Reinstall Windows

Many of these scripts were originally located in https://gist.github.com/flcdrg. Newer versions will live here so they can be better version controlled.

Manual steps

1. Deactivate any licensed software that is linked to the machine (eg. Red Gate)
2. Shutdown any VMs
3. Ensure that Bitlocker recovery keys are all backed up.

autounattend.xml

https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/

Includes assumption that C: is partition 3 of disk 0

eg.

DISKPART> list part

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partition 1    System             100 MB  1024 KB
  Partition 2    Reserved            16 MB   101 MB
  Partition 3    Primary           1168 GB   117 MB

Scripts relating to installing/reinstalling Windows

• post-install.ps1 - Things to run after Windows installation (run with elevated permissions)
• post-install-nonadmin.ps1 - Things to run after Windows installation (run with non-elevated permissions)
• Set-Touchpad.ps1 - Disable single tap to click with Touchpad

Package caches

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dev-drive/#storing-package-cache-on-dev-drive

Firefox

prefs.js

Windows Terminal

Copy to $Env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json

settings.json

Mount VHD for DevDrive backup

Windows schedule tasks:

• Mount_20VHD.xml
• Run_20Robocopy.xml

Windows image updates

• update.ps1

Prerequisites:

mkdir oldMedia\Ge\client_professional_en-us

And download Windows ISO, mount and copy files into that directory.

mkdir packages\CU

Download latest cumulative update(s) and put in this directory

mkdir packages\DeployDriverPack

Download latest driver pack and put in this directory, then run to to extract all files.

.\packages\DeployDriverPack\XPS-15-9530-VV12J_Win11_1.0_A12.exe /s /e=D:\git\reinstall-windows\packages\DeployDriverPack

Dynamic updates

Create the following directories:

mkdir packages\Other\SafeOSDynamic
mkdir packages\Other\SetupDynamic
mkdir packages\OtherDrivers

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/media-dynamic-update#windows-11-version-22h2-and-later-dynamic-update-packages

Mostly these can be ignored as now Microsoft are releasing new ISOs each month with all patches.

Capture drivers

(From elevated)

Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination D:\git\reinstall-windows\packages\OtherDrivers\

Use the most recent version of each. There isn't always a new release every month.

Download the latest x64 files

The cumulative update may include a servicing stack update. You'll need to refer to the support article to figure out which file is the CU and which is the SSU. If it doesn't, then just point to the same msu

.NET Cumulative updates

1. Go to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/release-notes/release-notes
2. Select latest cumulative update
3. Click on link under Summary tables to go to the support article, making sure it applies to your Windows release.
4. Under How to get this update, locate the Microsoft Update Catalog row and click on the link
5. Save files to packages\Other

Create a subdirectory for each additional driver from hardware vendor or Microsoft Update Catalog. (Use the UpdateID for a constant URL) and save .cab file or actual driver files. Cab will be automatically extracted by script.

From elevated prompt:

Mount ISO -

Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath D:\git\reinstall-windows\en-us_windows_11_consumer_editions_version_25h2_updated_march_2026_x64_dvd_a1cf6c36.iso

Copy entire contents of ISO to D:\git\reinstall-windows\oldMedia\Ge\client_professional_en-us\

Remove existing install.wim

rm .\oldMedia\Ge\client_professional_en-us\sources\install.wim

Extract just Windows 11 Pro image from ISO to local

Export-WindowsImage -SourceImagePath G:\sources\install.wim -SourceIndex 6 -DestinationImagePath oldMedia\Ge\client_professional_en-us\sources\install.wim -CompressionType max

Unmount ISO

Ensure that Windows images are mounted on an NTFS volume (not ReFS/DevDrive), otherwise you'll get weird file access errors

Copy autounattend.xml to USB Suspend Bitlocker Reboot machine Press F12 to bring up boot menu Select USB drive (second volume?)

After setup completes, run these scripts in order from an elevated PowerShell prompt:

1. Run pre-boxstarter-admin.ps1
2. Run Boxstarter
3. Run post-boxstarter-admin.ps1

Run these scripts from a non-elevated PowerShell prompt:

1. Run post-boxstarter-nonadmin.ps1