Table of Contents
Tips & Other Information
Windows Hacks
Best Practices
- Don't keep your important files on local storage devices. Use a NAS!
- Backup often & keep a copy offsite
- Use portable programs when possible
Recommended Portable Applications
Batch Files
Create batch files for commonly used tasks & place them in C:\Program Files (x86), then append 'C:\Program Files (x86)' to the default PATH so you can run them from anywhere:
SETX PATH /M "%PATH%;C:\Program Files (x86)"
Reboot a remote computer: reboot.bat
@echo off shutdown -m \\%1 -r -f
See who is logged in to a remote computer: who.bat
@echo off query user /SERVER:%1
Reset Edge (if it is stuck on another monitor/display): fix_edge.bat
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" -window-position=100,100 https://google.com/
Create/update a local copy of a network share on the drive where this batch file is run: sync.bat (Keep it on a USB drive & use it to periodically backup a folder on the network.)
@echo off SET SHARENAME=insertsharenamehere SET FOLDERNAME=insertfoldernamehere robocopy "\\%SHARENAME%\%FOLDERNAME%" "%CD:~0,3%%FOLDERNAME%" /E /MIR
Registry Tweaks
Make all menu items show up when you right click something (show more options by default)
REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /ve /d "" /f
Disable per-user proxy configuration
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxySettingsPerUser /t REG_DWORD /d 000000001 /f
Allow Windows update to check online for updates
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DoNotConnectToWindowsUpdateInternetLocations /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DisableWindowsUpdateAccess /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f
Enable administrative share C$
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\system /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Disable the blurry background during login
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001 /f