Guides

• 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 and SATA is set to AHCI mode
• Disconnect all drives other than the one Windows is being installed onto
• (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
• M500
• Restart
• Clean up any 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
  • Device advanced settings:
    • Make front and rear different
    • Separate all input jacks

• 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
• Run powercfg /hibernate off from an Administrator CMD prompt
• Restart

• Languages

• Using Nirsoft uninstallview and the Start Menu uninstall default programs/apps, including:
  • Pre-installed games
  • Dolby Access
  • Onedrive
  • Skype
  • My Office
  • Mail
  • Weather
  • News
  • Mixed Reality Portal
  • Your Phone
  • SketchBook
  • Tips

• Desktop:
  • Right-Click > View > Small icons
  • Move Recycle Bin to corner
  • Hide people on taskbar
  • Hide Search icon

• Right-click in the Downloads folder > Group by > (None)
• While still in downloads > View > Options:
  • Deselect Show recently used files/folders in Quick access
  • Apply to Folders
  • 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:
    • Display > Night Light > On, Schedule > On
    • Focus Assist > Disable
    • Turn screens off after > 25 mins
    • Sleep after > 45 mins
    • Storage > Storage Sense > On, Delete files after > Never
  • Personalisation > Start > Disable suggestions on start menu
  • Gaming:
    • Disable Xbox game bar
  • Update & Security:
    • Change active hours
    • Enable updates for other Microsoft products
  • Tap the Shift key five times to trigger sticky keys, then disable all the shortcut keys
• Edit the Quick Actions on the notification window

• Right-click X:\Apps\ssstars.scr > Install
• Settings > Number of stars > 200

• Install GeForce Experience
  • Sign in with Nvidia account
  • Deselect automatically optimise newly added games
  • Settings:
    • Enable automatically download driver updates
    • Disable In-Game Overlay
    • Enable GameStream
  • Update Drivers using Custom Installation
  • Nvidia Control Panel:
    • Desktop > Disable Show Notification Tray Icon
    • Manage 3D settings > Power management mode > Adaptive

• Console

• Install 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

• Install 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

• Install 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

• : Add Beat Saver setup

• ? Install and sign in to Splashtop Streamer (Personal)

• Install Borderless Gaming

• Backup

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