windows-setup

How to set up Windows 10.

Useful information, tips & tricks and other relevant resources to properly configure a Windows 10 user account/ computer.

Note: Some content is focused on Germany.

Programs

• Mozilla Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
• Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/intl/en-US/chrome/
• Mozilla Thunderbird: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/
• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/
• PDF24 Creator: https://tools.pdf24.org/en/creator
• Notepad++: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/
• Microsoft Office: https://www.office.com/
• LibreOffice: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/
• VLC Media Player: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/#download
• iMazing HEIC Converter: https://imazing.com/heic/download

System tools

• Sysinternals Process Explorer: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer
• Sysinternals Autoruns: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns
• Greenshot: https://getgreenshot.org/downloads/ and https://github.com/greenshot/greenshot
• 7-Zip: https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
• WinDirStat Portable: https://portableapps.com/de/apps/utilities/windirstat_portable

Video telephony

• Microsoft Teams: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app
• Zoom: https://zoom.us/download
• Cisco Webex Meetings: https://www.webex.com/downloads.html
• Teamviewer: https://www.teamviewer.com/download/windows
• Teamviewer German: https://www.teamviewer.com/de/download/windows
• Linphone: https://www.linphone.org/technical-corner/linphone

Remove Adware and Potentially Unwanted Programs

• AdwCleaner: https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner

Other 1

• O&O ShutUp10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
• Windows 10 Decrapifier https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/4378-windows-10-decrapifier-18xx-19xx-2xxx
• YES _ Windows 10: Cortana deinstallieren https://www.netzwelt.de/anleitung/180485-windows-10-cortana-deinstallierenso-gehts.html
• Cortana vollständig deinstallieren https://praxistipps.chip.de/cortana-vollstaendig-deinstallieren-so-gehts_44689
• Windows 10 OneDrive entfernen https://www.netzwelt.de/tutorial/163642-windows-10-so-deinstalliert-onedrive.html
• OneDrive deinstallieren https://www.heise.de/tipps-tricks/OneDrive-deinstallieren-so-geht-s-4975944.html
• YES _ Web-Suche in Windows 10 deaktivieren (mit Gruppenrichtlinien) https://www.windowspro.de/wolfgang-sommergut/web-suche-windows-10-deaktivieren-gruppenrichtlinien
• Windows 10 - Websuche im Startmenü deaktivieren https://www.bennetrichter.de/anleitungen/windows-10-websuche-deaktivieren/
• How to Force Uninstall Programs on Windows 10/11 Computers https://wccftech.com/how-to/how-to-force-uninstall-programs-on-windows-10-11-computers/
• Windows 10 installieren 2022 - Mit USB + Einrichten & Treiber Installation, HardwareDealz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5TGARdHkRM
• Systemfehler mit SFC und DISM reparieren (sfc /scannow) https://www.netzwelt.de/anleitung/166183-windows-10-so-behebt-fehler-ueber-sfc-dism.html
• https://www.makeuseof.com/difference-between-chkdsk-sfc-and-dism-in-windows-10/
• https://superuser.com/questions/1658332/run-sfc-scannow-or-chkdsk-f-first
• https://superuser.com/questions/1579030/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-dism-restorehealth-parameter-and-sfc
• https://superuser.com/questions/1330365/how-will-dism-online-cleanup-image-restorehealth-affect-my-current-configurat
• Deactivate Internet Explorer https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/developer/browsers/installation/disable-internet-explorer-windows

Other 2

• Snappy Driver Installer Origin: https://www.snappy-driver-installer.org/ (use with caution)
• Patch My PC (check for outdated software): https://patchmypc.com/home-updater
• Samsung Magician Software for SSDs: https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/
• Micron Crucial Storage Executive: https://www.crucial.com/support/storage-executive
• CrystalDiskInfo: https://crystalmark.info/en/download/
• Portable Apps: https://portableapps.com/
• CPU-Z: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU-Z

Remove or Uninstall Programs

If a programm cannot be uninstalled successfully through the standard procedures, this program might help

• Revo Uninstaller Free: https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo-uninstaller-free-download/

Network Scanner

• Advanced IP Scanner: https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com
• Angry IP Scanner: https://angryip.org

WhyNotWin11

• Achitecture: 64bit instead of 32bit (both CPU and OS)
• Boot method: UEFI instead of Legacy
• Disk partition type: GPT instead of MBR

Source:

• https://github.com/rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11
• Download WhyNotWin11 latest stable release (64-bit): https://github.com/rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11/releases/latest/download/WhyNotWin11.exe

Get directly to UEFI-BIOS

How to restart/reboot Windows 10 to get directly to UEFI-BIOS

• Settings method: Windows settings --> Update & Security --> Recovery --> Advanced startup --> Restart now --> Troubleshoot --> Advanced options --> UEFI firmware settings
• Shift method: Start menu --> select Power (Power button icon) --> hold Shift on keyboard while selecting Restart --> select Troubleshoot --> Advanced options --> UEFI firmware settings

Source:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/boot-to-uefi-mode-or-legacy-bios-mode?view=windows-10
• https://www.pc-magazin.de/ratgeber/bios-uefi-starten-windows-10-3201227.html

Microsoft account

• https://account.microsoft.com Microsoft account overview
• https://account.microsoft.com/devices Devices linked to Microsoft account
• https://account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365/install Devices logged in to Microsoft 365
• https://account.microsoft.com/devices/content Devices linked to the Microsoft Store

Remove/Uninstall Cortana

• Right click on the Windows icon in the bottom left
• Click on Windows PowerShell (Administrator)
• Copy the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage

• Paste it in the Windows PowerShell by pressing Right click
• Press Enter

If the command above does not work, try one of these commands:

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage

Remove/Uninstall Xbox

Similar to the description above.

Get-AppxPackage *Xbox* | Remove-AppxPackage

Sources:

• https://www.heise.de/forum/heise-online/Kommentare/Windows-Microsofts-Sound-Management-ist-eine-Qual/Re-Die-ins-Betriebssystem-integrierte-Xbox-Game-Bar/posting-42299195/show/
• https://www.lifewire.com/remove-xbox-app-from-windows-10-4587103

Rename a Wired Network Connection

• Press Win + R
• Enter regedit.exe or simply regedit
• Open the app as an admin, e.g. by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter
• Open this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

• The profiles are listed in the folders below

Sources:

• https://www.tecchannel.de/a/netzwerknamen-unter-windows-10-aendern,3277868
• https://www.pctipp.ch/praxis/windows/windows-10-netzwerke-umbenennen-so-gehts-2002978.html

Change hostname

• Press the Windows key in the bottom left
• Search for PC Info
• Click on Rename this PC

Sources:

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/rename-your-windows-10-pc-750bc75d-8ff8-e99a-b9dc-04dff566ae74

Password of SMB fileshares

• Press Win + R
• Enter netplwiz.exe

Remove Web Results from Windows Search

• Suche: Gruppenrichtlinien bearbeiten / gpedit.msc
• Administrative Vorlagen
• Windows-Komponenten
• Suche
• Nicht im Web suchen und keine Webergebnisse in der Suche anzeigen

Disable Bing in the Start Menu Search

• https://www.howtogeek.com/224159/how-to-disable-bing-in-the-windows-10-start-menu/

Disable OneDrive Synchronization

• https://www.cbackup.com/articles/stop-onedrive-from-syncing-6688.html
• https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-disable-onedrive.html
• https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/how-to-disable-onedrive-on-your-windows-10-pc-why-youd-want-to/

Useful Windows applications

• winver.exe About Windows / Windows-Version
• msinfo32.exe System Information / Systeminformationen
• devmgmt.msc Device Manager / Geräte-Manager
• diskmgmt.msc Disk Management / Datenträgerverwaltung
• dfrgui.exe Optimize Drives / Laufwerke defragmentieren und optimieren
• perfmon.exe Resource Monitor / Ressourcenmonitor
• regedit.exe Registry Editor / Registrierungs-Editor
• netplwiz.exe User Accounts / Benutzerkontenverwaltung
• compmgmt.msc Computer Management / Computerverwaltung
• cleanmgr.exe Disk Cleanup / Datenträgerbereinigung
• msconfig.exe System Configuration / Systemkonfiguration
• SystemPropertiesProtection.exe System Protection / Computerschutzeinstellungen
• eventvwr.msc Event Viewer / Ereignisanzeige
• PC Health Check / PC-Integritätsprüfung

Nasty Networking Issue

• https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/de-DE/17c9ea7d-52df-4ef9-95fa-0a961d11bfa3/fix-for-cannot-access-nas-drives-sharefolder-is-not-accessible-or-quoterror-code
• https://www.stellarinfo.co.in/blog/how-to-fix-nas-device-not-visible-on-windows-10/
• https://kb.synology.com/en-nz/DSM/tutorial/What_can_I_do_if_my_Synology_NAS_does_not_show_up_in_Network_in_Windows_File_Explorer
• https://www.buffalotech.com/knowledge-base/windows-10-cannot-access-shares-on-nas
• https://www.google.de/search?q=%220x80070035%22
• https://basic-tutorials.de/ratgeber/software/fehlerbehebung-0x80070035-fehlercode-der-netzwerkpfad-wurde-nicht-gefunden/
• https://de.minitool.com/nachrichten/der-netzwerkpfad-wurde-nicht-gefunden.html
• https://hdwh.de/windows-10-netzwerk-zeigt-fehler-0x80070035-der-netzwerkpfad-wurde-nicht-gefunden/
• https://www.borncity.com/blog/2015/09/21/windows-10-netzwerk-zeigt-fehler-0x80070035/
• https://www.expertiger.de/windows-problem/windows-fehler-0x80070035
• https://www.windows-faq.de/2018/02/22/0x80070035-fehlercode-der-netzwerkpfad-wurde-nicht-gefunden/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bIcJluf-0Q Network Path Not Found - WIndows 10 1803 - Guaranteed Fix
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/cannot-access-shared-folder-file-explorer
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/mapped-drives-not-available-from-elevated-command
• https://docs.qnap.com/operating-system/qts/5.0.x/de-de/webserver-091B47DC.html
• https://forum.qnapclub.de/thread/58177-keine-verbindung-%C3%BCber-browser/

Problem:

• Windows 10 error code 0x80070035
• When trying to open a network share, Windows 10 does not show a prompt to enter the username and password

Solution:

• Enter the NAS hostname, username and password manually via netplwiz

Question:

• Why does Windows 10 not show the prompt to enter the username and password for a network share? Maybe it is related to the user permissions or rights?

chkdsk

Open the command line (CMD) as an administrator.

chkdsk c: /r /v

How to evaluate the results:

Ereignisanzeige (Event Viewer)

Ereignisanzeige (Lokal) --> Windows-Protokolle --> Anwendung

Look for an entry with the source "Wininit"

Sources:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/chkdsk
• https://old.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/oc54a1/which_software_to_use_to_check_drive_health/
• https://www.filehorse.com/download-victoria-ssd-hdd/ Victoria HDD/SSD download
• https://recoverhdd.com/blog/using-victoria-for-testing-repair-hard-drive.html Victoria HDD/SSD How to
• https://hdd.by/victoria_faq/ Victoria FAQ

Linux:

sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sda

Source:

• https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/badblocks

Linux:

sudo e2fsck -fv /dev/sda2

• https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/347280/how-to-perform-full-check-of-ext4-file-system-structure

defrag

Open the command line (CMD) as an administrator.

defrag c: /h /u /v /x

Sources:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/defrag

Linux:

sudo e4defrag -c /dev/sda2

sudo e4defrag /dev/sda2

Sources:

• https://askubuntu.com/questions/221079/how-to-defrag-an-ext4-filesystem

Recommended hardware

Laptop brands

• Lenovo

Printers

• Epson
• Brother