WinReducer EX-100: Custom Windows 10 install media

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

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.

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.

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.