,5MB Upload
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    McAffee, Malwarebytes, Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Are you sneaking?
What is the point of doing a lite version?

They do not improve performance and on most modern drives, the amount of space saving is insignificant.

Forums are littered with tales of woe where somebody removed e.g. Cortana or Defender and then found they could not reinstate them when needed, or they could not get updates etc.

People often hack windows following dodgy guides on web WHICH never mention the most crucial advice "MAKE AN IMAGE BACKUP FIRST".

I dispute claims that Lite versions perform better. It just means user has not properly optimised installation e.g. turn off various privacy options, stop background apps running etc.

My laptop (new and old) both idle at around 1% CPU, with barely any disk/network access in normal operation.I tried a lite version and it made no detectable difference as I expected.

Of course, some people have an obsession with getting rid of stuff they do not use, so I guess there will always be a market for lite versions, but do not kid yourself it has an operational benefit, except perhaps on low end machines with limited disk space.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
What is the point of doing a lite version?

They do not improve performance and on most modern drives, the amount of space saving is insignificant.

Forums are littered with tales of woe where somebody removed e.g. Cortana or Defender and then found they could not reinstate them when needed, or they could not get updates etc.

People often hack windows following dodgy guides on web WHICH never mention the most crucial advice "MAKE AN IMAGE BACKUP FIRST".

I dispute claims that Lite versions perform better. It just means user has not properly optimised installation e.g. turn off various privacy options, stop background apps running etc.

My laptop (new and old) both idle at around 1% CPU, with barely any disk/network access in normal operation.I tried a lite version and it made no detectable difference as I expected.

Of course, some people have an obsession with getting rid of stuff they do not use, so I guess there will always be a market for lite versions, but do not kid yourself it has an operational benefit, except perhaps on low end machines with limited disk space.
100% agree with comments expressed.
Things like nLite etc were perhaps fine during XP days when drives were quite small and horribly slow IDE spinners.

These days a standard W11 / W10 install even with Office installed and a few apps like photoshop rarely takes more than 40 GB - if that -- absolutely no point in messing around with this stuff to save a few GB = and as there's no moving parts on an SSD / NVMe I'm at a loss to see how you could gain any performance improvement whatsoever. Data access on these devices take the same time wherever data is located on the drive -- not like having to move a physical head and set cylinder / cluster commands.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
I tried to go this way, but you would not believe dependencies there are, like removing Edge might prevent you from playing some games, even simply disabling something might break apps, let alone removing it and the only way to get it back is reinstall. I used to install Windows like twice a day. It is a great hobby, if you have plenty of time, I prefer install and forget, so post-installation setup.

This is mine lite OS. 70 processes, 1000 threads, 25000 handles and zero CPU/Disk/Network activity.

12-Sep-21.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
I tried to go this way, but you would not believe dependencies there are, like removing Edge might prevent you from playing some games, even simply disabling something might break apps, let alone removing it and the only way to get it back is reinstall. I used to install Windows like twice a day. It is a great hobby, if you have plenty of time, I prefer install and forget, so post-installation setup.

This is mine lite OS. 70 processes, 1000 threads, 25000 handles and zero CPU/Disk/Network activity.

View attachment 7788
Lol, I have 3.5x the amount of processes, 3.3x the amount Threads and 105000 more Handles going on on my laptop currently.

Great job there! 😄
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 build 10.0.22631.3296 (Release Channel) / Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo A485
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 2700U Pro
    Motherboard
    Lenovo (WiFi/BT module upgraded to Intel Wireless-AC-9260)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    iGPU Vega 10
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" FHD (built-in) + 14" Lenovo Thinkvision M14t (touch+pen) + 32" Asus PB328
    Screen Resolution
    FHD + FHD + 1440p
    Hard Drives
    Intel 660p m.2 nVME PCIe3.0 x2 512GB
    PSU
    65W
    Keyboard
    Thinkpad / Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    600/300Mbit
    Browser
    Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    SecureBoot: Enabled
    TPM2.0: Enabled
    AMD-V: Enabled
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 build 10.0.22631.3296(Release Preview Channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i7-7700k @4.8GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus PRIME Z270-A
    Memory
    32GB 2x16GB 2133MHz CL15
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GTX1080Ti FTW 11GB
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" 10-bit Asus PB328Q
    Screen Resolution
    WQHD 2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB ADATA SX8000NP NVMe PCIe Gen 3 x4
    PSU
    850W
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Internet Speed
    600/300Mbit
    Browser
    Edge (Cromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    AC WiFi Card
another tool like ntlite ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 10 pro / windows 11 pro testing
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 7400 3.3 GHZ turbo 3.5
    Motherboard
    ASUS H110 m-r
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4 2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 1050 TI 4GB DX12
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD GReen 500GB HDD
    Internet Speed
    300 mb/s
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Eset
Can with nlite we do a custom windows iso file with more than one win10 and win11 versions?
For example to one and only iso file i have in it win10 pro, win10 home, win11 pro, win11 home.

Can you please tell me what parameters i must choose so i make the latest win11 iso i download from ms site doesn't have.

01. The tpm protection and i can install it even at very old pc's without this.
02. I can install it even at old pc without uefi bios
03. When i make a clean install install ALL the win11 into one and only partition and not to two or three partitions.
04. If i can disable the automatic updates.

Now i am at an old pc with win7sp1 and i want to custom the win11 iso file from this system.
Can i do that with the ntlite program?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Browser
    Firefox

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