WinReducer EX-100: Custom Windows 10 install media

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 5, 2016
Updated • Jul 5, 2017
Software, Windows 10
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19

WinReducer EX-100 is a program for Microsoft Windows devices that allows you to customize Windows 10 install media by adding or removing components.

Windows 10 ISO images used to install the operating system include components designed for all kinds of use cases and hardware.

It ships with drivers that individual users may never require, and programs or features that are not useful to the individual user either.

WinReducer EX-100 is the first alpha version of WinReducer for Windows 10 that brings along with it customization options to create custom Windows 10 install media.

Custom Windows 10 install media

winreducer ex-100 custom windows install media

Setup is somewhat complicated; it starts with the download of required programs such as 7-zip that don't ship with the application. You select a Windows 10 ISO image afterwards, and mount it once that is out of the way.

The main program interface loads afterwards. You make adjustments there to create the new install media for Windows 10 in the end.

First thing you may want to do is check out the presets. These define which items are protected, and while are not.

Important files are protected by default for instance, and it is suggested to keep that setting in the majority of cases. Other file types are not, including ModernUI apps, Windows Features, or Search.

WinReducer EX-100 Features

The three menus that you will spend most time in are features, remover, and services.

Features enables you to remove Windows Features such as Windows Media Player, Telnet Client and Server, Work Folders, or Windows Search from being included on the install media.

custom windows 10 install media

Remover on the other hand supports the removal of a wide variety of tools and settings. You may use it to disable certain keyboard languages, remove control panel applets, block themes from being included or even remove Internet Explorer from the installation media.

The section lists more than 150 tweaks that you may enable , for instance to add options to the context menu, enable classic GUI for certain programs, or customize File Explorer preferences.

Services last but not least provides you with options to change the state of services, remove them completely, or use Black Viper's configuration to make changes to certain services.

There is more to WinReducer EX-100 than that though. Appearance enables you to modify theme and desktop context menu settings, and change how certain information is displayed. You may use it to display all control panel items as small icons for instance, or change the default mouse sensitivity.

winreducer ex-100

System on the other hand lets you set custom paths for system and user folders, add Registry files to the install media which are added to the Registry upon installation, or set an updates directory to include updates for Windows 10 directly. Additionally, you may use it to load drivers that are not included by default.

Unattended finally lets you enable administrator and user accounts, enable auto-logon, set custom screen resolutions and network locations, and enter a serial number to enable auto-activation of Windows 10.

Closing Words

WinReducer EX-100 is a handy program, especially if you install Windows 10 on devices regularly. The program has its uses for individual users as well, as it enables you to customize the installation to speed up the post-installation configuring of Windows 10.

You may use it to remove features from Windows 10, include all updates up to the point of creation, and include drivers or apply tweaks on top of that.

Keep in mind though that the program is released as an alpha version. Things may not work as intended right now.

Summary
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Author Rating
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2.5 based on 13 votes
Software Name
WinReducer EX-100
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Personalization
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Comments

  1. Cosmicdude said on October 11, 2016 at 1:09 pm
    Reply

    What if there is something hidden in the kernel itself? A component we know nothing about, something unremoveable by conventional methods. I wouldn’t risk anything on redstone previews, the preview releases by M$ have built in keyloggers.

    You might also want to add this to your Windows host file just in case:

    http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30222844-Stop-Windows-10-From-Spying-On-You-36-DNS-Addresses-to-host-file

    Also as a general rule of thumb if using a ripped Windows OS the first thing you should remove is Windows Update it’s just common sense.

  2. petemoss said on August 21, 2016 at 4:24 am
    Reply

    junk program does not remove forced windows update or their stupid search features!! everything this does you can do yourself with no program

    1. Cosmicdude said on October 11, 2016 at 1:12 pm
      Reply

      You need to use both Winreducer and Ntlite, Ntlite has an option that lets you remove a feature which forces Windows Update to turn back on even if it was removed. It’s one of those sneaky pests they left in there so there no way for consumers to actually turn the bloody thing off.

  3. John in Mtl said on July 15, 2016 at 5:20 am
    Reply

    I too, used and loved nLite, it was great to be able to slim down the OS. I’m glad there is now a version for windows 10 – not that I’m particularly interested in running that “monster”…

    I wonder though, with the way windows 10 is now a SaaS based model and gets “upgraded” via windowsupdate. We all read or heard stories, or had firsthand experiences about when MS does updates, those updates oftentimes significantly modify the OS and resets user preferences and settings.

    What will happen to a live working “winreduced” system when the (now) mandatory updates get applied? What will happen when the reduced OS executes some instructions contained in an update, expecting certain components to be there, but now they are not? Will it crash and burn the current OS, will it simply restore what had been removed to make the OS lighter, etc?

  4. Baba Vanga said on July 7, 2016 at 5:29 pm
    Reply

    Thank you for the feedback on this tool (article and comments). I’m going to use and if I like SUPPORT the developers. Something really needed.

    — PREDICTION —
    2020: Windows OS wont’ be customizable anymore.

  5. seiferflo said on July 6, 2016 at 10:33 am
    Reply

    It works great. I’ve been using it and I have been part of the community for years now. I4m currently using the version for Windows 7 et Windows 8.1. I’ve also tested the version for windows 10 but I’ve abandoned Win10…
    Even though it says alpha, there are very little issues and the dev is really reactive. There’s always new version coming every few weeks.
    This tool is great to slim down the amount of space taken by Windows after installation, along with decreasing the RAM usage by removing unnecessary things. Also one of the best feature for me is to implement all updates in the windows image to avoid having to install them afterwards.
    I would suggest everyone to do some tests on a Virtual Machine first, install everything you normally use and run a whole workflow, because removing some features on Windows can cause trouble to your daily use if you’re not sure what you’re doing.

  6. Wykedengel said on July 5, 2016 at 6:49 pm
    Reply

    I was just thinking about this the other day. I love a barebones operating system to allow me to install just what I want and nothing more. Looking forward to watching this mature.

    However, I do have an issue for paying for a program that is currently and alpha. Beta? Sure, I’ve done it plenty, but Alphas are usually buggy as hell.

    1. seiferflo said on July 6, 2016 at 10:35 am
      Reply

      It’s free. You can donate if you want and you’ll get a VIP access to get earlier versions in advance and access a few more features in the program.
      You can read my comment below about the alpha verison.

  7. Agent Smith said on July 5, 2016 at 6:07 pm
    Reply

    Great tool, crap name.
    Hope they don’t miss a trick and call it 10Lite instead. That should get it pucked up more by all us nLite fans of days gone by…

  8. Maou said on July 5, 2016 at 4:50 pm
    Reply

    I wonder if it’s possible to remove the windows store and all it’s nonsense apps? That would be nice.

    1. kalmly said on July 6, 2016 at 2:41 pm
      Reply

      Yes. That was my first thought.

    2. seiferflo said on July 6, 2016 at 10:33 am
      Reply

      Yes, no problem

  9. Joey Spinosa said on July 5, 2016 at 4:40 pm
    Reply

    Love it! Cut out the fat. Windows on a diet!
    Now, if we could only do the same on a human/user scale… I’m not fat, but been trying to lose around 8-10lbs forever. Sheese. And yesterday was 4th of July here in the states and I ate (and drank) enough for a week… Maybe more!
    Oh well. At least my Win10 install will be mean and lean.
    Cheers,
    Mr. Joey

  10. suleiman said on July 5, 2016 at 3:50 pm
    Reply

    Is it possible to deactivate the touchscreen (usually deactivated via the device manager) during the Windows installation process?
    This would be very useful for me since I have a fairly large crack in my screen and cannot reinstall Windows because the crack permanently acts like a touch/mouse click (I almost couldn’t get past the login screen and back into Windows to deactivate the touchscreen after the crack happened).

    I know – a very unusual problem ;-)

  11. dwarf_t0ssn said on July 5, 2016 at 3:45 pm
    Reply

    Loved nLite, RT Seven lite and NTLite. It is nice to be able to rip out stuff you don’t need so you can keep that C drive slim. This looks great and I am sure I will use it some day.

    Edit: Works on all versions even. Very nice indeed.

  12. Baba Vanga said on July 5, 2016 at 3:41 pm
    Reply

    Hopefully the corporate spying can be reduced with this tool.

  13. Windows 10 did 9/11 said on July 5, 2016 at 2:54 pm
    Reply

    Can it remove all the telemetry and ads?

  14. Anonymous said on July 5, 2016 at 2:52 pm
    Reply

    Can it remove all the telemetry stuff?

  15. Jorge Rhor said on July 5, 2016 at 2:45 pm
    Reply

    It works quite well actually, and the developer offers great support.
    It may say it is alpha or beta, but as long as your DISM files work well and you don’t blindly check options without knowing what they are, it can do wonders to a Windows 10 install disc.

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