Guides

• De-register iTunes
• Ensure all the files in GitHub Configs are up to date

• Use Nirsoft UninstallView to create a .csv of the installed programs and use it to check whether there are any extra settings or files that need transferring

• Download the Windows Media Creation Tool
• Set the Language to English (United Kingdom)
• Install it onto an empty USB stick that is at least 8GB

Build or prepare the computer for installing Windows:

• Test booting the newly built computer before putting it in its case, and make sure all the devices show up in the BIOS
• Disconnect all drives other than the one Windows is being installed onto
• Update the Asus Prime X570-Pro BIOS and reset settings to default
• Check BIOS settings to ensure storage is set to AHCI mode, but don't change much else yet
• (Note: On Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H use the USB port next to Ethernet for the installation USB drive)

• Ensure computer is not connected to the internet to allow creation of a local account
• Boot into the BIOS and select the USB Stick to boot from
• Install Windows
• Language to install > English (United Kingdom)
• Time & currency format > English (Australia)
• Keyboard or input method > US
• If the computer has previously been activated with windows select "I don't have a product key", otherwise enter your product key
• Select Windows 10 Pro x64
• Custom (Install Windows Only)
• Select the only drive in the computer
• Install
• Let Windows reboot
• Check correct region and US keyboard selected
• Select I don't have Internet
• Continue with limited setup
• Create local account with desired username (This sets the user home directory name)
• Disable all the privacy settings
• Do more across devices with activity history > No
• Let Cortana help you get things done > Not now' ====Setup==== * Connect to the internet * Allow PC to be discoverable on the network > Allow * Ensure everything in Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings is Off * Sign in to your windows account * Verify identity * Give Windows a chance to sort itself out and install updates * Shutdown Windows, reconnect any extra drives and remove the installation USB stick * Enter the BIOS and change/ensure the following: * Verify boot priorities * Memory XMP settings * * Boot into Windows * Update & Security > For Developers > Developer mode * Apply desired settings changes further down page * : Try Snappy Driver Installer * Install Drivers: * Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H Motherboard: * My motherboard has an issue that causes the Audio graph isolation process to consume high cpu usage when audio enhancements are enabled, so skip those options * Realtek sound settings: * Speaker Configuration > 7.1 * Deselect Full-range Speakers * Speaker Fill * Enable Bass Management * Device advanced settings: * Make front and rear different * Separate all input jacks * Windows sound options: * Disable unused sound devices * Enable Loudness Equalization in speaker properties * Enable Stereo Mix * Set microphone volume (100% +20 dB for Razer Tiamat 7.2) * Asus Prime X570-Pro Motherboard: * Audio * LAN * Chipset * SATA * SSD firmware/drivers: * Samsung Firmware and NVMe Driver * Crucial MX300 / M500 * Restart * Make network private ===Setup network drives:=== >
  • Open the network tab in Explorer and connect to the network share to authenticate for the first time, make sure to select Remember my credentials
  • Open Task Scheduler
  • Action > Create Task
  • General:
    • Name > Reconnect Network Drives
    • Run only when user is logged on
    • Configure for > Windows 10
  • Triggers > New:
    • Begin the task > At startup
  • Conditions > Network > Start only if the following network connections are available
  • Actions > New:
    • Action > Start a program
    • Program/Script > cmd.exe
    • Add arguments:

  /c "net use R: "\\FileServer\Public" & net use S: "\\FileServer\Documents" & net use T: "\\FileServer\Photos" & net use U: "\\FileServer\Music" & net use V: "\\FileServer\Video" & net use W: "\\FileServer\Software" & net use X: "\\FileServer\Dereks Documents" & net use Y: "\\FileServer\Downloads" & net use Z: "\\FileServer\Dereks Backups""

  • Download and run the following file to allow applications run as administrator to access these shares:

  ShareNetworkShares.reg

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
  "EnableLinkedConnections"=dword:00000001

  2018/07/17 12:34 · derek

  * Access the various portable apps referenced in this guide from X:\Apps * Ultimate Windows Tweaker * : Check the state of hibernation with powercfg /A, and disable it with powercfg /hibernate off if it is enabled * Languages * Using Nirsoft uninstallview uninstall default programs/apps, including: * Pre-installed games * Dolby Access * Onedrive * Mobile Plans * My Office * News * Nvidia 3D Vision Driver * SketchBook * Tips * Desktop: * Right-Click > View > Small icons * Move Recycle Bin to corner * Hide people on taskbar * Hide Search icon * Explorer Folder options: * Deselect Show recently used files/folders in Quick access * Expand to open folder * Windows Settings: * Explorer > Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings: * Change computer name * Enable System restore for desired drives and set the usage appropriately * Check and possibly disable remote access * Settings App: * System: * Night Light > On, Schedule > On * Remove unused Quick Actions * Turn screens off after > 25 mins * Sleep after > 45 mins * Storage Sense > On, Delete files after > Never * Personalisation > Start > Disable suggestions on start menu * Accounts > Sign-in Options > Windows Hello PIN > Add * Gaming: * Disable Xbox game bar * Update & Security: * Change active hours * Enable updates for other Microsoft products * : Check/Add now unsynced setting info from Windows sync: * taskbar settings (position, auto-hide, etc.) * desktop Theme (background, system colour, default system sounds, screen saver) * Date, Time, and Region * Credentials: Credential Locker * Command prompt "Defaults" settings * account picture * Right-click X:\Apps\ssstars.scr > Install * Settings > Number of stars > 200 * Create the following folders on any non-system drives: * Games * Media * Programs * Install GeForce Experience * Sign in with Nvidia account * Deselect automatically optimise newly added games * Enable automatically download driver updates (In settings) * Update Drivers (Custom installation, disable 3D vision options ?) * Enable GameStream * Nvidia Control Panel: * Desktop > Disable Show Notification Tray Icon * 3D Settings: * : new settings? * DSR - Factors > 4.00x * DSR - Smoothness > 0% * Power management mode > Adaptive * Install Clover (Default options are ok) * Delete desktop icon for Clover * Import bookmarks from Clover Bookmarks.html * Install and sign in to Razer Synapse 2.0 * Install Logitech Gaming Software * G-Keys > Default Profile > G5 > Assign a Right Alt keystroke * Display Options: * List running applets * Disable all applets except Countdown Timer and Profile Selector * Console ===SendTo Startup=== >

  • Navigate to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
  • Save Startup.ps1 here
  • Right-Click > New > Shortcut:
    • Location of the item > %WINDIR%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -File %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo\Startup.ps1
    • Name > Startup
  • Right-Click the shortcut > Properties > Run > Minimised

  2018/05/27 20:51 · derek

  ===Shortcut Icon=== >

  • Download and run SetShortcutIcon.reg
  • Task Manager > Right-click Windows Explorer > Restart (or restart the computer)
  • To return to the default icon, delete the 29 entry in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons].

  2018/05/25 15:06

  ===Icon Location Backup=== >

  • Download Desktop Icon Loc Backup.bat and move to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\IconLocBackup
  • Right-click the file > Send to > Startup (Create a shortcut in the startup folder %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
  • Optionally, Right-Click the startup shortcut > Properties > Run > Minimised to hide the cmd window when it runs

  2018/07/13 17:27 · derek

  >

  Python 3

  • Install latest Python version
  • Select Add Python 3.x to PATH
  • Click Customize installation
  • Make sure everything is selected > Next
  • Select install for all users
  • Install
  • Disable path length limit
  • Finish
  • Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features > App execution aliases > Disable the python App Installers

  2018/07/09 13:07 · derek

  Sublime Text

  • Install Sublime Text 3
  • Ctrl+Shift+p > Install Package Control
  • Ctrl+Shift+p > Package Control: Advanced Install Package
  • Paste the following list: SublimeLinter,SublimeLinter-annotations,SublimeLinter-cppcheck,SublimeLinter-cpplint,SublimeLinter-pylint,Compare Side-By-Side,Increment Selection,BinaryPlist,INI
  • Run the following in an administrator CMD window:
    • python -m pip install cpplint
    • python -m pip install pylint
  • Install Cppcheck (Deselect GUI during installation)
  • Ensure the installed packages can be accessed from the PATH by running them in the cmd window
  • Download Sublime Settings and place into %appdata%\Sublime Text 3\Packages\User\ or ~/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 3/Packages/User/

  No Extension Association

  Associate Sublime Text 3 with files that have no extension, which is not allowed through the usual configuration menu.

  Download and run the following batch file as administrator:

  associate.bat

  assoc .="No Extension"
  ftype "No Extension"=^"%ProgramFiles%\Sublime Text 3\sublime_text.exe^" "%%1"
  assoc "No Extension"\DefaultIcon=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-102

  Note: replace the path for sublime text with the desired program.
  Note: also works for other extensions, but it should be easier to use the given configuration menu instead.

  2018/05/27 21:13 · derek

  Sublime Merge

  • Install Sublime Merge
  • Use %userprofile%\Documents\GitHub for cloning repositories

  2020/06/07 11:56 · derek

  ===Patch My PC Home Updater=== >

  • Run PatchMyPC.exe from X:\Apps\PatchMyPC\
  • Options > Cache > <User>\AppData\Local\Temp\
  • Delete the cache folder it created at C:\PatchMyPCUpdates

  • Browsers > Right-click Google Chrome > Disable auto updating for this app
  • Messaging > Right-click Discord > Disable auto updating for this app
  • Sharing > Right-click Dropbox > Disable auto updating for this app
  • Gaming > Right-click Steam > Disable auto updating for this app

  • Following is a list of the preselected programs and their further setup:
    • Microsoft .NET Framework
    • Google Chrome:
      • Chrome
    • VLC:
      • : Go through all the settings
    • WinrRAR:
      • Download and open the 48x36 Classic Theme
      • Copy the licence key file into its install folder
      • Settings > Integration > Context menu items:
        • Deselect both email options
        • Deselect both Open with WinRAR options
    • 8GadgetPack:

      • Right-click Desktop > Gadgets
      • Open 8GadgetPack Tools and:
        • Disable sidebar
        • Enable Win+G shortcut
      • Open the following gadgets and follow their setup:
        • My Weather:
          • Expand Gadget
          • Settings:
            • Set My city
            • Appearance > 3rd, 2nd and 1st options
            • Other > Celsius, Kilometres, and 24h
            • Sunrise / Sunset
        • Network Meter:
          • Options:
            • Network Type > Auto Detect
            • Deselect Auto Detect > Select the correct network interfaces
            • Save IP Address > Off
          • Display:
            • Show Network Interface Name > Off
            • Show Blacklisted IP Ratio > Off
            • Show Speed Test & IP Lookup > Off
            • Show Firewall > Off
            • Show Search > Off
        • All CPU Meter:
          • Display:
            • Show Current Domain/Username > Off
          • Options:
            • Show CPU temperatures > ON (CoreTemp)
        • Drives Meter:
          • Options:
            • Enable display of all local drives
            • Disable all the Low Disk Space Alert options
        • GPU Meter:
          • The displayed options depend on which are detected on the machine
          • If needed, download PC Meter into Program Files, and run, to allow detection of GPU
        • Sticky Notes:
          • Expand Gadget
          • Style > 1 of 6
          • Font > Segoe UI
          • Font Size > 9
        • Top Five:
          • Top Five Mode > Processor
          • Refresh Interval > 3
        • Clipboarder:
          • Expand Gadget
          • Drag the lower border to resize the widget
          • 3 Right-Clicks on the change theme button at the bottom to set the white theme
          • Settings:
            • Elements to save > 100
          • Download and run Disable Clipboard Hotkeys to allow the Win+V and Win+C shortcuts to move current selection

      2018/07/09 10:59 · derek
    • AutoHotkey:
      • Download the AutoHotkey Scripts to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
    • Unlocker
    • Core Temp:
      • Delete the Core Temp shortcut and the Goodgame Empire web shortcut form the desktop
      • Download CoreTemp.ini and place in %PROGRAMFILES%\Core Temp
      • Open Task Scheduler and add an entry to start Core Temp at log on, delayed by 30 seconds, running with highest privileges
      • Run that task
    • MSI Afterburner
    • Avidemux:
      • Requires input during installation
      • Install to C:\Program Files\Avidemux
      • Download Avidemux presets and extract into %APPDATA%\avidemux
    • Discord:

      • Install Discord
      • Settings:
        • Disable Automatically determine input sensitivity
        • Overlay > Avatar size > Small
        • Add Toggle Mute > Right Alt keybind
        • Zoom level 90%
        • Start Minimized
      • Install Bandaged BetterDiscord
      • Settings:
        • Voice Disconnect
        • Open Plugin Folder then download and copy the following:
          • Quicksave-BD-plugin
          • CompactGuilds-BD-plugin
        • Ctrl+R to reload Discord
        • Go to plugins settings and enable the plugins
        • Set the Quicksave directory for the Quicksave plugin

      2018/07/23 14:59 · derek
    • Dropbox:
      • Sign in with your Dropbox account
      • Advanced Settings:
        • Selective Sync > Deselect unneeded folders
      • Settings > Preferences:
        • Backups > Share screenshots using Dropbox
    • Steam:
      • Login
      • Setup family sharing from friends
      • Optionally, copy old game install files into new steam folder
      • Settings:
        • Authorize Library Sharing on this computer
        • Add Library folders on other local drives
        • Display Steam URL address bar when available
        • Enable hardware video decoding
        • Allow downloads during gameplay

  2020/06/07 11:43 · derek

  * Install DisplayFusion through Steam * Deselect create shortcuts * Select "Don't show this page again" on the last install dialog * Launch DisplayFusion on Steam to install it * Select Disable Windows Taskbar * Run the DisplayFusion Settings Restore file * Install free version of Seer: * Settings > Run Seer at system start * Install MediaInfo Lite * Install dBpoweramp Music Converter * Install Replay Gain Codec * Install and log in to Plex for Windows * : config * Sign in to Affinity * Download and install Affinity Photo and Designer * Open the programs, I have a product key, enter your email address and product keys * Accept the terms, Deselect Show this panel on startup''

Microsoft Office 365:

• Install 64-bit Office 365
• Settings:
  • Word:
    • General:
      • Enable LinkedIn features > Disable
    • Save:
      • Save to Computer by default > Enable
    • Advanced:
      • When selecting, automatically select entire word > Disable
      • Keep track of formatting + Mark formatting inconsistencies > Enable

2018/08/06 11:19 · derek

• Install RenderDoc
• Install Visual Studio 2013:
  • Sign in with Microsoft account
  • Help > Register Product > Enter Product key from filename
  • Open the location of the start menu shortcut and copy it to the desktop

• Install and sign in to Splashtop Streamer (Personal)

• Install Borderless Gaming

• Backup

• Unpin all the programs from the taskbar and pin the following in this order:
  • Chrome
  • Clover
  • Calculator
  • Resource monitor
  • Command Prompt (Right-click on the pin > right-click command prompt > properties > advanced > run as admin)
  • Ubuntu 18.04
  • PowerShell
  • Registry Editor
• Unpin everything from start menu