The $OEM$ folder in your Windows 11 installation media (within the sources folder) is a powerful tool for automating file distribution during setup. It uses a specific naming convention to tell Windows Setup exactly where to copy your files on the target machine.
Key Subfolder Options
Folder Name Target Location on C: Drive Best Use Cases
$1 C:\ (Root of System Drive) Storing setup files, scripts, or custom app folders.
$$ C:\Windows\ Copying custom icons, system sounds, or wallpaper.
$Progs C:\Program Files\ Pre-copying files into the default 64-bit program directory.
$Docs C:\Users\Public\Documents\ Distributing shared templates or public files to all users.
$Docs\<User> C:\Users\<User>\ Creating specific files for a particular user account.
Specialized Automation Folders
Beyond just copying files, you can use $OEM$ to trigger automatic actions:
$$\Setup\Scripts\: If you place a file named SetupComplete.cmd here, Windows will automatically execute it with SYSTEM privileges after the setup is finished but before the user logs in for the first time.
$1\Drivers\: While modern Windows uses specialized driver injection, you can still use this to store OEM Plug and Play drivers that you want to be available locally after installation.
How Windows Processes These Folders
Detection: WinPE Setup detects the sources\$OEM$ directory immediately after applying the Windows image.
Copying: Files are copied to the target hard drive before the first reboot.
Persistence: Unlike temporary setup files, Windows does not automatically clean up files copied via $OEM$. If you use a temporary C:\Installers folder, you should include a command in your script to delete it once your apps are installed.
Do you need the exact folder structure for a specific task, like adding custom desktop wallpaper or system-wide drivers?