Crafting the ideal Windows environment
Pre-Install
- 
  BIOS firmware set to default configuration 
 - Secure Boot must be disabled to boot from USB
 
- 
  BIOS firmware verified if Legacy or UEFI 
 - Bootable media must be configured for the correct firmware type
 - If the device is predates 2010 it may be Legacy only
 
- 
  Verify the presence of other OS, partitions and drives in the device 
 - Data disks / partitions may be present
 - Other Windows / dual boot systems may interfere with the OS installation
 - Boot sector may be written on other disks
 
- 
  The correct version of Windows is being installed
 - Home / Pro / Enterprise
 
- 
  Product activation is available through product key or licensing
   
 
- 
  Determine username and if user profile will be a local or Microsoft account
 - To install local account in Windows 11: MS account test@hotmail.com with password test
 - Create username and consider a convention. I.E: user's name, generic name, descriptive name
 
Driver updates
- 
  Complete all Windows Updates
   
 
- 
  Install OEM drivers with manufacturer's software
 - Lenovo: Lenovo Commercial Vantage
 - Dell: Dell Command Update
 - HP (Hewlett-Packard): HP Support Assistant
 - Asus: MyAsus
 - MSI: MSI Dragon Center
 
System settings
- Set PC name to serial number
 - Set time to EST
 - Power & sleep settings to never
 - Lower UAC
 
- Turn on clipboard history
 - Lock screen timeout to 15 minutes
 - Require a password after screensaver
 
irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/system_settings.ps1" | iex
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    Enable features
- Enable SMB/CIFS
 - Enable HyperV
 - Allow Remote Desktop connections
 
- Set Remote Desktop rule in firewall
 - Turn on network discovery
 - Turn on file and printer sharing
 
irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/enable_features.ps1" | iex
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    Install programs
1. Download Winget to help with installing programs and uninstalling bloatware.
Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe
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    irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/winget_openssh.ps1" | iex
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 Office 2021 Professional is available directly from Microsoft |  mirror 
  
 uBlock Origin, other web extensions and browser settings may need to be added manually
  Remove bloatware
irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/winget_uninstall_apps.ps1" | iex
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    irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/remove_onedrive.ps1" | iex
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    Privacy & telemetry
- DisableDiagTrackService
 - MinimalDiagnosticDataLevel
 - DisableErrorReporting
 - NeverFeedbackFrequency
 - DisableSigninInfo
 - DisableLanguageListAccess
 - DisableAdvertisingID
 
- HideWindowsWelcomeExperience
 - DisableWindowsTips
 - HideSettingsSuggestedContent
 - DisableAppsSilentInstalling
 - DisableWhatsNewInWindows
 - DisableTailoredExperiences
 - DisableBingSearch
 
irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/privacy_telemetry.ps1" | iex
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    UI & personalization
- ShowThisPC
 - DisableCheckBoxes
 - ShowFileExtensions
 - ShowMergeConflicts
 - ThisPCOpenFileExplorerTo
 - HideCortanaButton
 - HideOneDriveFileExplorerAd
 - DisableSnapAssist
 - DetailedFileTransferDialog
 - MinimizedFileExplorerRibbon
 - Hide3DObjects
 - HideQuickAccessRecentFiles
 - ShowTaskViewButton
 - HidePeopleTaskbar
 - HideWindowsInkWorkspace
 - DisableNewsInterests
 - DarkWindowsColorMode
 
- DarkAppColorMode
 - HideNewAppInstalledNotification
 - DisableFirstLogonAnimation
 - MaxJPEGWallpapersQuality
 - ShowRestartNotification
 - DisableShortcutsSuffix
 - DisableNavigationPaneExpand
 - HideTaskbarSearch
 - HideAppSuggestions
 - Enable highly detailed status messages
 - Black background
 - Set the accent color
 - HideMeetNow
 - Hide widgets [11]
 - Hide Chat icon [11]
 - Align start menu to the left [11]
 - Get Windows 10 context menu [11]
 
irm -uri "https://massi.net/scripts/winconfig/ui_personalization.ps1" | iex
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    Custom folder icons
      
        - Right click a folder Properties
 - In the Customize tab, select Change Icon...
 - In the Look for icons in this file: text box, paste any of the lines you see below to reveal default icons in your system.
 
Pin batch file to taskbar
      
        - Create a new shortcut from the right-click context menu New → Shortcut
 - In the Type the location of the item: field, enter 
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c "C:\path\to\script.bat" - Replace 
/cwith/kto keep the terminal open after the script is complete - Use a path shortcut such as 
"%UserProfile%\script.bat"when possible - To hide script when running it right click the shortcut and open Properties. In the Start in: field enter 
C:\windows\system32. In the Run: dropdown select Minimized - Right click the shortcut and change the icon using the .dll locations from the Custom folder icons above
 - Drag icon to taskbar.
 
winbaseimg