Security researchers auditing Windows 10/11 for privacy violations can use NTLite Portable on an air-gapped machine. They load the latest Windows ISO, remove every known telemetry and data collection component (DiagTrack, dmwappushservice, WAPush), and then install the custom OS without ever connecting the host machine to the internet.
Paste the folder onto your external storage drive or USB stick. Run NTLite.exe directly from the USB drive on any machine. Essential Considerations and Risks
On a rain-brushed morning I rebuilt my main machine with the cleaned, audited images we'd learned to trust. The OS felt lighter, its background chatter reduced to a patient murmur. I still used portable utilities, but now with a sentry at the gate. ntlite portable
System components (Windows Defender, Hyper-V, Windows Insider Hub). Language packs and keyboards you do not use. 2. Hardware Driver Integration
\Extracted_Image\ (For the extracted WIM/ESD files you wish to modify) Run NTLite
Automate the entire Windows installation process. You can pre-configure user accounts, accept the EULA, input your product key, choose regional settings, and automate partition mapping. When you boot from the modified ISO, Windows installs itself from start to finish without asking a single question. 4. Registry and Tweaks Optimization
Click on the top toolbar and select Image folder or Image file (ISO/WIM) . I still used portable utilities, but now with
No registry entries or system files are modified on the host machine.
Ultimate Guide to NTLite Portable: Customize Windows on the Go
If you want to dive deeper into configuring NTLite Portable for your specific workflow, let me know:
You can drop the NTLite folder onto a bootable flash drive or external hard drive.