Setting up Windows

Instructions for future reference.

Initial Windows configuration

  • Taskbar:

    • Unpin everything. (File explorer, Microsoft edge, Microsoft Store, "Mail", etc.)

    • Right-click → Taskbar settings → Settings / Personalization / Taskbar

      • Search → Hide
      • Task view → Off
      • Widgets → Off
      • Taskbar behaviors
        • Taskbar alignment → Left
        • Show my taskbar on all displays → Enable
      • Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the start button or press Windows logo key + X → DISABLE
      • Show taskbar buttons on
        • SELECT Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open
      • Show news and interests on the taskbar → DISABLE

    • This does not work anymore in Windows 11:

      • Open the Run Prompt (with Win+R)
      • Execute this nonsense:
        • explorer shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
      • Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar → ENABLE

  • Enable Developer Mode.

  • Set up user environment variables

    • DIRCMD = /OGNE
    • TEMP = %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp
    • TMP = %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp
    • TMPDIR = %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp

  • Kill let's finish setting up your device. (Might be irrelevant in Windows 11)

    • Go to Settings → System → Notifications → Additional Settings
    • Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and when signed in to show what's new and suggested → DISABLE
    • Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device → DISABLE
    • Get tips and suggestions when using Windows → DISABLE

  • Disable Windows Error Reporting

    • Open Edit group policy (gpedit.msc)
    • Go to Local computer Policy → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Error Reporting
    • Set Disable Windows Error Reporting to Enabled.

  • Uninstall crapware:

    • Clipchamp - Video Editor (Windows 11)
    • Cortana (Windows 10)
    • Feedback Hub
    • Mail and Calendar
    • Maps
    • Microsoft News (Windows 11)
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • Microsoft To Do (Windows 11)
    • Movies & TV
    • Office
    • People (Windows 10)
    • Power Automate (Windows 11)
    • Quick Assist (Windows 11)
    • Solitaire Collection / Microsoft Solitaire Collection
    • Sticky Notes
    • Tips (Windows 11)
    • Weather

  • If the computer has been set-up by an organization:

    • Kill RegisteredOrganization
      • Locate the following registry keys and make sure they are empty:
        • HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\RegisteredOrganization
        • HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\RegisteredOrganization

Install software

More Windows configuration

  • Configure Windows File Explorer

    • Folder Options:
      • General:
        • Open File Explorer to:
          • SELECT This PC
      • View:
        • Files and Folders:
          • Decrease space between items (compact view) → ENABLE (Win11?)
          • Display the full path in the title bar → DISABLE
          • Hidden files and folders → SELECT Show hidden files, folders, and drives
          • Hide extensions for known file types → DISABLE
          • Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) → DISABLE
          • Launch folder windows in a separate process → ENABLE
          • Restore previous folder windows at log-on → ENABLE
        • Apply to Folders → CLICK
    • Right-click in the empty space in the left sidebar (Navigation pane)
      • Show all folders → ENABLE
      • Expand to current folder → ENABLE

  • Configure Language

    • Settings → Language
      • Preferred languages
        • Add a language
          • English (United States) → ADD
            • Install Language Pack → ENABLE
        • Add a language
          • Ελληνικά (Greek) → ADD
            • Install language pack → DISABLE
            • Text-to-speech → DISABLE
            • Handwriting → DISABLE
      • Windows display language
        • SELECT English (United States)
      • Related settings
        • Administrative language settings → Formats
          • Format: → SELECT English (United States)
          • Short date: → SELECT yyyy-MM-dd
          • Long date: → SELECT dddd, MMMM, d, yyyy
          • Short time: → SELECT HH:mm
          • Long time: → SELECT HH:mm:ss
      • Typing (Spelling, typing, and keyboard settings)
        • Autocorrect misspelled words →DISABLE

  • Configure Accessibility

    • Settings → Accessibility →
      • Text cursor
        • Text cursor thickness → SELECT 2
      • Keyboard
        • Use Sticky Keys
          • Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys → DISABLE
        • Use Toggle Keys
          • Allow the shortcut key to start Toggle Keys → DISABLE
        • Use Filter Keys
          • Allow the shortcut key to start Filter Keys → DISABLE
        • Change how keyboard shortcuts work
          • Underline access keys when available → ENABLE

  • Personalize

    • Settings → Accounts
      • Your Info → Create your picture → Browse for one
        • Save and browse for this picture:

  • Settings → Personalization

    • Background
    • Βackground → SELECT Picture
    • Choose a photo → Download, browse to, and select one of the following images:
    • Choose a fit for your desktop image → SELECT Tile - Colors - Choose your color → SELECT Dark - Choose your accent color → SELECT Custom color, make it orange, medium brightness. - Show accent color on the following surfaces - Start, taskbar, and action center → ENABLE - Title bars and window borders → ENABLE
    • Fix the title-bar color of inactive windows
      • Using RegEdit, navigate to:
        • HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
      • set the DWORD value AccentColorInactive to 2f2f2f. (Add the value if missing.)
    • Start
      • Show suggestions occasionally in Start → DISABLE - System →
    • Multi-tasking → Alt + Tab
      • Pressing Alt + Tab shows
        • SELECT Open windows only
    • Shared experiences
      • Share across devices → DISABLE - Clipboard →
    • Clipboard history → DISABLE - Create an Administrator Command Prompt shortcut
    • Search for Command Prompt
    • Create a shortcut on the desktop
    • Edit properties
    • Select Advanced
    • Select Run as Administrator
    • Pin to start - Create an Administrator Powershell shortcut
    • Search for Powershell
    • Create a shortcut on the desktop
    • Edit properties
    • Select Advanced
    • Select Run as Administrator
    • Pin to start - Create a shortcut to Services
    • Search for Services
    • Pin to start - Create a shortcut to RegEdit
    • Search for RegEdit
    • Pin to start - Create a shortcut to CharMap
    • Search for CharMap
    • Pin to start

  • Unfuck Windows

    • Disable application pinning to taskbar
      • Run gpedit.msc
      • Go to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Start menu and Taskbar
      • Look for Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar → Enable it.
    • Disable fucking up of the Alt+Tab switcher
      • Open windows settings (Win+I)
      • Search for multitasking settings
      • Find Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt+Tab
        • → set to Don't show tabs

  • Enable natural mouse wheel scrolling

  • If dealing with Nazi admins from hell who have taken control over your HOMEDRIVE and HOMEPATH variables and forced them to point to some network drive, thus preventing you from using SSH unless connected to their stupid network:

    • Add the following environment variable:
      • HOME = %UserProfile%

  • Configure Memory Compression

    • In an ELEVATED PowerShell prompt, execute the following:
      • Disable-MMAgent -mc

  • Configure UAC

    • Go to Settings, search for UAC, select User Account Control Settings, set slider to Never notify.
      • Justification: In principle the UAC notification is a good thing to have, but Windows is so fucked up that the UAC notification often starts minimized in the taskbar instead of full screen, so it does not get noticed.

Configure applications

  • Configure Ditto

    • ... → Quick Options
      • Lines per clip → SELECT 1
      • View Caption Bar On → SELECT Top
    • Options
      • Keyboard Shortcuts
        • Activate Ditto (2) → SET Win+V
          • This will not work because starting with Windows 10 Microsoft has reserved all Win keys for its own use -- FUCK YOU MICROSOFT.
        • Activate Ditto (2) → SET Ctrl+`
        • Move clips to the top of the list on paste → ENABLE

  • Configure 7-Zip

    • Options
      • 7-Zip tab:
        • Icons in context menu → ENABLE
        • Context menu items:
          • DISABLE ALL, then:
            • Open Archive → ENABLE
            • Extract to \<Folder> → ENABLE
            • `Add to <Archive>.zip → ENABLE
      • Settings tab:
        • Show real file icons → ENABLE

  • Configure Firefox

    • Visit about:config and set browser.tabs.tabMinWidth to 50
    • install Dark Reader extension
    • install UBlock Origin extension
    • install Markdown Viewer extension by simov
      • Options → allow all file access, allow all site access
      • Theme → Water-Dark

  • Configure Git

    • Add C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin to the PATH environment variable so that bash is in the path.

  • Configure TortoiseGit

    • Select all defaults, except:
      • English (GB) dictionary → DISABLE
      • SSH → SELECT OpenSSH (Alternatively, after installing, go to Options → Network → SSH → SSH client: and enter C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\ssh.exe`)
    • Settings → Colors 1 → Dark Theme → ENABLE
    • Select any two files in Windows File Explorer
    • Right-click on the files → TortoiseGit → Diff → File → Settings → Colors → Use dark mode → ENABLE

  • Configure SysInternals Process Explorer

    • Options
      • Run At Logon → ENABLE
      • Hide When Minimized` → ENABLE
      • Allow Only One Instance → ENABLE
      • Confirm Kill → DISABLE
      • Tray Icons → Commit History → ENABLE

  • Configure Visual Studio

    • Extensions → Installed
      • Remove pre-installed crap. (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
    • Tools → Import and Export Settings... → Import and Export Settings Wizard
      • Import selected environment settings → (Next)
      • Yes, save my current settings → Save as YYYY-MM-DD.defaults.vssettings in <home>\Personal\Settings\VisualStudio → (Next)
      • Choose a Collection of Settings to Import → (Browse...)
        • Select settings file from previous installation
    • Tools → Options → NuGet Package Manager`
      • Click on the camouflaged + button at the top-right corner of the dialog
      • Fill-in:
        • Name: → nuget.org
        • Source: https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json
    • Tools → Options → Source Control → Git Global Settings
      • Cryptographic network provider → SELECT Unset
      • Credential helper → SELECT Unset
    • Extensions → Manage Extensions → Online
      • Install VsColorOutput64
        • Then in Visual Studio, go to Tools → Options → VSColorOutput64 → General → Build Actions
          • Set Yes, I Donated! to True
      • Install EditorConfig Guidelines (by Ivan.Z)

  • Configure ZoomPlusU

    • In Windows File Explorer, right-click on the executable, select properties.
    • On the Compatibility tab:
      • Check Run this program in compatibility mode for:
      • Select Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)
      • Click Change high DPI settings; in the new dialog:
        • Check Override high DPI scaling behavior.
        • Select Application.

Personal configuration (Done by me)

  • Configure AutoHotkey

    • Go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • In that folder, create a shortcut to %USERPROFILE%\Personal\myStandardAutoHotKeyScript\MyStandardAutoHotKeyScript.ahk

  • Configure Firefox

    • Set up Sync

  • Configure Opera

    • Set up Opera Sync
    • Copy Settings from old installation
      • %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Default

  • Configure Notepad++

    • Go to Settings → Style Configurator... and select Choco
    • Unzip the contents of:
      • %UserProfile%\Personal\settings\Notepad++.zip
    • into:
      • %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\

  • Configure Microsoft Edge

    • Delete the Microsoft Edge icon from the desktop and empty the recycle bin.
    • Launch Microsoft Edge, go to settings
      • Go to Settings / Profiles / Microsoft Rewards / Earn Microsoft Rewards in Microsoft Edge -→ DISABLE (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
    • Restart Microsoft Edge. (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
    • If the misfortune hath befallen thee of being employed by a company that has configured Microsoft Edge to automatically launch on every login:
      • Open C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application in Windows Explorer
      • Rename msedge.exe to new_msedge.exe
      • Pin to Start new_msedge.exe
      • Create a directory called msedge.exe
      • Windows has been observed to create a directory called msedge\_exe instead, if that happens, rename it to msedge.exe (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
      • Go to Properties, make it read-only. (As it turns out, this is not enough, keep reading)
      • Go to Properties → Security → Advanced, take ownership and disable inheritance so that nothing has access to it.
      • Launch Microsoft Edge.
      • Right-click on the icon of the running application on the taskbar.
      • In the menu that appears, right-click on Microsoft Edge and select Properties.
      • Shortcut tab: Change the target from msedge.exe to new\_msedge.exe
      • Click Change Icon...
      • Under Look for icons in this file replace msedge.exe with new\_msedge.exe and select the first icon.

  • Add SSH keys

    • If the command ssh-add -l fails with error connecting to agent then temporarily start the OpenSSH Authentication Agent service (may require setting its Startup Type to Manual.)
    • Execute the following:
      • ssh-add <HOME>\.ssh\<personal-key-file>\_rsa
      • ssh-add <HOME>\.ssh\<employer-key-file>\_rsa

  • Install Jasc Paint Shop Pro

    • Install Paint Shop Pro 9.01 EN Trial (psp901entr).exe
      • In the Save files in folder box enter C:\temp\psp
      • When selecting features:
        • Browse with Right Click Menu → DISABLE
        • Jasc Thumbnail Shell Extension → DISABLE
      • On the InstallShield Wizard Completed page:
        • Show me important information about Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 → DISABLE
        • Place an Icon for Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 on the Desktop → DISABLE
        • Place an Icon for Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 in your QuickLaunch bar → DISABLE
      • On the registration dialog:
        • Skip
      • Delete C:\temp\psp
      • Copy Jasc PaintShop Pro 9.01- Bidjan.exe to C:\Program Files (x86)\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\
      • Select Run As Administrator on Jasc PaintShop Pro 9.01- Bidjan.exe
      • On the Jasc Update dialog:
        • Never Check Automatically → ENABLE

  • Install Cool Edit Pro 2.1

    • Following the instructions in the README.txt file.

  • Configure VsColorOutput64

    • Copy the file vscoloroutput.json from %UserProfile%\Personal\Settings\VSColorOutput to %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\VsColorOutput64\

More software to install:

Try Dotz Software SVG Explorer Extension

MPC-HC

qbittorrent

Last updated on 2026-10-13 Tue 01:51:50 CEST
© 2001 - 2026 Michael Belivanakis (a.k.a. Mike Nakis)
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