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win-10-11-from-scratch

Sep 28, 20254 min read

In the Windows installer, choose Language “English (world)”, this disable all the bloatware and MS Store

  • to re-enable, search for region in the settings, change back from world to US/Canada
    Win 11 Only
    Bypass network and account requirement, Shift-F10 for command prompt
oobe\BypassNRO

Powershell

  • these allow Powershell execution and Winget
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force
echo Y | winget search anything

First install gsudo

winget install gsudo

Uninstall McAfee and other bloatware
Uninstall OneDrive (require agree ToS)

echo y | winget uninstall microsoft.onedrive

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Use RegEdit to edit the location of Documents, Download, Desktop, Pictures, Music, Videos folder to %USERPROFILE%\folder

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/operation-to-change-a-personal-folder-location-fails-in-windows-ffb95139-6dbb-821d-27ec-62c9aaccd720
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16278-enable-disable-onedrive-integration.html
Download
Disable OneDrive using regedit to have custom location for user profile folders

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00  
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive]  
"DisableFileSyncNGSC"=dword:00000001

Enable Full Context Menu
https://www.elevenforum.com/attachments/disable_show_more_options_context_menu-reg.8879/?hash=4dc0214cd4038aad11031d926f1884b5

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}]
@=""
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32]
@=""

Change the three finger tap to middle mouse button

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad]
"ThreeFingerTapEnabled"=dword:00000004
  • laptop only

Disable UAC (Win 10 Only)

Windows 11 Drag and Drop

If EnableLUA is enabled, then everything runs as admin and drag and drop does not work on Windows 11. The same effect is not observed when disabling UAC manually. The effect on Windows 10 is unknown.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableLUA"=dword:00000000

Set dark theme

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000000
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000000

Customizing Explorer
Show file extensions and hidden files and remove recommended files

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
"Hidden"=dword:00000001
 
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShowRecommendations"=dword:00000000
"ShowFrequent"=dword:00000000

Pin home folder to quick access

$o = New-Object -com shell.application
$o.NameSpace($env:USERPROFILE).Self.InvokeVerb("pintohome")

Remove Gallery Folder (Win 11 only)

echo yes | reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace_41040327\{e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c}"

Installing Apps

!general
Install Syncthing tray and Obsidian

winget install Martchus.syncthingtray
winget install Obsidian.Obsidian
  • restore ssh keys, music, obsidian notes with Syncthing
  • default port 8384

Folders to add to Syncthing
~\Documents\ssh
~\Documents\Projects

WinRAR (basic tool needed for others)
Configure Winrar (in the future upload to own git repo)

winget install WinRAR
wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/MuhammadSaim/de84d1ca59952cf1efaa8c061aab81a1/raw/ca31cbda01412e85949810d52d03573af281f826/rarreg.key -O "C:\Program Files\Winrar\rarreg.key"

HEVC
https://store.rg-adguard.net/ and enter https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9nmzlz57r3t7 and select Retail, alternatively use an existing appx. To install it

add-appxpackage $path_to_hevc

Software to be configured
Install QuickLook (Microsoft app)

  • to install MS apps using winget, a stdin input of Y is required
echo Y | winget install 9NV4BS3L1H4S # QuickLook example

Configure QuickLook to start at login (cannot be automated), it is also possible QuickLook will add itself on first startup.

PuTTY and other SSH settings
net-connections

Web Browsers

Firefox
Chrome
Chrome

  • change default browser to chrome
  • SetUserFTA & Browser
  • Copy the chrome data %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
    Restore Taskbar Items
    Backup chrome taskbar items
    %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
    Export registry
    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

Debloat
OOShutUp
MSEdge

  • disable tracking in the web
  • disable personalizing advertising
    Cortana
  • disable and reset Cortant
    Misc
  • disable automatic installation of recommended Windows Store Apps
  • disable meet now button
  • disable sync of windows design settings
    OOS has ability to export config file, settings apply need restart

BloatyNosy
Removing MS Store apps
Get-AppxPackage -allusers SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic | Remove-AppxPackage
this command remove Spotify

List of apps classified as bloatware in Windows 10 and 11
* means wildcard*
AD2F1837* are HP bloatware
B9ECED6F* are Asus bloatware
Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 is Cortana
Wildcard uninstallation by powershell is supported

The list of bloatware is found at ./windows/bloatware.txt

$apps = Get-Content -Path .\bloatware.txt
 
foreach ($app in $apps) {
    Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers $app | Remove-AppxPackage
}

Unpin all the apps from start menu (Windows 11)
Option 1: remove/backup all the files from this location
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
Option 2: use a fresh start2.bin located in ./windows folder

Useful snippet for debloating
https://superuser.com/a/1791352
https://github.com/andrew-s-taylor/public/blob/main/De-Bloat/RemoveBloat.ps1

Disable Windows Feature Update
https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil/blob/8e138c38d396955570a564537b55f9ea17645ff9/functions/public/Invoke-WPFUpdatessecurity.ps1#L4

Remove startup apps
These are the locations that taskmgr query for apps

 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

 C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
 HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

These are the entries for which startup can be set as disabled or enabled

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\RunHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run

If an item in that location is enabled, it should have binary value of 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Change it to any value other than that to disable it.

Find a way to disable all notification for Suggested

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