Creating a clean, refined, and fast Windows installation is something many of us dream about, especially if we’ve repeatedly gone through the familiar cycle: install Windows, remove the default apps, disable ads, tweak privacy settings, optimize performance, and then adjust the interface to match the way we like to work. It’s a routine that silently consumes hours every time we reinstall the operating system.
This is exactly where Winhance steps in — a utility designed to let you create a custom Windows ISO that already includes all your choices. Instead of sitting through the post-installation cleanup, Winhance embeds everything directly into the Windows installation process itself. By the time you reach the desktop, your system already feels like your system.
In this guide, let’s walk through how Winhance creates an Auto-Unattend (unattend.xml) file, how those settings translate into real changes during installation, and how you can build your own perfect Windows ISO — ready for installation on any machine.
Understanding What Winhance Actually Does
Before we begin clicking through options and generating ISOs, it helps to understand what Winhance is doing behind the scenes.
Windows supports an unattend.xml file, which is a structured sheet of instructions telling Windows Setup what to do automatically. It can remove apps, apply registry tweaks, adjust privacy settings, choose performance configurations, and even control how the user interface looks on first boot.
Traditionally, writing these XML files by hand was intimidating and prone to errors. Winhance simplifies the entire process into a visual dashboard. You simply choose what you want:
- which apps should stay or go
- how Windows should behave
- what visual layout you prefer
…and Winhance generates the correct XML file for you. This is then merged into a Windows ISO, creating a fully customized installation medium.
By the time you land on the desktop, it already reflects your preferences — no manual cleanup required afterward.
Preparing Your Choices: Apps and Bloatware
Before generating an Auto-Unattend file, Winhance encourages you to review your app selections. The idea is simple:
Whatever you check in the Software & Apps section will be removed automatically during Windows installation.
This includes:
- preinstalled Windows Store apps
- legacy Windows capabilities
- optional features
- individual components such as OneDrive or Microsoft Edge
For example, if you only want core Windows utilities like Calculator, Notepad, Paint, and Terminal, you can check everything else for removal. Winhance reads what is currently installed on your PC, interprets the “not installed” entries as safe to remove, and then includes those instructions in the XML.
Some optional features, such as Recall, can also be disabled directly from this section. Others — like OpenSSH client or Windows Media Player — remain untouched unless you intentionally check them.
It’s important to remember that checking a box does not remove anything from your current Windows system. These selections only affect the new Windows installation you will create.
Once your app list looks right, Winhance keeps those choices saved as you move to the next stage.
Setting Up Your Optimization Preferences
This is where Winhance becomes much more than a simple “debloater.” The Optimize page is filled with privacy, tracking, performance, power, and system-control settings — all of which can be included in your unattended installation.
Before going through each category, it helps to understand the philosophy behind this section:
Everything selected here becomes part of your new Windows environment.
That means:
- privacy toggles
- power plans
- gaming configurations
- service tweaks
- task scheduler adjustments
- update preferences
- visual settings
…all carry forward into the fresh installation.
For users who already maintain a highly customized setup on their main machine, Winhance simply captures all of those settings and saves them into the XML file. For instance:
- Advertising and suggestion toggles can be disabled
- Lock screen and tracking can be fully turned off
- Power plans such as “Winhance performance plan” can be selected
- Windows Update can be set to “security-only,” “default,” or fully “disabled”
- Delivery optimization can be turned off
- Notifications and sound preferences can be refined
These choices, which often take hours to manually adjust after installation, now apply automatically during Windows Setup.
Even advanced settings like scheduled task removals or system service defaults can be carried over.
Fine-Tuning the Interface: Customizing Windows the Way You Prefer
Once the functional adjustments are complete, Winhance allows you to design the look and feel of your new Windows installation.
The Customize section controls:
- dark or light mode
- transparency effects
- taskbar alignment
- start menu layout
- context menu style
- explorer preferences
- file extension visibility
- navigation pane layout
For example, if you prefer:
- dark mode
- clean taskbar with search hidden
- taskbar aligned left
- classic right-click context menu
- start menu with no recommended items
- File Explorer opening to “This PC”
- hidden gallery and home folders
…Winhance writes all of these choices directly into the XML file.
It’s also worth noting that some settings may only apply to Windows 10 or Windows 11. Winhance indicates this and lets you decide whether to include them. Even if you embed settings for the “other” version, Windows simply ignores incompatible registry keys, so it won’t break anything.
Once everything is set, your custom configuration is ready to be packed into the Auto-Unattend file.
Generating the Auto-Unattend XML
When your app removals, optimizations, and UI customizations feel complete, it’s time to generate the XML file.
You’ll find the option under Advanced Tools → Generate Auto-Unattend XML.
Winhance double-checks that you’re confident about your selections. After confirmation, it saves the XML to your chosen location. This single file represents your entire configuration, and during Windows installation, Setup will follow it step-by-step.
Winhance then reports that the file was created successfully.
This XML file can now be embedded into your Windows installation media.
Preparing Your Windows ISO With WIMUtil
While there are several ways to embed the XML file, Winhance includes a convenient tool called WIMUtil, which guides you through a four-step process:
Step 1 — Select a Windows ISO
Choose a Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO. If needed, Winhance can download the latest version directly from Microsoft.
Step 2 — Extract the ISO
WIMUtil extracts the ISO into a working folder so that files can be modified.
Step 3 — Add the Auto-Unattend XML
This step places your generated XML file into the correct directory inside the installation media.
Step 4 — Optional: Add Drivers
If you are reinstalling Windows on the same PC you’re using to create the ISO, Winhance can extract all current drivers and add them to the image. This ensures that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, storage controllers, and GPU drivers work from the first boot.
For installations on different hardware, you can skip this step.
Step 5 — Create the New ISO
WIMUtil then rebuilds the ISO. If you don’t have the Windows ADK installed, WIMUtil will guide you through installing it first.
After creation, you’ll have a fully customized Windows ISO — complete with your Winhance configuration.
Installing Windows With Your New Custom ISO
Once the ISO is prepared, it needs to be copied to a bootable USB drive. Tools like Ventoy make this easy by allowing you to simply copy the ISO onto the drive without formatting it again.
Boot the target computer, select the USB drive, choose your ISO, and begin the Windows installation.
During setup, Windows silently reads the Auto-Unattend file and starts applying your instructions:
- removing apps
- disabling unwanted features
- applying your privacy and performance settings
- building your visual layout
- adjusting taskbar and explorer
- controlling Windows Update
- enabling power plans
By the time you reach the desktop, everything already reflects your choices — dark mode, classic menus, hidden recommendations, performance tweaks, and a clean Explorer layout.
Even newly created user accounts inherit the same configuration, ensuring consistency for every user profile.
Viewing Logs and Verifying What Was Applied
Winhance also writes detailed logs during installation. You can find them in:
C:\ProgramData\Unattend\Logs\
These logs show which services were modified, which registry keys were applied, and which user-interface elements were customized. It’s a helpful way to confirm exactly what happened during installation.
A Quick but Important Note
Disclaimer:
Using XML-based automated installations modifies Windows behavior during Setup. While these changes are safe when using Winhance’s validated configurations, users should always ensure their selections are intentional. Disabling Windows Update entirely may affect security, so review update-related options carefully before generating your ISO.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of Winhance lies in its ability to take something traditionally technical — XML scripting — and convert it into a straightforward visual process. Instead of spending hours cleaning a new installation of Windows, you design your preferences once, generate the XML, embed it into an ISO, and enjoy a perfectly curated installation every time.
Whether you’re rebuilding multiple machines, maintaining a clean workflow across devices, or simply tired of repeating the same Windows cleanup steps, Winhance gives you full control from the very first moment Windows starts installing.
If you want, I can also expand this article into a full 2000+ word dtptips long-form guide with illustrations, sections on troubleshooting, best practices, registry explanations, and example configurations. Just say “Expand it fully.”
#Windows11 #Winhance #CustomISO #WindowsSetup #TechGuide
