AutoUnattend.xml Partitioning Failure

hsehestedt · 03 Oct 2023

Yikes! I completely forgot that owed you some same answer files. I had my head buried so deep in in something else. I will get thos to you later tonight or tomorrow first thing in the morning at the latest.

hsehestedt · 04 Oct 2023

EDIT

I have slightly revised the first of the two answer files that I posted. In my original post, the first answer file set no password while the second answer file set a file of "Password1". I'm not a fan of inconsistencies so I modified the first answer file to also set a password of "Password1". The comments in the answer file also reflect the current settings.

END OF EDIT

Below are two sample answer files (save and name as autounattend.xml). They are heavily commented. For best results, view these in your web browser since this will show the comments in a different color making it easier to read. You also view them in notepad if you prefer. Of course, you can simply view them right here as well.

The first answer file uses the method of simply not using a DiskConfiguration section at all. This will setup to pause so that you can select the destination for the Windows install, then it proceeds completely unattended.

The second answer file is a fully unattended installation that partitions the destination drive using diskpart.

IMPORTANT: Both answer files have "RunSynchronousCommand" sections that are used to bypass the Windows 11 system requirements for computers that don't meet Windows 11 requirements. In the first answer file, there are four "RunSynchronousCommand" entries. In the second answer file there are twenty "RunSynchronousCommand" entries. The first four are for the purpose of bypassing the Windows 11 requirements and the remaining entries (five through twenty) are the ones that are used for partitioning the drive. Note that it is perfectly fine to use these answer files for Windows 10 as well. The entries used to bypass the Windows 11 system requirements simply won't have any effect on Windows 10.

Any questions? Feel free to ask, I am only too happy to help!

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--
Notes about this answer file:

It includes a Windows 10 / 11 Pro key.

It creates an Admin level user named "WinUser", full name "Windows User" with an initial password of "Password1".

Locale settings are set to United States English.

IMPORTANT: The "User Locale" has been changed from en-US to en-001 in both places where it appears. This is the equivalent of
           "English (World)". By doing this, Windows will not believe itself to be in a location where Microsoft Store access
           is available and as a result none of the "bloatware" placeholder icons will be installed to Start. After Windows is
           installed you will need to do the following:

           1) Make certain that Windows has Internet access BEFORE you perform step 2 below. If you perform step 2 before
              Windows has had a chance to connect to the Internet, the placeholder icons will appear in Start as soon as
              Internet access becomes available.

           2) Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Under "Region" change "Country or region" to United States
              (or the region appropriate to you). Also, change the "Regional format" to "English (United States)" or to the
              setting appropriate for your region. Note that "Recommended" can also be used here.

Time zone is set to US Central Time.

No disk configuration section is included. This will allow the same answer file
to be used on any system no matter what disk Windows is to be installed on. As
a result of this, the user will be asked where to install Windows. After the
user specifies the location, the remainder of setup will continue unattended.

It includes settings to bypass Windows 11 system requirements.

This answer file can be used with both Windows 10 and 11. The settings to bypass
Windows 11 system requirement checks will have no effect on Windows 10.

END OF NOTES
-->
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-001</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <Path>\install.wim</Path>
                        <!--
Below you will find 4 lines that are commented out. These lines will allow you to specify a specific Windows edition to install
in those case where your Windows image has more than one of the same edition. As an example, suppose that you have more than
one Windows Pro edition. Maybe one of these is a standard Windows Pro edition, and another has Windows Pro with drivers added
for use in a specific system. If you are specifying a generic Windows Pro key for installation, setup will pause and expect
you to specify which Windows Pro edition to install since there is more than one. By uncommenting the section below, you
are telling setup exactly which one of these to install. Make sure to update the index value to the correct value for
your situation.

Note that you can also change the value for "key"  to /IMAGE/NAME or /IMAGE/DESCRIPTION to specify the edition to be
installed by NAME or DESCRIPTION rather than by index number.
-->
                        <!--
                        <MetaData wcm:action="add">
                            <Key>/IMAGE/INDEX</Key>
                            <Value>6</Value>
                        </MetaData>
-->
                    </InstallFrom>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassTPMCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>3</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassRAMCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>4</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassCPUCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-001</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <DisplayName>Windows User</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>WinUser</Name>
                        <Password>
                            <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>1</LogonCount>
                <Username>WinUser</Username>
                <Password>
                    <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
            </AutoLogon>
            <FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>reg add &quot;HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon&quot; /v AutoLogonCount /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f</CommandLine>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OEMInformation>
                <Manufacturer></Manufacturer>
                <SupportHours></SupportHours>
                <SupportPhone></SupportPhone>
                <SupportURL></SupportURL>
            </OEMInformation>
            <OEMName></OEMName>
            <TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog://godzilla/data_diskmy data/my software/windows installation and deployment apps and tools/assets and tools for deployment/catalog files for windows sim/windows 11 22h2 catalog files/install_windows 11 pro.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--
Notes about this answer file:

This answer file is for UEFI based systems only.

It includes a Windows 10 / 11 Pro key.

It creates an Admin level user named "WinUser", full name "Windows User" with an initial password of "Password1".

Locale settings are set to United States English.

IMPORTANT: The "User Locale" has been changed from en-US to en-001 in both places where it appears. This is the equivalent of
           "English (World)". By doing this, Windows will not believe itself to be in a location where Microsoft Store access
           is available and as a result none of the "bloatware" placeholder icons will be installed to Start. After Windows is
           installed you will need to do the following:

           1) Make certain that Windows has Internet access BEFORE you perform step 2 below. If you perform step 2 before
              Windows has had a chance to connect to the Internet, the placeholder icons will appear in Start as soon as
              Internet access becomes available.

           2) Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Under "Region" change "Country or region" to United States
              (or the region appropriate to you). Also, change the "Regional format" to "English (United States)" or to the
              setting appropriate for your region. Note that "Recommended" can also be used here.

Time zone is set to US Central Time.

It includes settings to bypass Windows 11 system requirements.

The size of the recovery partition created by this answer will be larger than normal at 2 GB. Change this if you are very short on space.

It will install automatically to disk 0 and creates the recovery partition last, as Microsoft recommends. To accomplish this,
we do not use the standard method of specifying the disk configuration information, but we create a diskpart script to
configure the disk.

This answer file can be used with both Windows 10 and 11. The settings to bypass
Windows 11 system requirement checks will have no effect on Windows 10.

END OF NOTES
-->
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-001</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallTo>
                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                        <PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
                    </InstallTo>
                    <!--
Below you will find 6 lines that are commented out. These lines will allow you to specify a specific Windows edition to install
in those case where your Windows image has more than one of the same edition. As an example, suppose that you have more than
one Windows Pro edition. Maybe one of these is a standard Windows Pro edition, and another has Windows Pro with drivers added
for use in a specific system. If you are specifying a generic Windows Pro key for installation, setup will pause and expect
you to specify which Windows Pro edition to install since there is more than one. By uncommenting the section below, you
are telling setup exactly which one of these to install. Make sure to update the index value to the correct value for
your situation.

Note that you can also change the value for "key"  to /IMAGE/NAME or /IMAGE/DESCRIPTION to specify the edition to be
installed by NAME or DESCRIPTION rather than by index number.
-->
                    <!--
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <MetaData wcm:action="add">
                            <Key>/IMAGE/INDEX</Key>
                            <Value>6</Value>
                        </MetaData>
                    </InstallFrom>
-->
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
<!--
The first 4 Synchronous Commands below bypass the Windows 11 system requirement checks. The checks that are bypassed are:

TPM Check
Secure Boot Check
RAM Check
CPU Check

The remaining Synchronous Commands will partition the hard disk with the following settings:

NOTE: Synchronous Command #5 selects disk 0. If disk 0 is not the disk you need to use, change this to the correct disk number.

Partion Type   |     Size (in MB)       | Format
================================================
    EFI        |            260         | FAT32 
    MSR        |            128         | NONE
  Windows      | Remaining Space - 2 GB | NTFS
  Recovery     |           2,048        | NTFS
================================================
-->

            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassTPMCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>3</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassRAMCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>4</Order>
                    <Path>reg add HKLM\System\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassCPUCheck /t reg_dword /d 0x00000001 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>5</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo select disk 0 &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>6</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo clean &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>7</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo convert gpt &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>8</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo create partition efi size=260 &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>9</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo format fs=fat32 quick label=&quot;System&quot; &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>10</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo create partition msr size=128 &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>11</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo create partition primary &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>12</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo shrink desired=2048 minimum=2048  &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>13</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo format fs=ntfs quick label=&quot;Windows&quot; &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>14</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo assign letter=W &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>15</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo create partition primary &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>16</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo format fs=ntfs quick label=&quot;Recovery&quot; &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>17</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo set id=&quot;de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac&quot; &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>18</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001 &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>19</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c echo exit &gt;&gt; X:\diskpartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>20</Order>
                    <Path>cmd.exe /c diskpart.exe /s X:\DiskPartUEFI.txt</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-001</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <DisplayName>Windows User</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>WinUser</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>reg add &quot;HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon&quot; /v AutoLogonCount /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f</CommandLine>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>
            <AutoLogon>
                <Password>
                    <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <Username>WinUser</Username>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>1</LogonCount>
            </AutoLogon>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OEMInformation>
                <Manufacturer></Manufacturer>
                <SupportHours></SupportHours>
                <SupportPhone></SupportPhone>
                <SupportURL></SupportURL>
            </OEMInformation>
            <OEMName></OEMName>
            <TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog:c:/data/windows/windows tools and deployment apps/assets and tools for deployment/catalog files for windows sim/windows 11 22h2 catalog files/install_windows 11 pro.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

hsehestedt · 08 Oct 2023

@IamTurtle,

Did the information that I provided help? Did you have any questions regarding this?

zerocoolroot · 1 Week Ago

Hi there..!!

I'm using Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.3447 and in the autounattend.xml file it changed from en-US to en-001 "English (World)" in both places where it appears but it didn't work. The Apps have been installed.

Is it still working in these new Builds..??

Thank you in advance..!!

Note: Sorry my bad english, I'm from Brazil..!!

garlin · 1 Week Ago

Sorry. This hack of changing your language to English (World) is ineffective. All it does is break the post-install process so no pinned Apps appear on your Start Menu. No software is actually removed by this trick. Many non-technical bloggers keep spreading this fake news online.

There are "de-bloat" scripts online to help remove some of the installed Apps. Some of those can be run from Post-Setup if they don't require any user input.

hsehestedt · 1 Week Ago

garlin said:

Sorry. This hack of changing your language to English (World) is ineffective. All it does is break the post-install process so no pinned Apps appear on your Start Menu. No software is actually removed by this trick. Many non-technical bloggers keep spreading this fake news online.

There are "de-bloat" scripts online to help remove some of the installed Apps. Some of those can be run from Post-Setup if they don't require any user input.

Garlin,

You are 100% correct that this does not actually remove / uninstall anything. But I do still use this trick on occasion just to start with a nice clean Start screen. I only use it occasionally because it's also easy to just unpin those items manually, but it's an interesting option to know about.