aVRage's Windows 10-11 22H2 Preset

[aVRage]

First of all, thanks everyone for all the pro tips, when i was stucked with issues in my preset

The very first step you have to do is follow this GUIDE until STEP5 and made your base image from an Official 22H2 Windows 10-11 Pro
By following the guide from Hellbovine you got an awesome base ready to be customized with my Preset (or any other)
I said until STEP 5 because then i read every Reg files of Hellbovine and modified for my expectation. (my reg files is attached to the next msg)

Let's Start!

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First of all a wall of text for a general description and expectation from this Preset, by my point of view

Spoiler: My idea of Windows for daily stuff with a special focus on Gaming!

The focus of my Preset is a daily use of the PC mixed in functionality and Gaming of course.
I try to avoid MS iteraction in any way; and take the best from the OS for doing well what i do daily, without distraction.
I do not use HyperV Virtual Machine, but is fully functional to run Oracle VM also with encrypted drives (tested)
I do not use Office, i just use OpenOffice for my daily stuff. Office is not tested.
MS Account is unable to login
I do not use Defender & Firewall, i use a licensed Antivirus with "gaming" functionality (and is very good, surprised me)

Spoiler: Norton 360 for gamers

I use a licensed private DNS (NextDNS) as filter to avoid everything i do not like, and of course MS too

Spoiler: Example of how MS try to get info by only navigating into Settings...

Sound level per-app is fully functional, no more spike to 100% every launch of any app. Also working for UWP apps like Brave Browser / Chrome etc

Spoiler: Sound level per-app

There is no .NET framework 3.5 (can be integrated from an Official ISO if needed)
I do not use Edge, Edge is not here as Browser but is functional with his Legacy part for UWP apps
I do not use Bluetooth, is not here
Wi-Fi is untouched, works (but not tested)
As many others here, i like gaming BUT never touched Microsoft things like XBOX in windows. That said, Xbox section is not functional here! (Gaming Mode still working)

Spoiler: Gaming Mode

The games i tested right now is Cyberpunk2077, Warzone 2, Warframe, Overwatch 2, Death Stranding, Lost Ark, Black Desert.
The platform for gaming i tested is Steam, Epic, Battle.net.
The software for interacting during gaming i tested is TeamSpeak, Discord.

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Step by Step:

-Follow the guide linked above and obtain your Cleaned Image of Windows 10-11 22H2 Pro

-Make always a copy of the Cleaned Image folder as backup

-Load the path to the cleaned image folder in NTLite and double click to the Windows version you choose for load it

-Preset Import aVRage10-11.xml as preset and double click it
Alternativly if you require .NET 3.5 already active, i added a Preset called aVRage10-11 + NET3.5 BT HostRefresh.xml

-Updates with Dynamic, NET Framework and Cumulative (if possible from December 2022, i got issue to integrate Cumulative of 2023...but you can try, if something going wrong you have always a copy of your Cleaned Image Folder, and NTLite got an update meanwhile, maybe now work)

Spoiler: Like this

-Drivers empty (you add drivers one by one later inside Windows based on your specific hardware)

-Registry add my Reg Files
(photoviewbackground.reg is a simple Color change for the background of photo viewer, specifically Black)
(PropertyStore.reg open this path in regedit, to be sure this path is created under Internet Explorer. This is where sound levels per-app save every profile)

Spoiler: Like this

-Unattended here you can personalize your settings, for example by changing your Layout of the keyboard (Input), your time zone, pw etc but DO NOT TOUCH the disable things in red

-Post Setup Machine you already find the two command to disable Hibernate and unlimited Password, do not touch it

-Post Setup User you can add something you like to integrate to the OS as you login the first time
This is an example of what i have integrated on mine, but is not linked in aVRage10-11.xml (you decide what to integrate)

Spoiler: Post Setup User

- Apply finally the last step, where mine is like this. Click Process and wait for your ISO

Spoiler: Steps Summary

-Remember to Install Windows OFFLINE
-Remember to set PageFile. I choose to not set it, and let everyone decide where to start PageFile


This Preset is made for Windows 11 Pro 22H2, compatible with Win10
as Win11 is unable to Host Refresh, is able to be installed only from boot BIOS and not from setup.
(Is made to be used without updates for a year maybe who know)

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I hope you enjoy it, feel free to try it and post your feedback.

Files in the next msg

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EDIT 01/21/23: Added alternative Preset called "aVRage10-11 + NET3.5 BT HostRefresh.xml"

It already have NET Framework 3.5 Active, Bluetooth and HostRefresh functionality

To be clear, on my main PC is not necessary, and i stay with the main release.
To my second PC was required NET 3.5 and this alternative is currently running on it.

 

[aVRage]

Files for my Preset

Optional:
At this point you are logged into your Windows 22H2 Pro, and maybe you find some useless link in Settings (useless because we deleted the core of this link, and by click on it, nothing happen) ITS OK!
A great example is the XBOX part under Settings-Gaming, you find every voice of the XBOX we deleted, why? NTLite delete it automatically, if everything is deleted BUT in this case we want to use "Game Mode", and we need this link to be active.
To avoid confusion and caos, with the help of garlin i add every possible URI link useless for my custom Windows.
Its a simple cmd to run, write Y and Enter.
HideURIlinks.RAR

Thats the result

Spoiler: overall Settings

 

[Taosd]

i think i'll pass on this, cause i have my computer how i like it. But yeah, it works for you.... grats

 

[Clanger]

edited title slightly and made thread a sticky.

 

[Hellbovine]

I've been contemplating how to reply to this thread without it sounding like a knee-jerk...I'll shoot for a bullet point version below to make it easier to read. The thing I want to make sure gets conveyed properly, is that I think when it comes to presenting things to the public, such as guides on making an image, they require a much higher standard than what we all do for personal use. As such, I have some concerns about this thread, coming from a quality control standpoint, and being as how 50% of this guide is my work I think my opinion matters a bit:

Spoiler: click here to reveal text

- The guide can be hard to read due to being translated, it could use some translation cleanup and general formatting.
- The guide says to use 22H2, but it's a bugged ISO right now, and confirmed by many people (link1 / link2).
- What is the random spoiler for Game optimizer for, do we download that? Also, most tools like that are bogus.
- What is the DNS filter, is that included in this image, and what's it do? I prefer finding fastest DNS using GRC's tool (link).
- I think it's a mistake to remove Store/Xbox/Cortana on public releases, it causes way too many threads on this forum.
- The "Gaming Mode" spoiler is not the same as "Game Mode", they are two very different things.
- Guide says this works on W10, but was that actually tested by the author? Look at the next line to see why I ask.
- Microsoft changes things on each new OS, and my tweaks were only tested on W10, not W11 (link).
- Guide says one of the cumulative updates can't be installed, something in the preset needs to be restored maybe.
- In the reg files, I didn't notice any differences from mine that stood out, I'll have to do a file comparison later.
- Post setup disables hibernation, but that's redundant as I already do it the proper way in my reg files.
- 144 settings in the preset, many probably overlapping with my files, and NTLite doesn't always use the right keys.
- Guide says you are unable to do a host refresh, something in the preset needs to be restored maybe.
- Duplicate screenshots posted as attachments at the end of the first post, also not sure what their purpose is.
- Where are the important screenshots, like task manager showing processes/threads/handles and memory?
- The whole URI thing sounds like a bunch of NTLite bugs that need to be reported/fixed.
- New reg file for PropertyStore.reg has no key under the path? It's also missing a newline at end of file.
- New reg file for photoviewerbackground.reg missing comments, making it hard to know for sure what it does.
- Should delete 2nd post and merge it into 1st post, it will fit once the general formatting is cleaned up.

Hopefully you can see where I'm coming from. I haven't even tried installing these things, and already the list of concerns is really long. I'd discover more problems too when I go to actually try to build this image. The biggest problem I have is that this image hasn't been tested for very long by the author, so it can't be assumed it's safe for public consumption right now, which is also backed by the attention to detail issues I listed.

When it comes to component removals they break a lot more than you can see on the surface, hence all the issues in the GamerOS thread. On that note, how different is this preset compared to the GamerOS, and is this guide really different enough to warrant its own thread? What I mean is, can we basically accomplish mostly the same thing as this guide does, by simply taking the GamerOS and adding my Optimized Image Guide on top of it? If not, please explain how this one differs and why this one is better.

Please know I'm not trying to discourage people from making things for public consumption, in fact I highly encourage it, because I like to read through everyone's tweaks and see if there is anything I didn't know about that I can use. When it comes to public releases though, they should be vetted more thoroughly since you are potentially causing problems for *many* people, not just one person as is the case in personal usage.

 

[garlin]

I was asked for advice by aVRage, before he posted this thread.

My words were:
- If you believe a preset has something to offer, share it. Other users have presented their own solutions.
- Set expectations. Explain what you're trying to fix.
- Explain what problems you're not trying to solve.
- Explain what non-working features (bugs) you're aware of.

Either a preset will gain popularity, or slowly disappear into the forum archives. Hopefully, if users provide honest feedback then preset authors will understand if their submissions are worth it. Ultimately it should be decided by actual users.

Let's give everyone a chance is to prove themselves.

 

[Clanger]

I build stuff for myself and share the results. they make break 99.9% of users machines but it is up to them to cherry pick and test test test.
i know of 3 users who have taken my stuff, cherry picked, adapted or it has given them ideas.

 

[aVRage]

To be clear, is not supposed to be a better Preset compared to others Preset, it just fit better FOR ME and my expectation.

To Hellbovine of course your guide is outstanding for starting a custom preset, or i don't link and tag you as first step to do.
The first time i tried, was like you said, your base custom image + GamerOS but was just unsatisfied FOR ME.

I started again from your base and scroll down every single component and settings and made my decisions, failed for a month here and there, until the OS is functional without critical error, missed things and bugs.

-The guide say is tested with Windows 11 22H2 Pro, and is compatible with Windows 10 (but not tested from me)
-The "random" spoilers you talk about is my idea of making my custom image more "protected" and optimized at the same time
Of course is not components introduced to the Preset, its what i use to protect my PC (without Defender & Firewall from MS)
-The spoiler show the function of "Norton 360 for Gamers"
-A private DNS its a filter for DNS communication, and i use NextDNS as a private DNS
These are just tips i propose, because with this preset, without add any protection is just unprotected at all
-Reg Files is 90% the same as you release, i have just deleted things i don't like from Settings, for example, the sense function where you set to delete download folders and recicle bin after 1 day, or changed to do animated minimize/maximize windows and others little settings i don't like.
I choose to use your reg settings because maybe is more specific and detailed(ready to be used in windows), compared to settings in NTLite.
Thats why i used both, maybe someone overlapping, but as it is
-Host refresh is not supposed to be used, its an image functional for a year or more, without any update.
-Dunno why other screen is gone to the attachments
-NTLite works well with URI links, as explained links still visible if we don't remove everything from the component. The HideURIlinks.cmd its just a polished pass to avoid confusion when navigating Settings
-PropertyStore still here to create the path, thats where Sound save profiles for any app and remember the volume level of apps (this is not the same for UWP apps, UWP apps require Legacy as you know)
Internet Explorer is deleted from this Preset, so the path probably missing if not added manually.
-Photoviewbackground.reg is just the background "Black" when you open an image file with photo viewer
-two post because there is a limit of 10 uploaded file for every post

As said, i got a good result in my opinion. The system is smooth and clean, protected with 3th parts solutions, and performing well in gaming.
Thats it, the options/settings/component is the same for everyone, none can pretend to be so different from another OS created for gaming.

To be clear, i don't care if my preset going soon in the archive.
Someone just ask me to share it, and i first ask if i can share it public and then posted.
Critcs is welcome, if someone found bugs is welcome.
Have a good day


This is how is supposed to be with all my apps added

 

[Necrosaro]

To be clear, is not supposed to be a better Preset compared to others Preset, it just fit better FOR ME and my expectation.

To Hellbovine of course your guide is outstanding for starting a custom preset, or i don't link and tag you as first step to do.
The first time i tried, was like you said, your base custom image + GamerOS but was just unsatisfied FOR ME.

I started again from your base and scroll down every single component and settings and made my decisions, failed for a month here and there, until the OS is functional without critical error, missed things and bugs.

-The guide say is tested with Windows 11 22H2 Pro, and is compatible with Windows 10 (but not tested from me)
-The "random" spoilers you talk about is my idea of making my custom image more "protected" and optimized at the same time
Of course is not components introduced to the Preset, its what i use to protect my PC (without Defender & Firewall from MS)
-The spoiler show the function of "Norton 360 for Gamers"
-A private DNS its a filter for DNS communication, and i use NextDNS as a private DNS
These are just tips i propose, because with this preset, without add any protection is just unprotected at all
-Reg Files is 90% the same as you release, i have just deleted things i don't like from Settings, for example, the sense function where you set to delete download folders and recicle bin after 1 day, or changed to do animated minimize/maximize windows and others little settings i don't like.
I choose to use your reg settings because maybe is more specific and detailed(ready to be used in windows), compared to settings in NTLite.
Thats why i used both, maybe someone overlapping, but as it is
-Host refresh is not supposed to be used, its an image functional for a year or more, without any update.
-Dunno why other screen is gone to the attachments
-NTLite works well with URI links, as explained links still visible if we don't remove everything from the component. The HideURIlinks.cmd its just a polished pass to avoid confusion when navigating Settings
-PropertyStore still here to create the path, thats where Sound save profiles for any app and remember the volume level of apps (this is not the same for UWP apps, UWP apps require Legacy as you know)
Internete Explorer is deleted from this Preset, so the path probably missing if not added manually.
-Photoviewbackground.reg is just the background "Black" when you open an image file with photo viewer
-two post because there is a limit of 10 uploaded file for every post

As said, i got a good result in my opinion. The sistem is smooth and clean, protected with 3th parts solutions, and performing well in gaming.
Thats it, the options/settings/component is the same for everyone, none can pretend to be so different from another OS created for gaming.

To be clear, i don't care if my preset going soon in the archive.
Someone just ask me to share it, and i first ask if i can share it public and then posted.
Critcs is welcome, if someone found bugs is welcome.
Have a good day


This is how is supposed to be with all my apps added

I will take a look when I have some time and see if there is anything I can add to my Ntlite clean/tweaked windows 11 22h2. As Tasod said my windows is also in a good spot and don't want to mess it up too much. If I get a few, I will be happy enough.

Also as hellbovine said too I enjoy my store(some do some don't) but unfortunately the Xbox removals do cause problems in the future(for me and others). Windows tightening there grip with Xbox and removing that grip can wake up Mr Monster but hey if it works for you then power on.

Either way when I have time I will try,see and report.

Thanks

 

[aVRage]

but unfortunately the Xbox removals do cause problems in the future(for me and others). Windows tightening there grip with Xbox and removing that grip can wake up Mr Monster but hey if it works for you then power on.

Either way when I have time I will try,see and report.

this happen because of updates?
my preset is not supposed to be updated.
Every year i made a custom Windows if necessary with update.
For any problems during this year there is my Disk Image backup (done before connecting to internet) already set with the offline software installed and ready to be used from this point.

never had any problem by removing Xbox in w10 and using Game Mode. but again, maybe because i never update Windows.

 

[Necrosaro]

I saw stuttering and windows apps that have issues. I cannot remember exact issues because if it gives me issues then I don't remove it anymore and it's been awhile.

If I get stuttering then I restore.With my system I notice stuttering a lot more then the average higher end system. This is why Ntlite on a lower end system is the best to discover issues that others may not notice on a higher end system.

Hope this makes sense

 

[baz]

this happen because of updates?
my preset is not supposed to be updated.
Every year i made a custom Windows if necessary with update.
For any problems during this year there is my Disk Image backup (done before connecting to internet) already set with the offline software installed and ready to be used from this point.

never had any problem by removing Xbox in w10 and using Game Mode. but again, maybe because i never update Windows.

no presets should be updated because they do more harm than good.
If you need to update something, do it "manually" and not automatically.
aVRage good job very good that you shared this for sure
this preset will be useful for less advanced users.

 

[Clanger]

no presets should be updated because they do more harm than good.

they only do harm in the hands of those who have no patience, are not willing to cherry pick and test test test.
If you have no patience, are not willing to cherry pick and test test test then you shouldnt be here because this stuff takes time and effort.

 

[aVRage]

i notice from my Second pc (used like a dvr for cameras) that my Preset is missing System.Speech (used by an app to send msg on Phone)
there is a package for installing speech?
the error say Could not load file or assembly "System.Speech", version =4.0.0.0., Culture=neutral1, or one of its dependencies

In any case, i will fix it and updating Preset during the weekend

 

[garlin]

Text To Speech
<c>speechtts 'Speech TTS'</c>

 

[AeonX]

- The guide says to use 22H2, but it's a bugged ISO right now, and confirmed by many people (link1 / link2).

Does Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 with the same updates (the last cumulative update for example) behave differently? The difference from 22H2 is just an enablement package that enables features present in the cumulative update.

Windows 10 versions 2004, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2, and 22H2 are the same build with features enabled or not by the enablement package, other than that the system files are the same so I think it's strange that one has a problem and the other doesn't. I'm not doubting, I just want to be sure.

aVRage great job

As for whether or not to post presets in the forum publicly, I'm in favor of that, because each person has a different view and there is no one better than the other. There is no definitive preset. If the preset is bad over time it will be forgotten. If there is something that is harmful to users the moderators will do their job. But the final word should be given by nuhi or the moderators.

 

[AeonX]

Every year i made a custom Windows if necessary with update.

I usually do the same. I haven't used Windows Update since forever, in my experience they always slowed down Windows or broke something. I would like Windows to have a smoother update experience like Linux, so I would value that more.

I've been using Windows 10 21H1 for more than 1 year with an October 2021 update lol and without any invasion or malicious code, maybe just a few bugs. I intend to do a clean install these days.

I don't fall for that hysteria or hype with updates. I don't even fall for video card hype, that's not what I'm going to fall for

 

[aVRage]

Text To Speech
<c>speechtts 'Speech TTS'</c>

This time was another thing not related to speech tts or speech recognition, it was more simple. The program want System.Speech the dll into .NET 3.5

Anyway i have done an alternative Preset where the only changes is:
-NET Framework 3.5 is already active for retro-compatibility
-Compatibility - Manual Setup - HostRefresh is checked
-Bluetooth active

currently running on my second pc
Added Preset to the second message of this thread.

Have fun, good weekend!!

 

[aVRage]

I usually do the same. I haven't used Windows Update since forever, in my experience they always slowed down Windows or broke something. I would like Windows to have a smoother update experience like Linux, so I would value that more.

I've been using Windows 10 21H1 for more than 1 year with an October 2021 update lol and without any invasion or malicious code, maybe just a few bugs. I intend to do a clean install these days.

I don't fall for that hysteria or hype with updates. I don't even fall for video card hype, that's not what I'm going to fall for

i fall into video card hype
well... after 3 years with a 1080, recently selled at good price. It was the right moment to move on RTX for me.
But not updates.
The first rule for a gamer on PC maybe is disable windows update.
If the system is ok, is useless (if not a critical requirement) going for updates, it just run, let it RUN!

 

[Necrosaro]

I am more of a motherboard kind of person. It's most likely the most important piece of the puzzle next to the operating system in any build. A great board can last for an extremely long time and provide exceptional value for the dollar.

As a side note there will always be something better around the corner but the motherboard is the one that sticks around