Windows 11 25H2 — Clean install

Based on the video: Chris Titus Tech — YouTube. Written in own words, not a transcript. Back to the handbook: Windows handbook — 1. Installation

1. Preparation

• Back up data (e.g. with Duplicati) and license keys.
• Download the official 25H2 ISO: Download Windows 11 — Microsoft
• Snapshot the installed apps for the restore in step 5, to a location that survives the reinstall (default is %TEMP%): Export-WingetApps.ps1 -OutDir <folder>
• Verify integrity and compare with the hash published by Microsoft:

  # Compute SHA256 hash of the ISO
  Get-FileHash .\Win11_25H2.iso -Algorithm SHA256
  

2. Debloated ISO with MicroWin

1. Run WinUtil from an admin PowerShell:

   # Launch Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility
   irm christitus.com/win | iex
   

2. MicroWin tab → Select your own ISO → pick the downloaded ISO, choose the edition (e.g. Pro).
3. Check Import drivers from current machine.
4. Check Include VirtIO drivers (needed only for VMs, e.g. Proxmox/KVM).
5. User name: [REDACTED] — leave the password blank (set it later).
6. Generate the reduced ISO.

3. Bootable USB stick

• Create the USB (min. 8 GB) with Rufus:

  # Install Rufus
  winget install -e --id Rufus.Rufus
  

4. Installation

1. Boot from USB (BIOS/UEFI boot menu), choose Custom install.
2. Delete the partitions on the system disk and install to unallocated space.
3. On first boot, set the password for user [REDACTED].

5. Post-install

• Run Windows Update until complete, then install manufacturer drivers: Windows handbook — 3. Drivers.
• WinUtil → Tweaks: “Standard” preset; avoid aggressive tweaks (e.g. removing Edge).
• WinUtil → Import the machine profile (SER8: SER8_Win_11_Config.json).
• Reinstall all apps in one go: Restore-WingetApps.ps1 -File <folder>\installed_apps.json (see Windows handbook — 4.1.3), or the winget commands in Windows handbook — 2. Applications.
• Remove OneDrive if present: Remove-OneDrive.ps1.
• Create a restore point once the system is configured.