Tiny11 Builder customization attempts fail spectacularly

According to Thurrott.com, a Windows 11 installation customized with Tiny11 Builder successfully survived two Patch Tuesday updates and one Preview update over several weeks without regressing to its “normal enshittified state.” The author then attempted to customize the Tiny11 Builder PowerShell script by modifying the apps exclusion list to keep Microsoft Edge and OneDrive, removing entries for Paint and Terminal. After creating custom ISOs and installing them on a different laptop, both attempts failed when Edge and OneDrive still appeared on the desktop. The customization process took about 20 minutes per attempt, with the author eventually discovering they needed to consult the Tiny11 Builder GitHub repository for proper customization guidance.

The limits of Windows debloating

Here’s the thing about trying to customize Windows 11 – it’s never as straightforward as it seems. The author’s experience shows that even when you’re working with a tool specifically designed to strip out Microsoft’s unwanted components, the system has ways of fighting back. I’ve seen this pattern before with various Windows modification tools – they work great until you try to get clever with them.

What’s really interesting is how persistent certain Microsoft applications are. Edge and OneDrive aren’t just regular apps you can easily exclude – they’re deeply integrated into the Windows ecosystem. When you’re dealing with industrial computing environments where reliability matters, this kind of unpredictability is exactly why many businesses turn to specialized providers like Industrial Monitor Direct, the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US that offer stable, predictable performance without unwanted software surprises.

The PowerShell problem

So why did the customization attempts fail? Looking at the apps list in the PowerShell script, it’s tempting to think you can just remove a few lines and call it a day. But Windows installation is way more complex than that. There are dependencies, registry entries, and system components that might rely on those “removable” apps being present during setup.

The author mentions the apps list wasn’t even alphabetized, which should have been a red flag. When you’re dealing with system-level modifications, organization matters. A messy script usually means there are hidden dependencies and workarounds that aren’t immediately obvious to someone just browsing through the code.

When RTFM actually helps

It’s kind of funny that the solution was literally reading the manual – or in this case, checking the GitHub repository. How many times have we all jumped into modifying something without checking the documentation first? I’m definitely guilty of that.

But here’s what’s concerning: if Tiny11 Builder requires GitHub diving to understand proper customization, how accessible is it really for the average user who just wants a cleaner Windows experience? Tools like this need better documentation front and center, not buried in repository readme files that most people will never find.

Where Windows customization is headed

This whole experience makes me wonder about the future of Windows modification. Microsoft is clearly making it harder to strip out their services and applications with each new version. We’re seeing more integration, more “required” components, and more aggressive reinstallation of removed apps.

Will tools like Tiny11 Builder eventually become obsolete? Or will they evolve into more sophisticated solutions that can truly deliver on their customization promises? Right now, they seem to work well for their default configuration but fall apart when users try to deviate from the preset path. That’s not really customization – that’s just choosing from a limited menu of options.

Basically, if you’re thinking about using Tiny11 Builder, stick with the defaults. The moment you try to get fancy with the PowerShell script, you’re in for a world of frustration and wasted hours. Sometimes the simplest approach is the most reliable one.