Solved Debloated Windows 11 Home or Pro Installation

unless you have a legit way to activate LTSC.. yes

dacrone said:

unless you have a legit way to activate LTSC.. yes

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Then using a de-bloating script would be the best way to go.

So, going on with that method, what happens to the license key that the machine already came with? The one that's burned into the BIOS?

windows reactivates itself after reinstall using it

Also, just to confirm, you don't have to use Rufus to do the automated script, correct?

I believe this video is one example of this. Make sure you skip to 4:56

No you can use the .xml I provided, use Rufus to generate a .xml, or make your own .xml.

Or you can install windows and then debloat via a myriad of options for tools to do so.

dacrone said:

windows reactivates itself after reinstall using it

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Yeah, I need to keep that key. I bought it and I'd only use a generic one as a last resort.

cheaterslick said:

Yeah, I need to keep that key. I bought it and I'd only use a generic one as a last resort.

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see posts #10 and #20

Contrary to what Schneegan says (quoting MS docs that it cannot be blank), you can run a blank <Key></Key>. That's what Rufus does today.

krism said:

Who made the xml file. Who has edited it. Where is it from. How often is it updated. By whom.

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Wow! I think you're lacking about 10 more questions.

wakarimasen

krism said:

wakarimasen

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it was sarcasm

imho too many folks here do little but criticise others' posts. seems to be de regeur and widely accepted here. Adds to their post counts.
a mindless trade wind.

krism said:

I would do it differently.
The default for rufus 4.6 is : and that is how I would run it - seems mindless.

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krism said:

Who made the xml file. Who has edited it. Where is it from. How often is it updated. By whom.

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krism said:

imho too many folks here do little but criticise others' posts. seems to be de regeur and widely accepted here. Adds to their post counts.
a mindless trade wind.

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....yeah

krism said:

imho too many folks here do little but criticise others' posts. seems to be de regeur and widely accepted here. Adds to their post counts.
a mindless trade wind.

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I've seen you do it, also.

pseymour said:

I've seen you do it, also.

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(OT) give example please.TY

pseymour said:

I've seen you do it, also.

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uphill battle. now this topic is going to be 3 pages and 2 of them will be spam lol. (not you, obv). wish i had the superpower to clean/lock threads

Yes, I wish you did too.
My apologies to @dacrone in that the answer to my original question could, I assume, have been gotten by research. The result is that I understand that you have offered a different way to install windows. Would I personally choose to use it? no. Why? I can't depend on your changes. Simply personal choice. I would have to verify the whole xml and I am far too lazy. They may all be correct but I do not have the time to verify them or to troubleshoot something that might be caused by them. I do hope that it is all correct and in the end helpful to folks. I will not reply further on this thread except to direct question from @dacrone . sorry.

@dacrone I’ve thought about posting tools and such like you and LesFerch have done, but I think I’ll do it on GitHub and just link to it here, so I can remove noise.

pseymour said:

@dacrone I’ve thought about posting tools and such like you and LesFerch have done, but I think I’ll do it on GitHub and just link to it here, so I can remove noise.

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yeah i just recently (within 6 months) created a github account. i'll have to start uploading repositories soon. i'm actually building a tool right now that has 80 buttons and launches/executes many windows applications or commands. will be pretty handy for simple access once completed.

I am building a new PC with new key components and peripherals, and less than 60% old components and peripherals from my soon-to-be retired system from 2017. This old system still competitively kicks derriere considering her age, but she’s going to be relegated to standby or possibly some kind of server status when the new system is online.

I am waiting on standard DDR5 6400 RAM (I originally ordered CUDIMM DDR5 8000 RAM - more than compatible with the MoBo, but only baseline or auto configuration with the CPU without custom manual overclocking). I also RMA'd a PCIe 5.0 SSD and asked for a replacement - the one I originally received was DOA. I stuck another Gen3 M.2 in there temporarily to function check the rest of the system. I used RUFUS to install a standalone version of Win 11 Pro with all the boxes checked, no Internet, and no product ID. User input wasn't required very much at all using RUFUS until after I logged into the Windows account.

When I get the replacement SSD, I am going to give @dacrone's RUFUS build with xml a try, checking only the box for my own admin user account. Yeah, I could keep the default 'OWNER' dacrone set up and kill it later, but I want to try setting up my own account first. Posts in the thread intrigue me as to whether or not the install create two accounts, be overwitten, just flat out break, etc. My new RAM arrives in three days, but my RMA is still being processed since it was received in their warehouse just a couple days ago. I'll report back on my OS installation experience after everything is running and stabilized.

Check out new "My Computer" specs I just updated listing different RAM and the PCIe 5.0 SSD installed! The current SPEEDTEST results will go up after an upgrade from a copper-based ISP to an optic fiber-based ISP in August. I also plan to add the new ASUS ROG Rapture BE9 Pro router once fiber becomes available in my neighborhood later this year. The new PC is System 1 in “My Computer” specs, and this old (current) PC is System 2 in “My Computer” specs. Even in a stripped down skeleton state she's no slouch and still kicks derriere, although she's a little crippled without a decent GPU that can supply hardware acceleration and 3D rendering.