Setup and Optimize Windows


Introduction

This is my general purpose windows install process

Steps

Remove Unnecessary Programs

$winapps=@("Microsoft.BingNews",
"Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay",
"MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist",
"MSTeams",
"Microsoft.OutlookForWindows",
"Microsoft.Paint",
"Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes",
"Microsoft.Copilot",
"Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider",
"Clipchamp.Clipchamp",
"Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI",
"Microsoft.BingWeather",
"Microsoft.Todos",
"MicrosoftCorporationII.MicrosoftFamily",
"Microsoft.GamingApp",
"Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection",
"Microsoft.GetHelp",
"Microsoft.YourPhone",
"Microsoft.WebpImageExtension",
"Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay",
"Microsoft.HEIFImageExtension",
"Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder",
"Microsoft.AV1VideoExtension",
"Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension",
"Microsoft.MPEG2VideoExtension",
"Microsoft.BingSearch",
"Microsoft.StartExperiencesApp",
"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad",
"Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp",
"Microsoft.WindowsCalculator",
"Microsoft.ZuneMusic",
"Microsoft.WindowsAlarms",
"Microsoft.WindowsCamera",
"Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable",
"Microsoft.WebMediaExtensions",
"Microsoft.ScreenSketch",
"Microsoft.Windows.Photos",
"Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub",
"Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub",
"Microsoft.RawImageExtension",
"Microsoft.WindowsStore")
foreach ($winapp in $winapps){
Get-AppxPackage *$winapp* -AllUsers| Remove-AppPackage -AllUsers  -verbose
}

Manual-remove of onedrive:

ps onedrive | Stop-Process -Force
cd "$env:windir\SysWOW64\"  
OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

Install Essential Programs

Install Choco

Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSigned
# this next line enables tls1.2
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

Install Packages

# development
choco install -y git.install kdiff3 python3 vscode
# graphics and video tools
choco install -y inkscape gimp ffmpeg shotcut vlc
# E-CAD
choco install -y kicad fritzing
# networking
choco install -y netbird tailscale
# browser
choco install -y firefox
# basic utilities
choco install -y adobereader 7zip grepwin kdiff3 notepadplusplus putty.install wiztree winscp unifying winmerge 
# git extensions -- standalone git management tool
choco install -y gitextensions
# security
choco install -y bitwarden ente-auth protonauth
# sync to external cloud providers
choco install -y rclone 
# standalone cloud sync apps
choco install -y googledrive dropbox onedrive

Other Config

start syncthing as service

#self hosted cloud sync
choco install -y syncthing
New-Service Syncthing $env:ChocolateyInstall/bin/syncthing.exe -StartupType Automatic
Start-Service Syncthing

Non-Choco installs