Create a tailored Windows ISO using Rufus or similar tools.
Create a tailored Windows ISO using Rufus or similar tools.
I prefer not to lose my USB key since it contains ISOs I use with Ventoy. Also, I’d rather avoid privacy concerns and mandatory online sign-ins.
You typically don’t create custom ISOs with Rufus. Instead, use ntlite to edit or remove parts of the install.wim file, which is then handled by the Windows installer. If you prefer not to alter your USB setup or configuration, you can run the ISO in virtual machines. To avoid online account requirements, look for a relevant Windows 10/11 build and search with terms like “skip OOBE” or simply “no MS account / local account.” You might also opt for the enterprise version, though I’m unsure if it enforces an account requirement—home versions usually do by default at OOBE. A comprehensive ISO database is available for reference. For faster downloads, copy the MD5 hash of your chosen ISO file instead of using the torrent provided by AdGuard. I have a custom Chrome search entry at https://archive.org/search?query=theMD5 that helps with privacy-focused searches. It’s worth noting that forcing an online account in Windows is challenging; unless there’s a major congressional event tomorrow, it’s unlikely to succeed. Even with improved Windows 10 versions, I tend to avoid them and prefer keeping the OS unaware of network activity. This is quite a limitation. Edit: If you don’t want ntlite, you can use DISM to mount and modify the .wim file directly, eliminating the need for third-party tools. It’s less polished but effective.