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

• Connect to the internet, by either connecting the ethernet cable again or connecting to WiFi
• 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
• Again ensure everything in Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings is Off
• Give Windows a chance to sort itself out
• Install any Windows updates

• Shutdown Windows, reconnect any extra drives and remove the installation USB stick
• Enter the BIOS and do the following:
  • Verify boot priorities
  • Enable Memory XMP/DOCP settings
  • Enable CPU Virtualisation
• Boot into Windows

• Update & Security > For Developers > Developer mode
• Apply desired settings changes further down page

• Install Drivers:
• Can use Snappy Driver Installer to help figure out which drivers are best to install
• Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H Motherboard
• Asus Prime X570-Pro Motherboard:
  • Audio
  • LAN
  • AMD Chipset Drivers
• SSD firmware/drivers:
  • Samsung NVMe Driver
  • Crucial MX300 / M500
• Restart
• Clean up temporary folders created in C:\
• (Note: My GigaByte 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
  • Set microphone volume (100% +20 dB for Razer Tiamat 7.2)
  • Device advanced settings:
    • Make front and rear different
    • Separate all input jacks
• Download Samsung Firmware and follow instructions in the NVMe SSD-Firmware Installation Guide

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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