Windows 11 Agnostic Deployment Image Creation

Installing new devices and want help with an agnostic Windows 11 golden image. No drivers and a perfectly prepared default user profile, and/or some PowerShell scripts that check for a new user profile being created and configuring settings and doing installs then. Yeah, I know there are tools like (obviously) SysPrep, OOBE, MDT (we are having trouble getting it to work, especially the default user part - yes, we're not very smart. . . ), Entra/Intune (open to trying but probably more complex than we want/need). Have used DefProf in the past but concerned about it not being updated for so long and it requiring a service to run for keeping things current. We're looking at SmartDeploy but not thrilled about the cost. The workflow I have in mind is: • Build and generalize a Windows 11 reference installation with Sysprep • Capture that image as a WIM (or similar) that can be dropped onto any hardware platform • Copy my tuned profile—including Start layout, task-bar, File Explorer, and app settings—into Default so every new user inherits it perfectly • Run a lightweight PowerShell script at first logon for post-clone tasks such as device renaming, feature removal, and optional enrolment triggers Deliverables I need back are clear-cut: 1. A tested, hardware-agnostic deployment image (or the exact steps to recreate it). 2. An [login to view URL] that preserves the Default profile while keeping OOBE intact. 3. The PowerShell post-clone script with inline comments. 4. A short, step-by-step guide so I can reproduce or adapt the process for future builds. Acceptance is simple: imaging a fresh laptop must end with Windows 11 greeting me in OOBE, no setup errors, and the first local or AD joined account reflecting the custom profile exactly as designed. If you have proven experience with Sysprep quirks, Default profile transfer, and scripting the final tweaks, this should be straightforward.

Proje No: 40073482