Windows Setup Manual

I know Windows is the best OS to play games, but the worst OS to develop.

If we have no choice, the only one thing we can do is trying our best to make Windows be better for our development.

First Step: Install or Reinstall #

We can use Ventoy to make a USB flash driver boot loader to install or reinstall Windows.

Notice that, by default, Ventoy will skip the device check and online check while Windows is setting up. You can also bypass these check manually by these commands below (Press Shift + F10 to open CMD):

cd OOBE
BypassNRO.cmd

Install Ventoy #

Insert your USB flash driver, follow the steps in official document to install and set up Ventoy.

Download Windows ISO #

For developers, it’s recommended to use the professional edition of Windows.

From Microsoft (Official):

• Windows 11 LTSC Enterprise (I preferred)
• Windows 11 ISO
• Windows 10 ISO

From NEXT, ITELLYOU (For specific Windows edition or version):

• Windows 11 ISO
• Windows 10 ISO
• Others edition or version

If you want to download the Windows ISO via NEXT, ITELLYOU, a BT downloader is required. I recommend qBittorrent Enhanced Edition. Then, you should set the tracker: https://fastly.jsdelivr.net/gh/XIU2/TrackersListCollection/all.txt

Notice that, if you are using VPN tool like Clash, please close it or switch to direct mode for better download speed.

Prepare USB Flash Driver Boot Loader #

Move the downloaded Windows ISO file to the USB flash drive.

Insert your USB flash driver with the installation of Ventoy and Windows ISO, and choose it to boot your computer in BIOS.

After Ventoy starts up, choose the right edition & version of Windows ISO and just start to install it.

Then, wait for the installation to complete.

Second Step: Setting Up System Preferences #

Just follow the steps below, clean up the annoyed system bundled software, and install tools you preferred. 😍

0: Learn How To Use winget #

Install (User Scope):

winget install "<PACKAGE_NAME>" "[--scope user]"

Install (Machine Scope, requires admin permission):

# In windows, `sudo` command is powered by `gsudo`
sudo winget install "<PACKAGE_NAME>" --scope machine

Install on specific location:

winget install "<PACKAGE_NAME>" --location "/PATH/YOU/LIKE"

1: Clean Up Annoyed System Bundled Software #

If you use Windows Home Edition or Professional Edition, please uninstall Office 365, Microsoft PC Manager and other trash (system bundled software)

Then, close the anti-virus feature of Windows Defender, use Huorong instead (Much quieter and non-invasive)

At the end, use Windows 11 Setting Easily (Support Windows 10 too) to close Windows Defender completely, adjust system setting.Don’t forget to restart your computer at last.

2: Setting Up Network Tool (Optional) #

Just install Clash Verge Rev, We will configure it later.

3: Setting Up Personal Preferences #

Runtime requires:

Setting up via Nushell:

# Start fnm temporary
^fnm env --json | from json | load-env
$env.PATH = $env.PATH | prepend ($env.FNM_MULTISHELL_PATH | path join (if $nu.os-info.name == 'windows' {''} else {'bin'}))

# Install Node.js of latest major version 22
# Notice that, we will just use the LTS version of Node.js
# In fnm, they will be tagged with version code like `Iron` for Node.js 20 LTS
fnm i 22

# Install useful global node package
npm i @antfu/ni @antfu/nip @sxzz/create taze czg -g
# If you are using Node.js < 18, you can just install @antfu/ni and czg as they do not strongly relied on Node.js version
npm i @antfu/ni czg -g

# It's recommended to upgrade npm to >= 10.9.3
# Node.js < 18
# Use bundled npm
# Node.js 18
npm i npm@^10.9.3 -g
# Node.js 20+
npm i npm@latest -g

# Install my personal preferences
npm i impurities -g
# Requires admin permission
sudo we i -f

Setting up via PowerShell (Deprecated)

# Must allow executing local scripts
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

# Start fnm temporary
fnm env --use-on-cd --corepack-enabled --shell powershell | Out-String | Invoke-Expression

# Install Node.js of latest major version 22
# Notice that, we will just use the LTS version of Node.js
# In fnm, they will be tagged with version code like `Iron` for Node.js 20 LTS
fnm i 22

# Install useful global node package
npm i @antfu/ni @antfu/nip @sxzz/create taze czg -g
# If you are using Node.js < 18, you can just install @antfu/ni and czg as they do not strongly relied on Node.js version
npm i @antfu/ni czg -g

# It's recommended to upgrade npm to >= 10.9.3
# Node.js < 18
# Use bundled npm
# Node.js 18
npm i npm@^10.9.3 -g
# Node.js 20+
npm i npm@latest -g

# Install my personal preferences
npm i impurities -g
# Requires admin permission
sudo we i -f

4: Install Software Preferred #

Install the basic software below in order:

Install the tool software below in order:

Install the dev software below in order:

(Optional) Install other software below:

5: Brave Browser #

I hate Chrome because it’s too opinionated, I hate Edge because it’s too heavy.

I just want a Chromium based browser, who is tiny, clean and customizable.

Install useful extensions (Notice: "篡改猴" extension requires you to open the develop mode):

Install dev extensions:

6: Configure Windows Itself #

(Optional) Use HEU KMS Activator to activate Windows

At the end, login Microsoft Account, sync the system data, adjust system setting

Third Step: Maintain System #

Programs should under:

• No space path
  • <DRIVER>:/ProgramData/
• Standard path
  • <DRIVER>:/Program Files/
  • <DRIVER>:/Program Files (x86)/
• Portable path
  • <DRIVER>:/Program Files Portable/
• User scope path - $LOCALAPPDATA/Programs/

Projects should under:

• <DRIVER>:/Projects/
• <DRIVER>:/i/ (Inspired by antfu)

Use Revo Uninstaller clean useless software at regular intervals.

Use DISM++ clean system at regular intervals.

Shut down and restart at regular intervals.