Create windows installation with Pre-Installed software

[henrydnb]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to create a USB to reimage my machine and since I do it very often I find myself installing all the applications manually to be a bit of a pain.

At work we have USB drives that go to Win PE and let you select the software that you want to have installed automatically.

Is this something that can be done easily or requires knowledge? If there is a guide on how to do it please link it for me, Thanks!

 

[bazbazan]

Hello henrydnb,

There's a toolset from Microsoft for that purpose: Windows AIK (Automated Installation Kit). Among other tools, it contains DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) which can build custom WIM (Windows Image) files with preinstalled software. General idea is that you install clean version of Windows, add software of your choosing, and then pack it up to custom WIM using DISM from AIK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Assessment_and_Deployment_Kit

 

[ac13044]

would like to know myself hate when you gotta install everything again

 

[SgtScream]

The easiest way to do this, is the next time you do a "fresh install" and reinstall your applications (Have everything perfect the way you want it).
Go to:
Control panel>System and Security>Backup and Restore
There you can create a system image and save it to an external hard drive or a spare drive in your computer (along with creating a system repair disk).
You can schedule do to this ongoing, or only once & and you can manually specify what personal data you'd like to include in the image.

 

[henrydnb]

Hello henrydnb,

There's a toolset from Microsoft for that purpose: Windows AIK (Automated Installation Kit). Among other tools, it contains DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) which can build custom WIM (Windows Image) files with preinstalled software. General idea is that you install clean version of Windows, add software of your choosing, and then pack it up to custom WIM using DISM from AIK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Assessment_and_Deployment_Kit

Hey, I will try this method but I will also try SgtScream's method and see which one is better for me.

Thanks!