Anyone tested the updates integration after removing the components using the newer version of ToolKitHelper.exe?
Yes, I have done this using en-US LTSC 1809 17763.1. I put *.msu files into WHD folder in right place up to 17763.195. No errors in logs, but when trying to install on formatted Hard Disk, setup copy then before "preparing" action I got the error "Windows cannot continue due to hardware.. blah blah. Integrate updates before removal does not provide any errors (tested).
I've found a solution to the UAC issue reported earlier. It was said that it is related to the removal of "SmartScreen" but I could not confirm this. Anyway, I'll document the issue and solution just in case someone runs into this. Issue: Some programs either complain that UAC is disabled, or they ask for admin rights while the user is already admin. Examples: Flash Updater, Shark007 codec pack, GPU-Z etc. Solution: After checking the "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" key, it was found that the UAC values were correct and at their defaults. Further checking revealed that the problematic programs were all 32 bit. Windows uses "registry reflection" for 32 bit apps. So I figured there would be another policy setting for UAC in the "HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies" key. After checking that key in the registry, it was found that there was no "system" key - Hence UAC error on 32 bit apps. I made a new key "System" and under that key two new dword values: ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin and set it to "5" EnableLUA and set it to "1" After closing the registry editor the affected programs worked fine, reboot was not even needed. At this point I do not know whether those values exist in the original 1809 WIM (maybe someone can check). I also don't know if the key and values have been removed by running the toolkit script. Cheers.
Nice find! This fixed things for me as well. I did not remove any components with MSMG btw (just integrating updates), but instead thought the issue was related to applying Optimize Offline script by GodHand. But now I'm thinking/guessing the original WIM also has this issue.
Well, I also used GodHand's script and got the same issue. So obviously, I blamed it on his script. But then @metr metr reported it in this topic while removing smartscreen with the toolkit. So the next thing I did was going to GitHub and sift through the recent commits GodHand made to his script - I went back as far as the start of october 2018, but what do you know? Those keys are not modified by his script. So it is either some side effect from component removal, or it is a plain windows bug, as you say you did not remove anything. Let's see if we can pinpoint the cause. Cheers. Edit: After reading up on the UAC related keys in the registry, namely HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System and HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System You can even delete both keys and Windows -should- recreate them on restart. This is obviously not happening on the WOW6432Node part, so I'm inclined to believe that we have a Windows bug here.
Could anyone please help me, how can i include Windows defender updates? They all come as .exe files.
MSMG: is it "technologically possible" to disable all those 'useless' apps/components instead of removing them... ?
Unified Telemetry Client (Asimov) Windows Error Reporting -------------------------------------------- Remove these two components, Running Sysprep without updating the patch is normal, If the Sysprep error is run after the Windows Update patch.
There is no direct way to do this. You can integrate them the same way you add software to the base image but its a lot more work that simply integrating .MSU/.CAB updates.
No Windows Update update patch Run Sysprep OK ----------------------- After Windows Update updates the patch Run Sysprep error
Although the best practice is to enable/disable features, integrate updates and then remove components but the ToolKitHelper isn't coded to remove components files/registry with pre-updates integrated. Today checked with x64 image, just removed apps and system apps and integrated updates and the install failed with an error, Need to further test which component is breaking the setup process.
Ok, these components WER, Asimov, CEIP need to be re-worked to completely remove any remaining traces which is breaking the Sysprep when WU is used.
I tried searching, but didn't really get anywhere... Is it possible to Remove All Windows Components, except for a specific selection of components? For example, I'd like to remove all Windows Components, EXCEPT for Calculator (which it seems users still need). The ability to specify components to omit from the removal process would be very handy! Regardless, thank you for this great utility, and Merry Christmas!
So far everything is normal. I test as much as possible. The system backup in Macrium Reflect does not work. I think it's at all inside versions..
Have a question, forgive me if it's been asked already. I'd like to script the use of the MSMG Toolkit so I can non-interactively remove components from a mounted install.wim file. Is that something easily done? Any how-to documents on that? Reason is I already have a script that configures my install.wim files and I'd like to just pop in another batch command to remove some components. I know some of that I can do with dism, but it seems the Toolkit does a better job of it. Thanks.