setup-windows.md

Save list of all files on drive:

dir /S /B /OGN > C:\files-S.txt

Find out what last woke the computer:

powercfg -lastwake

Startup dir:

Win+R → shell:startup

Install Windows without a Microsoft account:

Click 'Create a new account', then click 'Sign in without a Microsoft account'.

After install:

1. Disable HDD spindown in Power Options.

2. Disable system sounds.

3. Make Windows use UTC as the hardware timer (to make the clock compatible with dual-booting Linux):

   cmd /C reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation /v RealTimeIsUniversal /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & pause
   

4. Disable Windows Update waking computer from sleep:

   cmd /C reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU /v AUPowerManagement /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f & reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU /v NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & pause
   

5. Prevent Windows Update from hijacking sleep button:

   cmd /C reg add HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU /v NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & pause
   

6. Disable Windows 8 update notification:

   cmd /C reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\UpgradeNotification /v UpgradeAvailable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f & pause
   

7. Disable Windows 10 full screen "Updates are available" notification

   cd /d "%Windir%\System32"
   takeown /F MusNotification.exe
   icacls MusNotification.exe /deny Everyone:(X)
   takeown /F MusNotificationUx.exe
   icacls MusNotificationUx.exe /deny Everyone:(X)
   

8. Make Windows 10 ask before installing updates:

   cmd /C reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f & pause
   

   Also available through gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Configure Automatic Updates.

9. Stop Windows 10 from installing shitty drivers (e.g. Razer Synapse) via Windows Update:

   cmd /C reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & pause
   

   Also available through gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.

10. Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10:

    Win+R → gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Defender → Turn off Windows Defender → (x) Enabled

11. Uninstall OneNote in Windows 10. Open PowerShell prompt and run:

    Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage
    

12. Uninstall OneDrive and remove it from explorer sidebar in Windows 10:

    %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall
    cmd /C reg add HKCR\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} /v System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f & pause
    

13. Disable beep:

    cmd /C reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Sound" /v Beep /t REG_SZ /d no /f & pause
    net stop beep
    sc config beep start= disabled
    

14. Disable Windows 8 lock screen (go directly to password):

    Win+R → gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Personalization → Do not display the lock screen → (x) Enabled

15. Disable zone information (warning for downloaded files):

    Win+R → gpedit.msc → User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Attachment Manager → Do not preserve zone information in file attachments → (x) Enabled

16. Disable stupid automatic wake from sleep at 2:00:

    Security and Maintenance → Maintenance → Change maintenance settings → [ ] Allow scheduled maintenance to wake my computer at the scheduled time → [OK]

    powercfg -waketimers
    

17. Disallow mouse from waking the computer:

    Win+R → devmgmt.msc → Mice and other pointing devices → Razer DeathAdder → Power Management → [ ] Allow this device to wake the computer → OK

18. Disallow network adapter from waking the computer:

    Win+R → devmgmt.msc → Network adapters → Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller → Power Management → [x] Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer → OK

19. Taskbar buttons, never combine and hide labels:

    Right-click taskbar → Properties → Taskbar buttons: Never combine → OK

    cmd /C reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics" /v MinWidth /t REG_SZ /d 54 /f & pause
    

    For smaller buttons, use 38. The new size will be used the next time you log in.

20. Remove Windows Media Player from right click menu:

    Control Panel → Default Programs → Set Program Access and Computer Defaults → Expand Custom → Navigate to Choose a default media player. Select Use my current media player and untick Enable access to this program (on the right).

21. Disable Win+Enter shortcut to bring up Narrator:

    cmd /C reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Narrator.exe" /v Debugger /t REG_SZ /d "%1" /f & pause
    

22. Disable Win+- shortcut to bring up Magnifier:

    takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\Magnify.exe
    cacls C:\Windows\System32\Magnify.exe /G stefan:F
    rename C:\Windows\System32\Magnify.exe Magnify_disabled.exe
    

23. Disable This program might not have installed correctly prompts:

    Disable the service Program Compatibility Assistant Service and prevent it from starting automatically.

    net stop pcasvc
    sc config pcasvc start= disabled
    

24. Disable error reporting:

    Control Panel → Troubleshooting → Change settings → (x) Off and [ ] Allow troubleshooting to begin immediately when started

25. Uninstall Skype app:

    dism /online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2013.1204.852.3011_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
    dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages
    

26. Remove most ads from Skype:

    Control Panel → Internet Options → Security tab → Restricted sites → Sites → Add https://apps.skype.com → Close → Restart Skype

27. Remove ads from Spotify:

    Add to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts:

    0.0.0.0 a.scorecardresearch.com
    0.0.0.0 b.scorecardresearch.com
    0.0.0.0 adxpose.tmrg.akadns.net
    0.0.0.0 pubads.g.doubleclick.net
    0.0.0.0 securepubads.g.doubleclick.net
    0.0.0.0 partnerad.l.doubleclick.net
    0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
    0.0.0.0 dart.l.doubleclick.net
    

28. Show all audio devices (e.g. Stereo Mix):

    reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Multimedia\Audio\DeviceCpl /v ShowHiddenDevices /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Multimedia\Audio\DeviceCpl /v ShowDisconnectedDevices /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f & pause
    

29. TrueCrypt auto-mount:

    "C:\Program Files\TrueCrypt\TrueCrypt.exe" /a favorites /q background
    

30. Resolve .local (Bonjour) addresses:

    Install Bonjour Print Services for Windows from Apple.

31. Autologin:

    Run control userpasswords2

    Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

    The selected user can have an empty password.

32. Guest network login:

    Guest account must be enabled to have no login when accessing network share.

33. GPG in Windows:

    1. Download Gpg4Win Vanilla.
    2. Add C:\Program Files (x86)\GNU\GnuPG\pub to PATH.

34. cmd.exe startup commands:

    reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor" /v Autorun /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\stefan\bin\cmd_autorun.bat" /f & pause
    

35. Open bat file with low priority in context menu:

    reg add HKCR\batfile\shell\openlow /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Open (Low priority)" /f & reg add HKCR\batfile\shell\openlow\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "cmd /C start \"Low priority cmd\" /low \"%1\" %*" /f & pause
    

36. Open files without extension with Notepad:

    reg add HKCR\.\shell\open\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "notepad.exe %1" /f & pause
    

37. Open pngcrush to .png context menu:

    reg add HKCR\pngfile\shell\1pngcrush /ve /t REG_SZ /d "pngcrush" /f & reg add HKCR\pngfile\shell\1pngcrush\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\stefan\bin\pngcrush.exe -brute -rem gAMA -rem cHRM -rem iCCP -rem sRGB \"%1\" \"%1-crushed.png\"" /f & reg add HKCR\pngfile\shell\1pngcrushdir /ve /t REG_SZ /d "pngcrush to dir" /f & reg add HKCR\pngfile\shell\1pngcrushdir\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\stefan\bin\pngcrush.exe -brute -rem gAMA -rem cHRM -rem iCCP -rem sRGB -d crush \"%1\"" /f & pause
    

38. Add "Open with Sublime Text" to directory context menu:

    reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\1subl /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Open with Sublime Text" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\1subl\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "subl \"%V\"" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\1subl /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Open with Sublime Text" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\1subl\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "subl \"%V\"" /f & pause
    

39. Add "Open with cmd" to directory context menu:

    reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\1cmd /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Open with cmd" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\1cmd\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\"" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\1cmd /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Open with cmd" /f & reg add HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\1cmd\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\"" /f & pause
    

40. Set PATH:

    C:\Users\stefan\bin;C:\Users\stefan\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools;C:\Users\stefan\AppData\Roaming\npm;C:\Users\stefan\AppData\Local\atom\bin;C:\Python34\Scripts;C:\redis;C:\Program Files\TrueCrypt;C:\Program Files\ffmpeg\bin;C:\Program Files\ImageMagick-6.8.9-Q16;C:\Program Files (x86)\GNU\GnuPG\pub;C:\Program Files (x86)\nginx;C:\Program Files (x86)\nginx\php;C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3;C:\Program Files (x86)\NSIS\Unicode;C:\Program Files (x86)\FLAC
    

Uninstall Bash on Linux:

lxrun /uninstall /full

Disable automatic "AptPackageIndexUpdate" job:

Open Task Scheduler → navigate to: Microsoft → Windows → Windows Subsystem for Linux. Right click on AptPackageIndexUpdate and click Disable.

Python argument problem:

reg add HKCR\Applications\python.exe\shell\open\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "\"C:\Python33\python.exe\" \"%1\" %*" /f

Remove HomeGroup icon from desktop:

rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0

Enable Network and disable again.

Record-what-you-hear with Audacity:

Install sound driver. Make sure you don't plug in headphones in the front jack. Go to recording devices, enable Stereo Mix (right click and show disabled devices). Do not check Listen to this device in the settings.

Disable Software Playthrough in Audacity Preferences → Recording. Make sure to set the levels good so the waveform doesn't clip. Don't accidentally adjust the system volume during recording!!

App Paths:

Does not work in cmd.exe.

cmd /C reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\SuperF4.exe" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Program Files\SuperF4\SuperF4.exe" /f & pause

Bitlocker

If computer turns itself off at the password screen:

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} bootshutdowndisabled 1

Bitlocker without TPM:

Win+R → gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → BitLocker Drive Encryption → Operating System Drives

Double-click Require additional authentication at startup → Make sure Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM is checked. → Ok

Use manage-bde to add a TPM later. Password must be deleted though.

Re-generate recovery key:

manage-bde -protectors -disable C:
manage-bde -protectors -delete C: -type RecoveryPassword
manage-bde -protectors -add C: -RecoveryPassword
manage-bde -protectors -enable C:

Re-add TPM after it stops working due to e.g. BIOS update:

manage-bde -protectors -get C:
manage-bde -protectors -delete C: -t TPMAndPIN
manage-bde -protectors -add C: -TPMAndPIN

Hi,

How to enable the "Listen to this device" using command line in windows 7/8/10 ?