Autounattend.xml: Automating a Clean Windows Install

Placeholder. Full article coming soon.

This post will cover autounattend.xml, the Windows answer file that automates a clean install: what it is, which passes and components matter, how to strip the bloat and telemetry prompts, and how to boot straight into a lean gaming install without clicking through OOBE.

Planned sections

• What an unattended answer file actually does during Windows setup.
• Where autounattend.xml has to live on the USB for setup to find it.
• The passes that matter: windowsPE, specialize, oobeSystem.
• Skipping OOBE, local account creation and the Microsoft account requirement.
• Removing preinstalled apps and disabling telemetry prompts at install time.
• Partitioning and disk configuration.
• Validating the file before you commit to an install.

Download

The answer file is available here: autounattend.zip

Extract the archive and place autounattend.xml in the root of your Windows installation USB. Setup picks it up automatically at boot.