Modifying Windows 10 install USB

NecroFlex · February 23, 2023

What's the best way/method to personalise a Windows 10 USB?

I started working at a repair shop that also sells new/refurb PCs, sometimes we get hundreds to install windows on and using a normal USB and then updating windows, it takes forever. The clients are different too, so different languages.

I was wondering how can i make a Windows 10 install USB that'll have most of the languages i'd need (maybe the user can select the language when the PC first boots up, not sure how that's done) and already have all the needed drivers on it installed.

Is that possible to do? Or is it easier to fully update 1 PC and then just clone that one to all other PCs?

TylerD321 · February 23, 2023

You can add drivers to windows for set up assuming they are the same machine.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/add-device-drivers-to-windows-during-windows-setup?view=windows-11

I am wondering if there is a way to have a different language per installation media, or if you could just change the language from within windows off of a usual install?

BlueChinchillaEatingDorito · February 23, 2023

13 minutes ago, NecroFlex said:

What's the best way/method to personalise a Windows 10 USB?

I started working at a repair shop that also sells new/refurb PCs, sometimes we get hundreds to install windows on and using a normal USB and then updating windows, it takes forever. The clients are different too, so different languages.

I was wondering how can i make a Windows 10 install USB that'll have most of the languages i'd need (maybe the user can select the language when the PC first boots up, not sure how that's done) and already have all the needed drivers on it installed.

Is that possible to do? Or is it easier to fully update 1 PC and then just clone that one to all other PCs?

Doesn't it ask for language at the OOBE menu?

creesch · February 23, 2023

In the past I have used NTLite (https://www.ntlite.com) to create installations for similar purposes. There are similar tools available but I haven't used any of them.

18 minutes ago, NecroFlex said:

Is that possible to do? Or is it easier to fully update 1 PC and then just clone that one to all other PCs?

If the hardware is the same then yes, this is the most efficient method. However, I am not sure how you'd deal with licensing of windows in this case. I suppose you could do the install without activation and then activate it per PC after the image is installed.

Did you already have a google search yourself on how other shops do this? I can't imagine that there aren't any blog posts/guides about it to be found.