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📃Everything Windows

📜 In this 🪟 Windows notes repository, I store all of my notes related to the Windows operating system and Win apps.

  • 📌 Some commands may be outdated.

❗⚠️ This document contains powerful Windows commands - review each carefully before execution, as they may impact your system, and use them at your own risk!

🌐 Resources 🔗

Install

Privacy

Debloat Windows 11

Install

📌 RECOMMENDED INSTALL SOLUTION ➡️ Rufus (simple)

  • The latest Rufus version can be used to create a bootable USB drive with the preconfigured necessary bypasses and automatic local user creation on the bootable Windows 11 ISO.

📌 Unattend-generator (advanced)

  • An additional answer file can be used for more specific first-install settings. Make sure to include autounattend.xml file at the root of the Windows installation media to be executed during Windows setup.

📌 winutil - Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates

Windows 11 without Internet (manual)

🔗 How to bypass internet connection to install Windows 11 - Pureinfotech

🔗 UPDATED 2025 -> The New BypassNRO - YouTube

Manual bypass during standard install

  • Install Windows 11 via USB ISO

  • At the first boot in OOBE (Out-of-the-box experience), select Region and Keyboard layout

  • On the "Let's connect you to a network" screen, press SHIFT+F10 on the keyboard to open the Command Prompt and type the following command

start ms-cxh:localonly

  • Create a local default Windows 11 account and proceed

    • Disable and answer No to all the Privacy Settings if not needed

Proceed with the final Configuration.

Configuration

📝 Tip: The following settings should be used with a clean Windows install; otherwise, proceed with caution ⚠️.

Privacy Settings

-TBA-

Disable Online Start Search

🔗 How to Disable Online or Web Results in Start Menu in Windows 10

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v AllowSearchToUseLocation /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v BingSearchEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Debloat Win

🔗 winutil - Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility

🔗 BloatyNosy - by Builtbybel

🔗 Windows11-Debloat-Privacy-Guide

🔗 Win11Debloat - Raphire

🔗 Win-Debloat-Tools - LeDragoX

❗ The repositories above contain many useful and powerful scripts. Be sure to review them carefully before applying to your system, and do so at your own risk! ⚠️

  1. Download https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat repo and run Run.bat to configure

    • Run additional tweaks like Regfiles\Hide_Onedrive_Folder.reg

  2. Download https://github.com/LeDragoX/Win-Debloat-Tools repo and run other scripts if necessary (I prefer to run them manually)

    • Backup-System

    • Optimize-Privacy

    • Optimize-ServicesRunning

    • Optimize-TaskScheduler

    • Optimize-WindowsFeaturesList

    • Remove-BloatwareAppsList

    • Install-NerdFont

    • ...

    • and Software install tool

Removing Telemetry and other unnecessary services

📌 The following commands may have already been executed by the scripts above. The command list may be outdated and requires some cleaning and fixing.

  • Open cmd.exe and type the following commands

sc delete DiagTrack
sc delete dmwappushservice
sc delete WerSvc
sc delete OneSyncSvc
sc delete MessagingService
sc delete wercplsupport
sc delete PcaSvc
sc config wlidsvc start=demand
sc delete wisvc
sc delete RetailDemo
sc delete diagsvc
sc delete shpamsvc 
sc delete TermService
sc delete UmRdpService
sc delete SessionEnv
sc delete TroubleshootingSvc
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "wscsvc" ^| find /i "wscsvc"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "OneSyncSvc" ^| find /i "OneSyncSvc"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "MessagingService" ^| find /i "MessagingService"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "PimIndexMaintenanceSvc" ^| find /i "PimIndexMaintenanceSvc"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "UserDataSvc" ^| find /i "UserDataSvc"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "UnistoreSvc" ^| find /i "UnistoreSvc"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "BcastDVRUserService" ^| find /i "BcastDVRUserService"') do (reg delete %I /f)
for /f "tokens=1" %I in ('reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services" /k /f "Sgrmbroker" ^| find /i "Sgrmbroker"') do (reg delete %I /f)
sc delete diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Siuf\Rules" /v "NumberOfSIUFInPeriod" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Siuf\Rules" /v "PeriodInNanoSeconds" /f
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\WMI\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener" /v Start /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v AITEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v DisableInventory /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v DisablePCA /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat" /v DisableUAR /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter" /v "EnabledV9" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v "EnableSmartScreen" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter" /v "EnabledV9" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "NoRecentDocsHistory" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\CompatTelRunner.exe" /v Debugger /t REG_SZ /d "%windir%\System32\taskkill.exe" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\DeviceCensus.exe" /v Debugger /t REG_SZ /d "%windir%\System32\taskkill.exe" /f
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /v DisableAIDataAnalysis /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /v DisableAIDataAnalysis /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /v AllowRecallEnablement /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v ShowCopilotButton /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot" /v TurnOffWindowsCopilot /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot" /v TurnOffWindowsCopilot /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
pause

Scheduled tasks

del /F /Q "C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync\*" 
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\AppID\SmartScreenSpecific" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\StartupAppTask" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\ApplicationData\DsSvcCleanup" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Clip\License Validation" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\CloudExperienceHost\CreateObjectTask" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\BthSQM" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\KernelCeipTask" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Uploader" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\UsbCeip" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Diagnosis\RecommendedTroubleshootingScanner" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Diagnosis\Scheduled" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\DiskFootprint\Diagnostics" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\File History (maintenance mode)" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\License Manager\TempSignedLicenseExchange" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Location\Notifications" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Location\WindowsActionDialog" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance\WinSAT" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Maps\MapsToastTask"  /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Maps\MapsUpdateTask" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\NetTrace\GatherNetworkInfo" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\PI\Sqm-Tasks" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Power Efficiency Diagnostics\AnalyzeSystem" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Power Efficiency Diagnostics\AnalyzeSystem" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\PushToInstall\LoginCheck" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\PushToInstall\Registration" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Retail Demo\CleanupOfflineContent" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyMonitor" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyRefreshTask" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyUpload" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Subscription\EnableLicenseAcquisition" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Subscription\LicenseAcquisition" /disable
schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting\QueueReporting" /disable

Italian Dev Keyboard - Tilde and Backtick

CMD commands

❗ Most of the following commands have to be run by opening CMD as Administrator.

Change Windows Theme

🔗 How to Change Themes in Window 11 Without Activating Windows

Dark theme

reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize /v SystemUsesLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Light theme

reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize /v SystemUsesLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Winget Upgrade Script

  • Create a UpgradePackages.bat with the following content and run it to upgrade installed packages

@echo off
:: Check for admin rights
>nul 2>&1 "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\cacls.exe" "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\config\system"

:: If error flag set, we do not have admin rights, so prompt for them
if '%errorlevel%' NEQ '0' (
    echo Requesting administrative privileges...
    powershell.exe -Command "Start-Process '%~dpnx0' -Verb RunAs"
    exit /B
)

:: Set the execution policy to allow local scripts to run
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser -Force"

:: Run the winget upgrade command and log the output live
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Start-Transcript -Path UpgradeLog.txt -Force; winget upgrade --all; Stop-Transcript"

:: Indicate completion
echo All packages have been upgraded. Press any key to exit...
pause

cmd Cheatsheet

# System
set
set /?
ver
systeminfo
chkdsk
driverquery
sfc /scannow
shutdown /r
shutdown /a

# Network
ipconfig /all
ping example.com
tracert example.com
nslookup example.com
netstat -abon
netstat -abon | findstr :3389

# Files and Disk
cd
dir
dir /a
dir /s
mkdir dirname
rmdir dirname
type
more
copy
copy *.md
move
del
erase

# Tasks and Processes
tasklist
tasklist /FI "imagename eq notepad.exe"
tasklist /FI "pid eq 1516"
taskkill /PID targetpid

Powershell commands

PS1 Scripts

# 1. Run the script with Bypass mode (One-time execution)
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File <SCRIPT.ps1>
# Shorter version
powershell -ep Bypass -f <SCRIPT.ps1>

# 2. Temporarily set execution policy for the current session
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
<SCRIPT.ps1>  # Now run the script

# 3. Unblock the script file (if marked as untrusted)
Unblock-File -Path <SCRIPT.ps1>
<SCRIPT.ps1>  # Try running again

# 4. Run the script without changing execution policy (using Invoke-Expression)
powershell -Command "Get-Content <SCRIPT.ps1> | Invoke-Expression"
# Alternative (more compact)
iex (Get-Content <SCRIPT.ps1> -Raw)

# 5. Change execution policy permanently (requires admin)
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser -Force  # Allows all scripts
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope LocalMachine -Force  # Allows only signed remote scripts

# 6. Run with -NoProfile to ignore execution policies
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File <SCRIPT.ps1>

# 7. Reset execution policy back to restricted (optional, for security)
Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted -Scope CurrentUser -Force  # Blocks all scripts again

Winget

# Upgrade all installed packages to the latest version if available
winget upgrade --all

Powercat

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
IEX (New-Object System.Net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/besimorhino/powercat/master/powercat.ps1')

powercat -l -p 9000 -v
powercat -h

Directory and File Listing Without Extensions

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Directory | ForEach-Object {
    Write-Output "Directory: $($_.FullName)"
    Get-ChildItem -Path $_.FullName | Where-Object { -not $_.PSIsContainer } | ForEach-Object {
        $_.BaseName
    }
    Write-Output ""
} | Out-File -FilePath "C:\path\to\output.txt"

Powershell Cheatsheet

### Syntax ###
# Cmdlet --> Verb-Noun
# Cmdlet -Property "pattern*"

Find-Module -Name "PowerShell*"
Install-Module -Name "PowerShellGet"

Get-Command
Get-Command -CommandType "Function"
Get-Command -Name "Remove*"

Get-Help Get-Date
Get-Help Get-Date -examples

Get-Alias
Get-Alias | findstr echo

Get-ChildItem
Get-ChildItem -r -Filter '*.txt'
Get-ChildItem -Path ".\test\"
Get-ChildItem | Sort-Object Length
Get-ChildItem | Where-Object -Property "Extension" -eq ".txt"
Get-ChildItem | Where-Object -Property "Name" -like "file*"
Get-ChildItem | Where-Object -Property Length -gt 100
Get-ChildItem | Select-Object Name,Length
Get-ChildItem | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Select-Object -First 1
Select-String -Path ".\file.txt" -Pattern "text" 

New-Item -Path ".\test\dir" -ItemType "Directory"
New-Item -Path ".\test\dir\file.txt" -ItemType "File"
Remove-Item -Path ".\test\dir\file.txt"
Remove-Item -Path  ".\test\dir"
Copy-Item -Path .\test\dir\file.txt -Destination .\test\dir\file2.txt

Get-Content file
Set-Location -Path ".\Documents"

Get-ComputerInfo
Get-LocalUser
Get-NetIPConfiguration
Get-NetIPAddress
Get-Process
Get-Service
Get-Service -DisplayName "*remote*"
Get-NetTCPConnection
Get-FileHash -Path .\file.txt

Get-Help Invoke-Command -examples
Invoke-Command -ComputerName HOSTNAME -ScriptBlock {Get-Service}

Software

Sysinternals

🔗 Web: https://live.sysinternals.com/

  • Via Windows Explorer:

\\live.sysinternals.com\tools

  • e.g. Copy tools folder to C:\Program Files\ and rename it to sysinternals

VirusTotal Uploader ContextMenu

  1. Download vt_setup.msi from https://github.com/SamuelTulach/VirusTotalUploader/releases

  2. Run vt_setup.msi and install VirusTotalUploader

  3. Create an account and Get an API key from VirusTotal.com

  4. Copy the API key

  5. Run VirusTotalUploader, paste API key and select Direct file upload

  1. EXTRA: Change the context menu handler by opening regedit.exe and searching for VirusTotalUploader.

    • It should be in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell

    • Change the MUIVerb data value, e.g. Upload to VirusTotal.

  1. Now you can right-click any file an select "Upload to VirusTotal" to scan it using VirusTotal

VirusTotal - Free public API
Limits

Request rate

4 lookups / min

Daily quota

500 lookups / day

Monthly quota

15.5 K lookups / month

Troubleshooting

Delete GRUB files from a Boot EFI partition in Windows

🔗 How to delete GRUB files from a Boot EFI partition in Windows 10

  • Run a cmd.exe process with administrator privileges

  • Run diskpart

  • Type: list disk then sel disk X where X is the drive your boot files reside on

  • Type list vol to see all partitions (volumes) on the disk (the EFI volume will be formatted in FAT, others will be NTFS)

  • Select the EFI volume by typing: sel vol Y where Y is the SYSTEM volume (this is almost always the EFI partition)

  • For convenience, assign a drive letter by typing: assign letter=M: where M is a free (unused) drive letter

  • Type exit to leave disk part

  • While still in the cmd prompt, type: M: and hit enter, where M was the drive letter you just created.

  • Type dir to list directories on this mounted EFI partition

  • If you are in the right place, you should see a directory called EFI

  • Type cd EFI and then dir to list the child directories inside EFI

  • Type rmdir /S ubuntu to delete the ubuntu boot directory

## These commands are used to identify and select the hard drive

diskpart
list disk
sel disk 0

## These commands are used to list the partitions, select the Boot EFI partition, 
## then assign it a drive letter

list vol
sel vol 2
assign letter=D:
exit

## These commands are used to change into the Boot EFI folder and delete the GRUB folder

cd /d D:
ls
ls EFI
cd EFI
ls
rmdir /s ubuntu

Resize Windows EFI partition

⚙️ Goal

Make the EFI System Partition larger to support Lenovo BIOS update, which requires more than the original 100 MB created by the Windows 11 standard installer.

📌 Expected result

  • EFI resized

  • MSR restored

  • Boot repaired

  • Windows stable and functioning

1. Check disk layout

  • Found that the 100 MB EFI System Partition was too small.

  • Discovered a 16 MB MSR partition (Microsoft Reserved) between EFI and C: preventing resizing.

2. Deleted the MSR Partition

  • Booted into GParted Live USB

  • Deleted the 16 MB MSR partition (normally safe but can be risky).

  • *Shrink the left part of the C: partition to free up the necessary space.

  • This freed space to the right of the EFI partition.

3. Resized the EFI Partition

  • Expanded the EFI partition from 100 MB to a larger size (~300 MB).

  • Applied the changes.

4. BSOD After Reboot

  • Upon reboot, Windows crashed with BSOD - NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM stop code.

  • Cause: likely NTFS structure misalignment or partition table confusion after MSR deletion and EFI + C: resizing.

5. Recreated the MSR Partition

  • Booted into Windows recovery

    • Advanced Startup -> Command Prompt

  • Used diskpart to recreate a 16 MB MSR partition in the correct spot:

    diskpart
select disk 0
create partition msr size=16

6. Repaired Windows via Advanced Recovery

  • Rebooted into Windows Recovery Mode.

  • Used the built-in startup repair tool

    • Advanced Options → Startup Repair

  • Windows automatically fixed the bootloader/NTFS issues.

7. System Booted Successfully

  • No more BSOD.

  • EFI partition now has enough space.

  • Ready to proceed with BIOS update or other tasks.

Check disk info - diskpart

DISKPART> sel disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> detail disk

CT2000P5PSSD8
Disk ID: {9E********}
Type   : NVMe
Status : Online
Path   : 0
Target : 0
LUN ID : 0
Location Path : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0204)#PCI(0000)#NVME(P00T00L00)
Current Read-only State : No
Read-only  : No
Boot Disk  : Yes
Pagefile Disk  : Yes
Hibernation File Disk  : No
Crashdump Disk  : Yes
Clustered Disk  : No

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     C                NTFS   Partition   1857 GB  Healthy    Boot
  Volume 1                      FAT32  Partition   2048 MB  Healthy    System
  Volume 2                      NTFS   Partition    642 MB  Healthy    Hidden

DISKPART> list part

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partition 1    System            2048 MB  1024 KB
  Partition 2    Reserved            16 MB  2049 MB
  Partition 3    Primary           1857 GB  5237 MB
  Partition 4    Recovery           642 MB  1862 GB
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