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Windows ISO: Download from Microsoft (or use Rufus’s Download button).
Rufus 4.x portable/exe: Get from the Rufus website.
8GB+ USB stick: All data on it will be erased.
Write the ISO with Rufus
Plug in USB and open Rufus (no install needed).
Device: Make sure the correct USB is selected.
Boot selection: Click SELECT and pick your ISO (or use DOWNLOAD).
Leave default settings (Standard Windows installation, GPT + UEFI for most PCs).
Enable “Windows User Experience” tweaks
When ISO loads, Rufus shows “Windows User Experience” options:
✓ Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
✓ Create a local account (enter desired username)
(Optional) ✓ Set local account password (leave blank if you want auto-login)
✓ Skip privacy questions
Any other tweaks you want (disable telemetry, bypass TPM/SB, etc.)
Click OK, then START, and confirm warnings.
Install Windows
Boot target PC from the USB (may need to press F12/F10/ESC at startup).
Go through Windows Setup (language, edition, drive selection).
OOBE (Out-of-box experience) will:
Skip network and Microsoft account requirements.
Go straight to region/keyboard, then desktop with your local account.
If you left the password blank, you’ll be asked to set one after first log-off.
First-boot cleanup
Go to Settings ➜ Accounts ➜ Your info – confirm it says Local account.
If you used a blank password, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete ➜ Change a password to set one.
Create extra accounts, join a domain, or enable BitLocker if needed.
Troubleshooting tips
No “Windows User Experience” dialog?
Use an official ISO (not a pre-modified one).
In Rufus 4.0+, make sure “Show advanced drive properties” is enabled in Settings.
Update Rufus if the dialog doesn’t appear.
Password prompt after install: Just press Enter (blank password), then set one.
Windows ISO: Download from Microsoft (or use Rufus’s Download button).
Rufus 4.x portable/exe: Get from the Rufus website.
8GB+ USB stick: All data on it will be erased.
Write the ISO with Rufus
Plug in USB and open Rufus (no install needed).
Device: Make sure the correct USB is selected.
Boot selection: Click SELECT and pick your ISO (or use DOWNLOAD).
Leave default settings (Standard Windows installation, GPT + UEFI for most PCs).
Enable “Windows User Experience” tweaks
When ISO loads, Rufus shows “Windows User Experience” options:
✓ Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
✓ Create a local account (enter desired username)
(Optional) ✓ Set local account password (leave blank if you want auto-login)
✓ Skip privacy questions
Any other tweaks you want (disable telemetry, bypass TPM/SB, etc.)
Click OK, then START, and confirm warnings.
Install Windows
Boot target PC from the USB (may need to press F12/F10/ESC at startup).
Go through Windows Setup (language, edition, drive selection).
OOBE (Out-of-box experience) will:
Skip network and Microsoft account requirements.
Go straight to region/keyboard, then desktop with your local account.
If you left the password blank, you’ll be asked to set one after first log-off.
First-boot cleanup
Go to Settings ➜ Accounts ➜ Your info – confirm it says Local account.
If you used a blank password, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete ➜ Change a password to set one.
Create extra accounts, join a domain, or enable BitLocker if needed.
Troubleshooting tips
No “Windows User Experience” dialog?
Use an official ISO (not a pre-modified one).
In Rufus 4.0+, make sure “Show advanced drive properties” is enabled in Settings.
Update Rufus if the dialog doesn’t appear.
Password prompt after install: Just press Enter (blank password), then set one.
Very important to use windows update blocker! I can show you how to only install security updates later. You may need to and add an acception in defender for the tool.
[MEDIA=youtube]zGiNGnX5dYg[/MEDIA]
If you are unable to disable updates then do not proceed.
See this guide as well, to ensure that no drivers are installed, use it in conjunction with the windows update blocker tool.
Very important to use windows update blocker! I can show you how to only install security updates later. You may need to and add an acception in defender for the tool.
[MEDIA=youtube]zGiNGnX5dYg[/MEDIA]
If you are unable to disable updates then do not proceed.
See this guide as well, to ensure that no drivers are installed, use it in conjunction with the windows update blocker tool.
Yes, I am a firm believer that running the preinstalled crap on any machine will create a baseline for issues, removing the trash from a machine will provide a smoother running machine. If there is one thing i know its how to squeeze performance out of a computer and I am not a computer tech by trade, taking everything from technical to making it understandable to normal non tech people…
Run thru these steps and then we can further tweak the machine to do just what you want with out all the other crap running if the issue is software based then we can get your computer to run as good as it can, but if it is hardware then that is another animal that i am not very versed in dealing with.
Yes, I am a firm believer that running the preinstalled crap on any machine will create a baseline for issues, removing the trash from a machine will provide a smoother running machine. If there is one thing i know its how to squeeze performance out of a computer and I am not a computer tech by trade, taking everything from technical to making it understandable to normal non tech people…
Run thru these steps and then we can further tweak the machine to do just what you want with out all the other crap running if the issue is software based then we can get your computer to run as good as it can, but if it is hardware then that is another animal that i am not very versed in dealing with.
Awesome. I always wanted to get a cleaner OS on previous installs but microsoft has made it pretty hard for people new to PC.
It’s a shame we don’t have a Windows “lite” available that just does away with all the excess faff baked into the current version…
By the way, when I’m selecting where to install the new OS, will it be ok to just delete the 256GB partition where the current OS is and install there (leaving the partition where steam and my games are installed untouched)?
I’m happy to just format the whole drive if that’ll ensure a cleaner process.
Awesome. I always wanted to get a cleaner OS on previous installs but microsoft has made it pretty hard for people new to PC.
It’s a shame we don’t have a Windows “lite” available that just does away with all the excess faff baked into the current version…
By the way, when I’m selecting where to install the new OS, will it be ok to just delete the 256GB partition where the current OS is and install there (leaving the partition where steam and my games are installed untouched)?
I’m happy to just format the whole drive if that’ll ensure a cleaner process.
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