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"I've been using Windows 10 for quite some time, with numerous customizations tailored to my needs. If I were to format my laptop or purchase a new one, is it possible to create a Windows 10 ISO image that includes my pre-installed software, and then boot from it after formatting or on the new device?"

To boot your computer with Windows 10, you simply need to download the ISO file from Microsoft, transfer it to an external drive, and then use that drive to start up your PC. To tailor it to your specific requirements, you would typically have to manually download various programs and software to prepare it for professional use. However, if you need to set this up on multiple computers, are you willing to go through this laborious process repeatedly? Probably not, right?

Now, imagine if you could create a Windows 10 ISO image with pre-installed software, and then download it directly onto multiple computers, just like how Microsoft allows you to download the ISO for Windows 10. This would be incredibly convenient, as it enables you to download the ISO directly and have your computer ready to use, thereby saving time.

To create a Windows 10 ISO image with pre-installed software, when you wish to modify its contents, you can add or remove applications, customize it, update or upgrade the operating system, and then edit the ISO to generate a new image. Let's explore two methods for accomplishing this task. 1. Using Windows 10 Image Creation Tools: Microsoft provides a tool called the Media Creation Tool, which allows you to create a Windows 10 installation media with pre-installed software. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Download the official Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 2. Run the Media Creation Tool and accept the terms. 3. Choose the option to "Create installation media for another PC" and follow the on-screen instructions. 4. Select the language, edition, and architecture of Windows 10 you want to use. 5. Instead of choosing USB flash drive, opt for "ISO file" and specify where you want to save the ISO. 6. After the ISO is created, mount it using a virtual drive software (like Daemon Tools) or burn it to a DVD using a burning tool (e.g., ImgBurn). 7. Install the desired software on the virtual machine or the computer with the mounted/burned ISO. 8. Once the software installations are complete, use an ISO editing tool like ISO Workshop or UltraISO to add or remove any additional files or make other modifications. 9. Save the edited ISO to your desired location, and you now have a Windows 10 ISO with pre-installed software. 2. Using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM): This method is more advanced and suitable for experienced users. 1. Create a clean Windows 10 installation using the Media Creation Tool or a similar method. 2. Install the necessary software on the installed Windows 10. 3. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. 4. Use the DISM tool to capture the current state of the system into an ISO: ``` dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:C:\path\to\your\Windows10.iso /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Windows 10 with Apps" ``` 5. Replace "C:\path\to\your\Windows10.iso" with the path where you want to save the ISO, and "/CaptureDir:C:\" with the root directory of your installed Windows 10. 6. The process may take some time. Once completed, you'll have an ISO with pre-installed software. Remember that modifying Windows 10 ISOs might violate Microsoft's licensing terms, so ensure you're following the correct guidelines.

Create a Windows 10 Image with Pre-Installed Software using Todo Backup Tools

Creating and deploying an ISO image across multiple computers can indeed be a daunting task. Thankfully, there's no better solution than Tools Todo Backup to streamline Windows assessment and deployment. Tools Todo Backup comes equipped with a System Deploy Manager tool that allows you to create a Windows 10 ISO image with pre-installed software, ready for setup on various computers or even restore Windows 10 to dissimilar hardware. This software excels in automating the entire process, requiring minimal manual effort, thus simplifying both basic and business needs.

Pros:

    • Create system images of your current OS and mass deploy with a single, effortless action.
    • Deploy ISO images in batches and manage them remotely.
    • Update and enhance the ISOs with software to set up PCs efficiently.
    • Emergency control to maintain business continuity without disruptions during crises.

Cons:

    • Slightly expensive due to the inclusion of advanced software.
    • Limits access to advanced features in the free version.

Steps to Create a Windows 10 Image with Pre-Installed Software using Todo Backup: 1. Download and Install Todo Backup: Visit the official website of Todo Backup and download the latest version suitable for your Windows 10 system. Install it following the on-screen instructions. 2. Launch Todo Backup: After installation, double-click on the Todo Backup icon on your desktop or find it in your Start menu to launch the application. 3. Select "System Backup": In the main interface of Todo Backup, click on "System Backup" under the "Backup" tab. This option allows you to create an image of your entire Windows 10 system, including pre-installed software. 4. Choose the Source: In the "System Backup" window, the system disk (usually Disk C:) should be automatically selected as the source. Ensure that it includes all necessary drives and installed software. 5. Set up Destination: Next, choose a destination location to save the backup image. You can opt for an external hard drive, network location, or another internal drive. Make sure there's enough space to store the image. 6. Customize Settings (Optional): If needed, you can customize backup options by clicking on "Options." Here, you can set compression levels, split sizes, and add comments to the backup. 7. Schedule Backup (Optional): If you want to create the backup automatically at specific intervals, click "Schedule" and set the desired schedule (daily, weekly, or monthly). 8. Start the Backup Process: Click "Start Backup" to begin the process. The time taken will depend on the size of your system and the speed of your storage device. 9. Wait for Completion: Wait until the backup process is finished. Todo Backup will display a success message once completed. 10. Verify and Test the Image: To ensure the backup image works correctly, you can test it by performing a restore operation. Go to "Restore" > "From an Image Backup," then select the created image and follow the prompts. Now, you have successfully created a Windows 10 image with pre-installed software using Todo Backup. This image can be used to restore your system to its current state or deploy it onto another machine.

Step 1. On the main page, click "Select backup contents".

create system backup step1

Step 2. Click on OS among the four available categories.

create system backup step2

Step 3. Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition. You just need to choose a backup destination.

create system backup step3

Step 4. You can save the backup file to either your Local Drive or NAS.

create system backup step5

Step 5. Once the backup process is complete, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking the backup task on the left panel.

create system backup step5

Create a Windows 10 Image with Pre-Installed Software using the Windows Media Creation Tool

You can swiftly create installation media or upgrade to Windows 10/11 using the Windows Media Creation Tool. To create and customize the Windows setup, you'll need to employ the Windows 10 Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) along with the Windows System Image Manager (SIM). Installation media refers to any physical or digital medium utilized for installing software or operating systems on other devices. This facilitates a clean installation, creating fresh copies, or reinstallation processes.

Pros

    • Completely free and launched by Microsoft itself.
    • Assists in creating ISO images and installation media for multiple PCs.
    • Packs all essential functionalities into a single package.

Cons:

    1. Creating ISO images using the Windows Media Creation Tool is more complicated than with other software tools. 2. You have to load it onto Pendrives separately and then boot it on different PCs individually.

Now, let's examine the steps to create a Windows 10 image with pre-installed software using the Windows Media Creation Tool.

Step 1: Download and install the MediaCreationTool20H2.exe on your computer. Double-click the downloaded file to run it.

Step 2: Accept all the license terms and conditions to continue.

Step 3: A window asking "What do you want to do?" will appear. From the options, select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.

select the installation media

Step 4: On the "Select language, architecture, and edition" window, choose the desired options for Language, Edition, and Architecture. The Media Creation Tool will automatically detect your current system settings and pre-select them. If you wish to alter these options, uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC checkbox and specify your preferred settings manually.

Select the language, architecture, and edition

Step 5: A "Choose which media to use" window will appear. Select ISO file and then click next to choose a location in the file explorer on your device to save the ISO file.

select the media to use as an ISO file

Step 6: The Media Creation Tool will create the ISO system image. This process may take some time, depending on your version of Windows.

download the ISO file

Step 7: Now, you must "burn this ISO file onto a DVD or any bootable media," and then use it to install the system on as many computers as you want.

Bonus: Use Todo Backup Tools to Create a Bootable USB Media

Now that you know how to create a Windows 10 ISO image with pre-installed software, it's crucial to have a bootable USB media to efficiently boot the custom ISO file on new computers. A bootable media enables you to mount the ISO files on a new PC without relying on an operating system. And what could be better than using tools like Todo Backup to create bootable media?

Utilize utilities such as Todo Backup to create bootable media, including CDs, DVDs, and USB flash drives, to load your ISO file and facilitate deployment. This enables you to establish a recovery system to boot your computers efficiently, ensuring business continuity during emergencies. By creating bootable media, you can effortlessly mount your ISO image and boot it to run precisely as desired.

Step 1. Prepare a USB drive that can be written to and read from.

Create emergency disk

Step 2. Launch and install Todo Backup on Computer B.

Step 3. Locate and click on "Tools" and then select "Create Emergency Disk".

Create Emergency Disk

Step 4. Select the Boot Disk location. You can choose to create an ISO file, a bootable USB, or a CD/DVD disc.

Create emergency disk step2

Step 5. Click "Create" to begin.

The Final Verdict

Creating a Windows 10 ISO image with pre-installed software can save considerable time compared to repeatedly installing the operating system and then configuring it with various applications. In this article, we will outline two methods to generate a Windows 10 ISO file with software pre-installed, along with a bootable media creation process, to ensure you have a backup ready for emergency situations using the tools Todo Backup and the Windows Media Creation Tool.

If you find this article beneficial, please share it with your friends and leave a comment about it. If you have any questions related to the topic, feel free to ask them in the comment section, and do let me know about the future topics you would like to see articles on from us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding creating Windows 10 ISO images with pre-installed software. If you have similar concerns, hopefully, this will assist you: 1. **How do I create a Windows 10 ISO with pre-installed software?** To create a Windows 10 ISO with software pre-installed, you'll need to use tools like Microsoft's "Media Creation Tool" or third-party software like "Rufus." After installing Windows 10, you can then install your desired applications and use tools like "RT7Lite" or "Windows 10 Lite Installer" to strip out unnecessary components and integrate the apps into the ISO. 2. **Can I add any software to the ISO, or are there limitations?** You can generally add most software that is compatible with Windows 10. However, some applications might not work correctly if they rely on specific installation environments or require user interaction during setup. It's essential to test the pre-installed software after creating the ISO. 3. **Will the pre-installed software be updated when Windows updates are applied?** If the software you've pre-installed uses Windows Update for its updates, it should update automatically when you apply Windows updates. Otherwise, you'll need to manage updates manually for those applications. 4. **Is it legal to create a Windows 10 ISO with pre-installed software?** Yes, it's legal as long as you have a valid Windows 10 license and the software you're including has the necessary permissions or licenses for redistribution. 5. **Can I customize the installation process with pre-configured settings?** Yes, you can use tools like "OEM customization" or "Unattended Answer Files" (unattend.xml) to automate the setup process and apply predefined settings, such as regional settings, user account creation, and more. 6. **Will the pre-installed software affect the activation of Windows 10?** Pre-installing software shouldn't affect the activation process, provided you use a genuine Windows 10 key during installation. 7. **How do I burn the customized ISO to a DVD or USB drive?** You can use tools like "Rufus" or "Microsoft's Media Creation Tool" to write the ISO image to a USB drive, or use software like "ImgBurn" or "PowerISO" to burn it to a DVD. Remember to always respect software licenses and ensure compatibility before proceeding with customizing your Windows 10 ISO.

1. How to create a Windows 10 ISO image from an existing installation?

You can utilize the Media Creation Tool on Windows 10 to create a tailored ISO image for Windows 10 and install it on other systems. Here's how it works: download the necessary files, select your installation media, and then customize aspects such as languages, architecture, and Windows editions. Once you've completed these steps, the ISO will be ready for deployment.

2. How do I create a bootable USB with pre-installed programs and customized settings?

Choosing the right tool to create bootable media is crucial. Firstly, you need to create an ISO image that includes pre-installed programs and customized settings. Next, utilize a tool like Todo Backup's bootable media creation utility to craft the bootable media. This can then be employed for system deployment or in emergency situations.

3. How do I create a customized Windows installation image?

For tailored Windows installation images, follow these steps: 1. Set up a virtual machine using a Windows operating system. 2. Install the desired applications and customize the settings according to your requirements. 3. Once the configuration is complete, capture the virtual machine (VM) image by creating a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file. 4. This WIM file can then be deployed onto various computers using any bootable media, allowing you to efficiently distribute your customized Windows setup.