Windows Installation & Setup
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Installing a new version of Windows on your computer (clean install):
- 7 commands to reinstall or upgrade Windows 10 computers - TechRepublic
- Got a New PC? 11 Things to Do Right Away | PCMag
- Norton Internet Security & Norton SystemWorks = Norton 360
- Windows Update (repeat & reboot many times) + Service Packs
- Drivers (graphics, mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer drivers, etc.)
- It is usually preferable to get the drivers from the manufacturer's site, rather than from MS.
- Personalizations
- Windows Update ...
- Note: Windows has the annoying habit of resetting many system setting whenever there is a major Windows Update.
- Caps Lock OFF
- NumLock ON ...
- ScrollBar ...
- Show Desktop icon on tray (= Quick Launch)
- R-click on Taskbar > Toolbars > New Toolbar > Paste this string into the text box: %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
- R-click on the Quick Launch area of the Taskbar > Properties > Uncheck Show Text > Uncheck Show Title (The Quick Launch Properties are not available in the newest Windows versions.)
- How to permanently display the Windows version on the desktop - TechRepublic
- System configuration will show the version of Windows running on the machine
- cmd > regedit.exe > Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop > PaintDesktopVersion - change the Default value from "zero" to "1" > reboot
- Warning! - It may be necessary to reset this value to 1 after every major Windows Update.
- Disable Forced Restarts After A Windows Update = NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers
- Date & Time & Location
- Microsoft Store > install "MSN Weather" - $0
- Weather requires your location.
- Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Store Apps > Run the troubleshooter
- Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Weather (MSN) > Uninstall
Restart
Microsoft Store > Search for Weather (MSN) > Install
- Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Choose Weather app by clicking on the plus symbol
Settings > Personalization > Lock screen "Get fun facts" > on
Settings > Privacy > Location > Weather (on)
Settings > Privacy > Notifications > Allow apps to access your notifications (on)
Restart
- Weather works on some Win10Pro PCs, but not on others. Why?
- ScreenSaver & LockScreen & Background
- Power Settings - Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options
- Power settings (sleep, shut-down, PC & monitor)
- Apps: Microsoft (Office) 365, Adobe Reader, browsers (Edge, Firefox, Chrome), Dropbox, iCloudDrive, uninstall Flash, etc...
- Firefox
- Edge > Settings > Settings > Privacy > Services > Address bar
- Edge > Settings > Settings > View advanced > Autofill > Save Password > disable
- Newer Windows versions: Edge > Settings > Profiles > Passwords > Sign in automatically > Turn this off (and use a real password manager)
- Google Chrome
- Close Chrome > Ctrl-Alt-Del (Task Manager) > End Task (for every instance of Google that shows in the Task Manager) > Open Chrome > Settings > On startup > Open a specific page
- Fix Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Usage (CompatTelRunner.exe) | Geek's Advice
- One of the following procedures should work:
- Windows10 > Run > taskschd.msc > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience > Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser> Disable
- Windows10 > Run > gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds >
Double-click Allow Telemetry > Disabled > Apply > OK
- Windows10 > Run > regedit > User Account Control > Yes > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > DataCollection > right-click on DataCollection > New > DWORD (32-bit value) > Give this new value name Allow Telemetry > double-click it > Change Value data to 0 (zero) > OK.
- How to Stop Windows from Adding "- Shortcut" to Shortcut File Names
- Search
- Under Settings > Search > Searching Windows > Find My Files > Classic (set search to Classic, which only applies to Libraries and Desktop, or choose Enhanced indexing to search the whole computer).
- R-click on the Taskbar > Search > Hidden
- Just touch the Windows key and start typing to find anything on your computer.
- Audio
- Set up the speakers/headset again (after every major Windows update).
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- Should you use a local account? (or your Microsoft account?) -
By Ed Bott (TechRepublic Microsoft Weekly 2019-10-11)
When you set up a new PC for your personal use, one of the most important choices you have to make is what kind of account to set up. Many longtime Windows users instinctively prefer a traditional local account over a Microsoft account, on the theory that anything stored in the cloud must be less secure.
I understand that instinct, but I also strongly recommend that you use a Microsoft account, which is, paradoxically, more secure.
For starters, you can easily recover from a forgotten password using a Microsoft account. You can also retrieve a BitLocker recovery key (just sign in at microsoft.com/recoverykey), which can prevent your encrypted data from being irretrievably lost to hardware or software glitches. A Microsoft account (or an Azure AD account) is also a requirement to use Windows Hello biometric authentication.
If you're concerned about privacy, one easy solution is to create a new email address for a Microsoft account when you set up a new PC, and then use that address only for signing on. Don't link it to your real email address, and don't use it for online services. In that configuration, you get all the advantages of online backup without having to worry about your personal data.
- Applications
- User folder name - C:\Users\UserName