Windows 11 image customization

Removal of build in apps

For removal of build in apps during task sequence below PowerShell script can be used. First prepare a list by Get-AppxPackage -allusers | Select Name 

Build a list of Appx's to remove:

$apps=@(

"Clipchamp.Clipchamp"

"Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 (Cortana)"

"Microsoft.BingNews"

"Microsoft.BingWeather"

"Microsoft.GamingApp"

"Microsoft.GetHelp"

"Microsoft.Getstarted"

"Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub"

"Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection"

"Microsoft.People"

"Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop"

"Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp"

"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps"

"Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub"

"Microsoft.WindowsMaps"

"Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI"

"Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI"

"Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay"

"Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay"

"Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider"

"Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay"

"Microsoft.YourPhone"

"Microsoft.ZuneMusic"

"Microsoft.ZuneVideo")

Remove them:

foreach ($app in $apps) {

Get-AppXPackage -allUsers -Name $app | Remove-AppxPackage -allUsers

}

 

Start menu customization

Working and used by most people method is to copy from existing machine (where start menu was customized) "C:\Users\x\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\start2.bin" to mounted wim file: C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState (the full path does not exist there by default, must be created manually)

Note: Pinned folders (number 4 on below screenshot) was not preserved – must be configured via Intune (GPO do not have control over these settings)

⦁ Start layout: settings to control the Start menu appearance and its behavior

⦁ All apps options: settings to control the All apps list

⦁ Account options: settings to control the options exposed when selecting the user account icon

⦁ Pinned folders: settings to control the folders pinned for quick access

⦁ Power options: settings to control the options exposed when selecting the power button

For pinned folders create Intune policy based on setting catalog and look for:

AllowPinnedFolderDocuments

AllowPinnedFolderSettings

AllowPinnedFolderPictures

 

Taskbar customization

Copy prepared LayoutModification.xml file to C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell 

For Edge, Run and File explorer it should looks like below:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LayoutModificationTemplate

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"

xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"

xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"

xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"

Version="1">

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">

    <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

        <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

            <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Edge.lnk"/>

            <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Run.lnk"/>

            <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\File Explorer.lnk"/>

        </taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

    </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

</CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

</LayoutModificationTemplate>

But this way we cannot control if e.g. Search or TaskView button is visible on taskbar or not. This must be controlled by Intune CSP or GPO:  

Or for default user profile (new build scenario) we can mount default user registry (c:\Users\default\ntuser.dat) and modify under following path Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

- hide task view on taskbar: ShowTaskViewButton =0

- widgets: TaskbarDa = dword:00000000

- copilot: ShowCopilotButton = dword:00000000

Icons on desktop

To show icons like This PC on desktop modify default user profile by mounting default user registry (c:\Users\default\ntuser.dat) and modify under following path

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

⦁ show this pc icon: {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}=dword:00000000

⦁ recycle bin: {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}=dword:00000000

⦁ network: {F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}=dword:00000000

⦁ user files: {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}=dword:00000000

⦁ control panel: {5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}=dword:00000000

Quick access

goal is to configure folder options line on below screenshot:

 

Open File explorer to This PC: for default user profile (new build scenario) we can mount default user registry (c:\Users\default\ntuser.dat) and modify under following path Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

LaunchTo=dword:00000001

To not show recommended section and do not include account-based insights:

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

ShowCloudFilesInQuickAccess=dword:00000000

ShowRecommendations=dword:00000000

Initial screensaver

For default user profile (new build scenario) we can mount default user registry (c:\Users\default\ntuser.dat) and modify under following path Control Panel\Desktop

ScreenSaveTimeOut="600"  

ScreenSaverIsSecure="1" 

SCRNSAVE.EXE="C:\Windows\System32\scrnsave.scr" (this file is by default there and containing screen saver which is just black screen)

All above REG_SZ (String) values.

Browser favourite

For default user profile (new build scenario) we can create following path C:\Users\default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default and inside copy Bookmarks file from machine on which they were configured